Page 123 of Mountain of Mirrors and Starlight
“You kissed him.”
She shook her head. “No, I didn’t. I came close. But I didn’t want to kiss Tiberius. I wanted to kiss you. But I didn’t want to stop there, and I didn’t want that to be our first time, partly because of the risks and partly because… it’s different when you’re in heat. It isn’t the same. I didn’t want that for us.” She dabbed at her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“You’ve just said sorry three times, Faerie.”
“And I meant each one of them.”
Caer leaned across and tugged on her sleeve. “So, you didn’t want to kiss the prince?”
“No.”
“You wanted to kiss me.”
“Very much so.”
“You didn’t run away because you didn’t like me.”
“Never.”
“You’ll be held to that now, Faerie Princess.”
Aislinn swallowed. “I don’t mind.”
Caer sighed, half laughing. He ran a hand through his hair. “I really wish you’d told me all this back at the palace.”
“Me too,” she admitted. “Although… possibly a bad idea.”
“Why’s that?”
“I’m still in heat. Be difficult for me to keep my hands off you.”
Caer’s throat bobbed. “God,” he said, “I… really want to kiss you right now.”
Aislinn held out a gloved finger. “Later?” she suggested.
He wrapped his finger around hers. “It’s a promise.”
The entrance to the Deep was as grand as the entrance to Avalinth itself, another colossal door of stone and iron, set deep into the rock on the outskirts of the city. The doors opened to reveal a long, dark tunnel, with another smaller door at the end. It opened onto an empty, square room, devoid of doors or windows.
Caer frowned, as did the rest of the mortals and faeries.
The rest of the party filed in.
“What?” said Minerva, noticing their hesitation.
“Where are we going?” Caer asked.
“Down.”
“But… how?”
“It’s a lift, boy. We used to have staircases leading to the various levels, but the problem was that most of the monsters worked out how to use stairs. They haven’t learned to operate the lift, yet.”
Caerwyn stared at her. “I’m really not enjoying the use of the wordyet.”
Beau leant towards him. “Same.”
“Come on, boys,” said Aislinn, striding forwards, “what’s the matter? Scared?”
