Page 119 of Mountain of Mirrors and Starlight
Tiberius bowed his head. “Well, good night then, Princess. Um, sleep well?”
He headed off without another word, closing the door behind him.
Aislinn threw herself down on her pillow and screamed. It was more effective than sobbing. She took off half of her clothes and tried to see to herself, hoping that would help calm her down before Caer came.
He didn’t come.
She paced around the room. Her weapons were still being held elsewhere, but there was a blunt ceremonial sword mounted on the wall that was good for practice. Swinging around a blade was a good antidote to most things.
Caer still hadn’t come.
She went to knock on his door, just to be certain she hadn’t misheard, but he wasn’t there.
She returned to her own chamber.
Someone knocked on the door.
Aislinn raced to open it, only to find Beau standing there with a box. “Supplies!” he said, oddly gleefully. “I found an apothecary. Got you some rags for when the bleeding begins, some kind of painkiller, sweets, and in the meantime… this tincture which is supposed to be quite ‘calming’—”
Aislinn seized the vial and took a long sip.
“—She did say not to have too much.”
Aislinn groaned, throwing herself down on the bed and curling up a tight ball. Beau passed her one of the boiled sweets.
“He hasn’t come.”
“What?”
“Caer. He didn’t come.”
“I can fetch him—”
“He isn’t in his room.”
“Right.” Beau paused. “Hug?”
“Please.”
Beau climbed into the bed and wrapped his arm around her, saying nothing. A few minutes ticked by, punctuated only by her slow sucking, winding the sweet down to a sliver. The potion trickled through her, as did Beau’s simple, steadying presence.
“I think I’m all right now,” Aislinn whispered.
“Good to hear,” he said, shuffling out of the bed. “I’m next door if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“Think nothing of it. Sleep well, Ais.”
Caer thought he was having the best night of his life. Everything was new and strange and wonderful. He’d never tasted food like this before, never heard music of this quality, never thrown a girl into the air or ridden on the back of a mechanical wargi.
It was perfect. Wonderful.
And Aislinn was there, Aislinn with a grin like fire, her body swaying against his, her skin so, so close…
And even if he couldn’t touch her right then, the palace was nearby. They would go back afterwards and…
And do whatever she let him do.
