Page 83 of The Mirror and the Curse

Eddi gripped his hand. “Good.”

He gave her a look. “Were you . . . jealous?”

“Not really, but . . . well, maybe a bit concerned.”

His eyes twinkled, but before he could speak, they heard a booming shout: “Get down here, Mordekai! We all came to meet your princess.” One of the dwarf women pointed from him to the ground before her, and the bearded man beside her waved and grinned.

“Yes, ma’am,” Kai called back, then gently tugged Eddi away from the bluff’s edge until they couldn’t be seen from below. “That’s Aunt Vora and Uncle Mordy. Vora will love you, but she won’t let on.” His eyes begged her to understand. “This wasn’t my plan, Eddi. My dad must have seen the flight plan I posted, then spread the word. I really wanted to keep you to myself for a few hours, have a leisurely breakfast, and talk about our future . . .”

He sounded so disappointed that Eddi slipped her arms around his neck, loving how he immediately hugged her tight. “I’m sorry too, Mordekai,” she admitted, gazing into his woeful eyes. “But it will be fun to meet your relatives, and I’ve been hoping to see Xiretta and Olis again.”

Sure, there was a crowd waiting, but he kissed her anyway. More than once. And everything about his kisses, everything about him, was better than anything Eddi could have imagined.

“What’s taking you guys so long?” came another raucous shout from below.

Eddi and Kai ended a kiss with simultaneous sighs.

“Fine,” Kai’s voice rumbled. “I’ll be a good sport. Most of these people can’t enter the resort without special permission, so this really is their only chance to meet you for a while.” He picked up their sack breakfast, taking Eddi’s hand again before they started down the steep path.

“I’ve already had a perfectly lovely time,” Eddi assured him. “Everything about this day will be memorable, one way or another.”

Kai chuckled, and his eyes held a happy glow. “And I don’t mind showing off my gorgeous princess.”

THE END

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