Page 155 of Crown of Briars
We would share a room. A bed.
She was mine in earnest. My wife. My equal.
My chest felt so light I thought I might float away.
Sybelle inched over to the door closest to us. She slowly creaked it open, peering cautiously through the crack to the other side.
She exhaled in relief. “Thank you!” she called out, her gazefixed on the ceiling. Over her shoulder, she shot me another grin.
Just before she stepped through the door, I told her, “I intend to bed you thoroughly tonight, wife.”
Her cheeks flushed. “I would be quite disappointed if you didn’t, husband.”
I couldn’t contain my smile as she stepped into our chambers, letting the door snap shut behind her.
I bathed and dressed before seeking out Tislora in the apothecary. For the first time, I found the room empty, though steam from the cauldron still filtered through the air. She clearly hadn’t been gone for long because the contents within were churning and bubbling.
With a frown, I returned to the hall and placed my hand on the doorknob. I decided to try Sybelle’s strategy of speaking directly to the enchantment surrounding me.
“Er, castle?” I asked, feeling ridiculous. “If you know where Tislora is, could you guide me to her?”
Mother of Shade, this was utterly stupid.
Exhaling in exasperation, I turned the handle and pulled open the door. I faced a dark, narrow hall. Metal clanging and loud voices echoed from within.
I stepped forward, immediately noting the smell of spiced herbs and charred meat.
This was the hall to the kitchens.
“All right, castle,” I muttered under my breath. “Let’s see what you want me to find here.”
I strode forward, following the commotion of the kitchen staff. I paused at an open door to my left when a shuffling sound drew my attention.
The medicine room. The same place I had found Sybelle when she had been searching for birch root.
My brows furrowed as I realized why she’d needed it. She claimed it was a cure for headaches. I hadn’t believed her at the time.
But now I knew: It must have been for her dragon.
“Damn it,” hissed a familiar voice, jarring me from my thoughts.
I entered the medicine room and found Tislora with her wings tucked against her body as she tried to reach for a jar of forest green powder on one of the shelves. She cut a glance at me, her teeth bared.
“Damn this unseelie body,” she growled. Glasses clinked as the talons on her wings nearly knocked several vials to the floor.
“Here.” I stepped in and grabbed the jar she was reaching for. My wings folded more tightly than hers did, likely because mine weren’t as strong.
“Thank you,” she grumbled before taking the jar. “What are you doing here?” She inhaled deeply, then looked at me with narrowed eyes. “You smell different.”
Shit. I’d been afraid of this. After such vigorous intercourse with Sybelle, it would be easy to scent the lingering arousal that likely still clung to my body.Sybelle’sarousal. I had hoped that bathing in the hot springs would mask it.
Tislora uttered a sharp gasp, and I closed my eyes in defeat. Damn it all.
“You bedded her, didn’t you?” she asked.
I heaved a sigh. Stalling for time, I turned and softly closed the door of the medicine room. It was quite cramped, but nothing could be done about it.
When I faced Tislora, she stared at me with a wrinkle between her brows, her eyes sparking with a mixture of anger and amusement.
