Page 60 of Thief of Souls
Both males wear an expression as if they heard cracks lancing through the ice beneath them.
Keir cuts in sharply. “I told you—”
“A male can tell by a single kiss.” I arch a brow at him. “Yes, I know what you told me while you were wooing me at the Court of Dreams.”
“Ah….” Mistmark looks toward Falion in search of a lifeline.
Strangely enough, it’s the assassin who answers me. “It’s the combination of a female’s scent, her taste, her pheromones…. It ignites a recognition within the male. It speaks to the territorial nature of the beast he once was, when we first conquered these lands, these forests. So when he says he knows by a single kiss, then heknows. Every instinct within him is clamoring to take her to bed and never let her out of there. The urge to breed his child upon her is almost impossible to deny.” Falion shrugs. “It’s a little uncouth, but I’ve seen men I previously thought to be sensible fall prey to such utter nonsense. It happens.”
“It’s not nonsense,” Mistmark warns him, as if this is an old argument they’ve had a million times over. “One day, my friend, you are going to be minding your own business when a female drops into your lap and you’re going to lose all good sense, and I am going tolaughmyself silly over it.”
“Highly. Unlikely.” Falion’s tone drips with frost.
“Hmm.” This is unexpected good fortune in the turn of the conversation. I thought it would take me longer to steer it in this direction. “You’ve felt such a calling before, my lord?”
Mistmark tears his focus from his friend, a faint scowl etched between his brows. “We all know I’m getting married, do we not?”
“Strangely enough, I think I’ve heard the odd mention of it. There’s some low-level betting going on about whether you’re going to get the bride to the altar or not. Some expectyouto cry off, and some expect the bride.”
He sighs. “What can I say? I was granted a boon by the goddess. There are certain stars aligning in my very near future that seem to be playing out precisely as predicted. The Blood Moon is in the skies. I am several days away from being brought to heel. Each and every element is falling into place. Though I have not yet kissed my intended, I daresay even I may be overcome….” His vision grows distant for a second. “Although…. I already thought I’d found her, a long time ago. But I was clearly wrong. So perhaps there is something to be said for some confusion. Is there more than one mate offered for each male? Perhaps. And now I don’t know if I’ve helped your cause, or Keir’s?
I already thought I’d found her….
A little flight of butterflies take wing within me and it’s all I can do to not blurt out,“Three years ago, perhaps?”
Somehow, I keep my mouth shut through sheer force of will.
“Merisel prefers solid facts she can see and feel,” Keir replies, closing his hand over mine. “My lady doubts my intentions.”
“It’s not your intentions I doubt.”
I love the challenge I see written across his face. It feels like Keir’s been in control of this arrangement at every step of the way. A year and a day of service. I owe him some unruly behavior.
“There you are,my love,” says a clipped voice behind me. “My brother’s been looking for you.”
Belladonna. With Anissa standing right behind her like an ever-present shadow.
And here we were, just getting to the interesting part.
“Ah,” Falion mutters under his breath, “I didn’t realize harpy was on the docket for the hunt.”
I’m fairly certain I wasn’t meant to hear that.
I’m also fairly certain I need to do something. Fast. Before Keir makes good on his threat to remove the danger Belladonna presents.
I curl my fingers through his, leaning into his shoulder so he can’t make any sudden moves without dislodging me.
“Beloved,” Mistmark stares at his bride-to-be like a man eyeing a blank chessboard, and plotting his opening move. He offers her a hand. “Would you care to join us?”
“Alas,” Belladonna replies, though her tone belies the smile pasted on her lips. “It appears we’re not going to be having that afternoon to ourselves that we hoped for.”
Dogs bay in the direction of the stables.
“A true shame.” Mistmark finally lowers his hand as if realizing she doesn’t intend to take it. “What’s going on?”
“The huntsman just sent word. The white hart has been seen in the forests near the lake,” Anissa tells him. “Malechus wants to start the hunt early.”
She, at least, sounds excited.
