Page 56 of Winter Queen
* * *
I don’t knowwhen I fell asleep, but I didn’t get enough of it. I rub my eyes, yawning loudly.
“You’re cute when you’re tired,” Crispin chuckles. If I wasn’t so exhausted, I’d throw a pillow at him. Instead, I just snuggle against his warm body and pretend to be still asleep. I’m ignoring the fact that Tamara is in the room, and that she just woke me.
“Your Guardians have reached Castle Tioram,” she tells us, and I groan. Her voice is too loud. I want to sleep.
Mornings are evil.
“I know,” I mutter into my pillow.
“How?” Crispin asks in confusion.
“Bond.”
“You can talk through your bond to the others now?” he asks and I realise I haven’t told him yet what happened between me and Frost.
“No.”
“Are you only going to answer with one word from now on?”
“Yes.”
Tamara laughs softly. “I’ll leave you two to it. Council meeting is in half an hour.”
I groan again, cursing life and sleep and tiredness and everything.
What did I do to deserve this?
Oh yes, I was born to a Goddess and a Guardian. Stupid genes.
Crispin gently kisses me on the forehead, running his hands over my shaved scalp.
“Lips,” I grumble and he laughs, his chest vibrating against mine.
He does as I ask and the morning begins to look up a little.
* * *
It’sstrange not to have Magnus in attendance. In his place there’s a blond-haired Guardian with stubble covering his chin and puffy cheeks, looking excited. Oh my, I hope he’s up to the job. We can’t afford having to train a replacement for our Treasurer now. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to dismiss Magnus after all – but no, he was a liability. Some fresh thinking will help the Council.
“My name is Anthony, Your Highness,” he introduces himself enthusiastically. “It’s a pleasure to have the chance to serve you and the Realm.”
Gwain is rolling his eyes at the young man’s enthusiasm, but luckily, Anthony doesn’t seem to notice.
“Welcome to the Council, Anthony. It’s good to have you join us. Have you been able to catch up on Magnus’s tasks.”
“Yes, my Lady, I mean, Your Highness. I was already doing a lot of those tasks anyway, so it’s not much of a change.”
To be honest, I’m not surprised that Magnus had his assistant do his own job. The Treasurer always had the air of someone lazy and self-entitled.
“Good. Let me know if you need any help or assistance. Now that you’re the acting Treasurer, you should probably have your own assistant. Do you have someone in mind?”
He nods enthusiastically. “My husband would be perfect for the job. He’s had the same training I’ve had.”
“Perfect. I’m sure Tamara will arrange his salary and contract.”
The Mistress of the Household nods in approval and I turn to her, away from the new Treasurer.
