Page 127 of A Legacy of the Light

“Oh trust me, she is.”

I remember how she treated me and Reyne at the ball. And how she not only ignores me at the dinners I have with them, but Reyne, too. She’s out-right hostile whenever Cait is there. Tavish smiles at my silence.

“How’s training going?” Tavish shifts so one leg is on the seat and he’s facing me. His knee brushes against mine and my stomach swoops as his warmth seeps into me.

“It’s good. We moved onto basic hand to hand last week. We had our first spar today.” The pride in my voice is mirrored in Tavish’s eyes.

“Are you going to spar with me?” He lifts a brow in challenge.

I tip my head back and laugh. “Not fucking likely. Have you seen you?”

“I own a mirror. So yes, I’ve seen me.”

“You’re such an ass,” I scoff.

“I know. You like it.” He takes my right hand that’s resting on my tucked knee and runs his thumb across my knuckles. “Come on, spar with me.”

“Give me a few more weeks and I’ll think about it.”

Tavish squeezes my hand and releases it. “Are you hungry?”

“I’m starving.”

He stands from the sofa and I follow him over to the table. He takes a seat in the chair at the head and I slide onto the bench to his right. Tavish snaps his fingers and a dinner of salmon, herby potatoes, and green beans appear before us.

“Water or wine?” he asks.

“Water please. I’m staying away from Seelie wine.”

“I did try and tell you it was stronger than the mortal stuff,” he replies with laughter in his voice and pours me a glass of water.

“Thank you.”

“I finished the book you gave me,” he says and settles in his seat, picking up his knife and fork.

“Oh, how did you find it?”

“I read the first sex scene at a table with my men and had to excuse myself. I wasn’t prepared for that level of detail.”

A laugh bubbles out of me and Tavish lifts a brow.

“What? You’re telling me you can read that in public and keep a straight face?”

I nod triumphantly and pop a potato into my mouth.

“Not sure if that makes you a psychopath or not,” he challenges.

“Not a psychopath. A smutopath,” I correct.

Tavish chokes on the food he just put into his mouth. “Excuse me? A what?”

“A smutopath. Someone who can read the dirtiest, kinkiest book in public with a straight face. You would never know what they’re reading. That book I gave you was pretty tame compared to others I’ve read.”

Tavish chuckles and shakes his head. “I don’t even want to know,” he mumbles, prompting a smile from me as we continue to eat.

“You still have two questions left, you know. Have you thought of anything else you’d like to ask?” he asks.

I take a sip of water. “I have. I want to know what your relationship is like with your father. Not as the king, but as your dad.”