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I shook my head. “I must help my people.”
“Taking a break helps them. Let them come here without you creating drama.”
“I won’t create—”
My obstinate friend dismissed me with a wave. “Anyway, you two have a lot of catching up to do.” She glanced between us. “Being fully on the same page is important.” She smacked her lips. “I’m peckish.”
I chuckled, relenting to her wisdom. She was right. If I went out there now, I might make things worse. I needed to rest and reset.
“Anything scuttling around outside that whets your appetite?” I asked.
Her amber eyes flared, her head cocking. “Lots of snow hares. I can’t wait to get one inside me. Now, off you go. The call is made, and vampires will start arriving come nightfall.” She patted my right bicep. “We’ll win this fight.”
I rested my hand atop hers. “Thank you.”
As much as I longed to take Paris upstairs, anxiousness kept me in the lobby. “What if Aidan attacks?”
She grunted. “Do I have to drag you upstairs by your hair?”
I cocked a brow at her. “This is how you speak to a king?”
She looked me up and down, rejecting my audacity. “Have we met?”
I chuckled. “Fine. I will take a break.” There were many things to discuss with Paris anyway. “What rooms are available?”
“Take Room 143,” she said. “Also, I took the liberty of being even more of a thief.” She winked. “There’s fresh clothes in there.”
“You’re the best,” Paris responded.
“Thanks, sugar. Now off you both go.” She tossed Paris a fresh pack of mistrock cigs. “I think I’m beyond being the best now. Time for a hare or two.”
“Enjoy yourself,” my spark intoned.
With that, I led him upstairs.
Chapter Thirty-One
Paris
Under the spray of the hot shower, I started to sing ‘Melody of Little Maple’ to see if anything happened now that damn dagger was gone.
Nope. It didn’t work like it used to. No rose petals, no magic, no sign of a key or whatever.
Dammit.
How did this work? Did I just wait? Sing a different song? I’d tried a few others, one about two lovers living for their summer days. Seriously saccharine, yet also a banger.
Nothing happened.
I even hummed that melody back at the fading garden place.
Nope. Nothing.
Hmmm.
Once done with the shower, I wrapped a towel around my waist and hovered in the bathroom, unsure of myself. I was overjoyed to be free of that curse, yet nervous of what came next.
Yeah, I loved Silv. I meant every word I’d said to him, my feelings vibrating like a hummingbird in my chest. But this wasn’t the right time to be in love. I wasn’t resisting it, but happiness had to go on pause. There were two feral deities on the loose about to unleash more chaos into the world.
