Page 52 of Courting the Tiger King

“True. But that doesn’t make me entitled to it.”

Holding his eyes, she dropped the towel and was pleased when he swallowed hard before accepting her invitation and letting his eyes roam. Each look was a soft caress that set her on fire, but she was distracted from any further thoughts of ardour when a murmur of voices sounded from the next room.

Alarmed, she snatched up the towel and was readying herself for a fight when Wren caught her hand in his. “It’s okay. It’s just our friends.”

Our friends. She’d noted the shift yesterday at the ball and it warmed her to know that he felt the same way. At some point, their small circles had combined to become anourand Neah couldn’t say that she disliked the sound of it. Like a family they’d chosen for themselves.

“Here.” Wren strode to the bed and handed her a bundle of clothing as well as her favourite moisturiser and body oil. “I hope this is okay. I didn’t rummage through your things, I promise, Zennon retrieved them when I asked and?—”

She cut him off with a quick, breathless, kiss. “Thank you.”

A hint of pink tinted his cheeks as he nodded. “I, ah, have another bath being drawn. You can get dressed in here if you like. There’s food waiting in the next room, provided those heathens haven’t eaten it all.” He raised his voice at the last part of his sentence and it fell suspiciously silent next door as a result, making Wren roll his eyes.

Neah slathered on her moisturiser and oil, feeling more herself already as she slipped into a simple tunic shirt with an open collar and a pair of supple trousers she was sure were Zennon’s because she didn’t recognise them at all.

Attendants entered the room as she combed her hair and Neah thanked them as they set about clearing away the dirty bathwater and resetting the bath for Wren.

It wasn’t until she walked into the parlour that she realised how hungry she was, the scent of roasted chicken and buttery potato wafting toward her. “You better have saved me some of that. I’ve heard tigers have a terrible temper when they’re hungry.”

Zennon looked up, a smile spreading across her face as she ran to Neah and hugged her so hard the breath was pushed forcefully out of her lungs. “You’re okay.”

“I am. And you?” She ran her eyes over her sister, checking for injuries, and was relieved when she found none. “You saw the healer?”

Zen nodded. “Just a few bruises.” Her gaze dropped to the trousers Neah wore and she grinned. “Romi! Look, they fit even better than you hoped!”

Neah blinked as she finally took in the rest of the table’s occupants. Gabriel and Skye, she’d expected. Zennon and Sonnet, she’d hoped for—but Romi was a surprise, though a welcome one.

“You made these for me?”

Romi stood from her place at the table and approached cautiously. “I sew when I’m stressed. I made them for you last night, while I was with Zen.”

Zen. So they were already close enough for nicknames. Neah hid her smile as she reached for Romi’s hand. “Thank you for staying with her. And for the trousers, they’re stunning.”

“Oh, that’s alright, I just repurposed an old pair you had that didn’t look like they’d still fit and?—”

“You’re welcome,” Zennon said, nudging Romi in the side while she smiled at Neah. “And I saved you and Wren a plate before those two could devour everything.” She cast a stern glance at Gabe and Skye who blinked innocently back at her.

Neah followed them over to the table and took a seat beside Sonnet, sliding her a questioning glance and relaxing when she nodded. Everyone was okay. For now.

The sound of water sloshing in the next room made her cheeks heat as she tried to focus on her food and not the images of a naked Wren just meters away. Chatter resumed around thetable but her sister watched Neah closely, as if expecting her to break at any moment.

Neah finished her chicken and had moved on to the potatoes when Sonnet spoke up.

“So, you and the king.” She waggled her brows and Neah groaned. “You’re accepting the bond?”

Wren poked his head around the corner, wet strands of hair leaving see-through droplets on his white shirt. “We haven’t discussed it yet, witch. Butt out.”

Neah smirked and opted to stay silent on the matter for now, lest she be scolded next. “What brings you all here?”

Gabe’s eyes bugged out, like she’d asked something insane, and Zennon coughed to hide a laugh. “You do remember the small fleet of guards that attempted to kill you only a night ago?”

“Mm,” Neah said, tapping her finger on her chin. “And where were you for that, again?”

Gabe glanced almost imperceptibly at Sonnet before he narrowed his eyes. “Busy.”

“Yes, well, luckily for you, I was around.”

Gabe looked set to argue when Wren walked in, barefoot as he rolled the sleeves of his white shirt up to his elbows.

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