Page 140 of Plug and Tame

“Who did you leave to deal with the crisis?” he asked.

“The steward. He’s summoned every woodcutter within ten miles of the capital to try and bring it down.”

“Why not ask the witches to solve the problem they created?”

Kira raised her eyebrow. “I did.”

“And?”

She turned her head to look at him. “Do you really want to know how that went down?”

“Please, I’m intrigued,” Nathaniel said, his eyes twinkling with humour.

“They summoned a giant to uproot it. Which seemed like it might work, except the giant seemed more interesting in climbing. It proceeded to fuck off up the beanstalk and out of sight.” Kira’s voice was deadpan.

“So, the situation is…unresolved?”

“I’ve detained the witches in the tearoom. So, I consider the problem half solved.”

“Which tearoom?” Nathaniel asked curiously.

“The one with the self-refilling cups.”

“I like that room.”

“Nathaniel! You’re not helping.”

“Sorry.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “Try not to worry about it now. Relax.”

“I want to, but I can’t stop thinking about my schedule. I’m double booked to visit two estates at once in the morning. Two! How can I be in two places at once? And—”

“Shh,” Nathaniel whispered. “Tomorrow can wait. Just breathe.”

Kira took a deep breath and released it slowly. “But what really frustrates me—”

“Again,” Nathaniel commanded.

Kira took another breath, this time filling her lungs fully, the tension starting to seep out of her.

“That’s it,” Nathaniel said softly.

She took another calming breath. “I just want to not think for a while.”

A pause.

“Perhaps…” he began, then paused again.

“What?”

“There is a way, pet.”

Kira stilled at Nathaniel’s tone. The sweetness was gone, the timbre deepening until it made chills creep up her spine. She scarcely dared breathe at his silent offer. It had been so long since he’d called her that: pet. Not since the evening of thirtieth birthday when his father, Henrikk, had assaulted her before the court.

Everything had changed after that.

She had changed, and though Henrikk was dead, she sometimes still saw him when she looked at Nathaniel.

She loved Nathaniel with all her heart, but in the months that followed, their relationship had been different, their words as sweet and careful as their love. He had been so patient with her, so considerate.