Page 69 of The Musician and the Monster

“The roses look lovely,” she said, coming to stand near him.

The hint of a frown tugged at his expression. “Mostly, but something has been bothering them lately. Look here.”

A few brown leaves and stems marred the bush of violet roses and several others nearby.

“They’re still quite beautiful to me.” She beamed. “You might be a perfectionist.”

“Perhaps, though I usually don’t have much trouble with these. It’s warm inside. I fertilize them the same way.” He shrugged. “I’m not sure what’s making them lookpeaked.” Drystan favored their unique color above the others and had brought them with him from the capital. He might have thought the transplant to blame, except they’d flourished under his care until recently. Perhaps they didn’t favor the northern winter, despite the protection the greenhouse afforded them.

“What brings you to the gardens today?” he asked, shifting his attention from the blooms.

Her gaze skirted down the stone pathway before she looked at him again. “I hoped to see you.”

Desperate longing filled him, its surge so sudden it took a moment to bring it under control. He cleared his throat, a poor attempt to rein in the flood of emotions. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Bronwyn came for tea yesterday.”

“Yes, I know. Did you enjoy her company?”

“I did it. It was lovely, but…” All at once, her look darkened. “She said that the monster was seen two nights ago.”

He winced, his shoulders dropping. It was too much to hope she simply wanted to spend time with him. “I slipped while working on the—my project,” he corrected himself. Even here, he was careful not to reveal his secrets. “I remember bits and pieces. Scaring a group outside a pub. Spooking a horse or two. Did I…”

Goddess above. If he’d killed again, how could he face the shame and horror of it?

“No.” She laid her hand upon his arm, stirring up a mess of feelings, but drew it back almost as quickly. “No one was hurt. But…” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “I thought my music helped.”

He took her hand in his, savoring the tingling that zipped between them. “It does help. More than I can express.” He lowered his voice to barely a whisper. “But the spells I have left are difficult. Even with your help, I struggle to retain control. Without you, I wouldn’t have a chance at all.”

She closed the distance between them, wrapping her hand around his. “Then I’ll play more. Longer. Whatever it takes.”

“I don’t deserve you.” He cupped her cheek, savoring her soft intake of breath.

“But you do.” She tilted her head into his touch. “You gave me a dream I thought impossible. To play music and aid my family. No one else has ever offered a gift so precious.” A fragile smile broke across her face. “It took encountering a monster to give me something I love and turn my world upsidedown.”

A monster.That he was, but for once, it didn’t seem so terrible, not coming from her.

He leaned in until his forehead nearly touched hers. “Your presence helps too. Just spending time with you like this.”

A hint of color rose to her cheeks. “Then perhaps you shouldn’t spend so much time in your tower,” she teased.

“A necessary sacrifice. Though one day…” His voice trailed off as he stared down into her eyes. If only he could promise her more, days where they could linger without the threat of his monster or the darkness spreading from the capital. That was the dream. One so fragile and unlikely he couldn’t bring it into words.

But there was something he could do. Something he yearned for. Her eyelashes fluttered as he tugged her closer, his face leaning in, intent to take her mouth with his.

A piece of his heart splintered as she pulled away, popping the moment like a bubble.

“I could play now,” she said, only half looking at him. “A few extra songs couldn’t hurt.”

“Couldn’t hurt at all,” Drystan replied with a mildly sarcastic grunt.

And just like that, the moment was gone. Ceridwen trailed away from him through the gardens, eager to get her flute and play her songs.

He’d wished for more, pushed the slightest bit, and she’d shrunk from him.

Drystan swallowed thickly, his footsteps leaden as he walked after her. Perhaps his monster had stomped out the fragile bloom that grew between them forever.

Chapter 32

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