Page 35 of Kiss of Smoke

As though all ofAvilion were in mourning, from the roots of the trees to the celestial dome, the morning of Tanaquill’s funeral was as gray and rainy as yesterday.

I disentangled myself from Gwyn’s arms, peering out the window with eyes that felt swollen from too little sleep.

Even the pixies that roosted in the trees of Thornwood were dim today, barely visible through the curtain of gently falling rain.

Maybe the city, being nearly a living organism,wasin mourning for her.

I tiptoed across the hall to my room and took a shower, letting the water run over my face, and slowly began the laborious process of drying and taming my hair. If the queen demanded us all to be there, I couldn’t show up looking anything less than my best.

I managed to get my curls straightened out—or in other words, smoothed into waves, which was about as straight as it was going to get for me. Gwyn tapped on the door while I was applying mascara.

“You look nice,” he said, and I looked down. I was still wrapped in a towel.

“Thanks.” I couldn’t manage to sound bright right now.

Not on this day, of all days.

“You should wear towels more often,” Gwyn told me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. In the mirror, he towered a full head over me, and I reached up and lightly tugged a thin blond braid.

“Don’t even think about it,” I groaned as he slowly started unwrapping the towel. “I’ll have to do my hair all over again.”

The kiss he brushed over my neck made me shiver. “Then we’ll wreck it later.”

I cast an appreciative glance back as he got into the shower. I could’ve spent all day tracing the poisonous plants that limned his body, but the wardrobe’s doors were rattling ominously. It was impatient today.

I sighed, and instead of feasting my eyes, went to take what it wanted to give to me.

It procured a suit for Gwyn first, black and woven with thorns that stuck out around the collar and cuffs in dangerous little wreaths, and then gave me a black dress.

It matched his suit, black as pitch and lined with glistening thorns around the throat in a snug collar. I pulled it on and stuffed my feet in a pair of pumps that would be low enough to run in.

I really hoped that wasn’t the wardrobe’s way of telling me that I would be running later.

By the time Gwyn came out, his hair pulled back in a neat ponytail, I had his suit laid out. “I’ll be right back. I’ve got to check on the boss.”

I waved and pulled the door shut behind me, heading down to Robin’s room. I wasn’t really concerned that Robin wouldn’t be pulled together; he could probably knot a tie in his sleep.

He proved that correct as soon as I opened his door. As always, he looked perfect.

I ran my hands over his chest, then rose up on my tiptoes to kiss him.

It was lovely to just take a moment and forget what this day was for, and everything that had happened, and just let Robin hold me.

He rested his forehead against mine, and we didn’t break apart until we heard a door bang open down the hall and Gwyn yelling, “What the fuck, Jack?”

“I didn’t know you were in there!” Jack snapped.

I bit my lip to stop myself from bursting out laughing, and looked up. Robin’s eyes were glittering with suppressed laughter.

“We’re going to need to make the house bigger,” he whispered.

“Everyone needs their own bathroom,” I agreed. Two pairs of feet stormed down the hall.

“We’re ready,” Gwyn said, looking disgruntled as he pulled on his jacket.

Jack was behind him, neither in black nor white but a deep, glistening gray. The tips of his pointed ears were red with anger or embarrassment, or both.

I pulled him in for a kiss as well. “What happened?” I asked, unable to stop the smile from breaking out.

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