Page 106 of The Shadow Prince's Ruin
My curiosity is like an itch, but I put down the flask. “I’m afraid I have plans with my husband.”
His shoulders sag, but he nods. “I’m sorry for pushing.”
I stop myself from rolling my eyes. “It’s fine. I appreciate the enthusiasm. In the meanwhile, letting the flask just sit there fora week can be our first experiment. When I come back, we will see whether they’re still floating, or if they sink to the bottom of the container.”
Peregrin’s eyes widen, and he removes the mask as I kill the fire underneath the vial holding the sunset gem. “Is there anything in particular you’d like me to work on while you’re gone? My knowledge of herbs still leaves a lot to be desired, so if you don’t require me to do any preparation for your experiments, I shall dedicate myself to my studies.”
I give him a once over as I take off my robe. While he could indeed spend more time studying, my year with Hawk has taught me personal connections are just as important as knowledge, and Peregrin lacks them. “You rarely have time to socialize with other alchemists. Maybe it’s a good opportunity to do so while I’m away. Exchange notes,” I add so he feels there’s an important scientific purpose to this advice.
His chest rises as he inhales. “Of course. I shall… do just that then,” he says.
But my attention slips when I recognize the familiar rhythm of thick and heavy paws. “You’re dismissed.”
Peregrin clears his throat and looks past me just as I hear my husband enter. We had a huge wooden flap installed in the laboratory, so he can get in and out without the need to transform into a human when he doesn’t feel like it, and it falls shut behind his towering form as I turn.
“I’m sorry, I know I said I won’t be long.” The irony of apologizing to him after mentally chastising Peregrin for the same thing is not lost on me. “But we’ve had quite the breakthrough,” I add, approaching my golden Sunwolf when the door closes behind Peregrin. Hawk, ever forgiving, gives a happy yelp before pushing his skull face at my chest. His hot breath tickles me through my thin shirt, and I laugh, scratching him behind the ears.
[That’s all right. I lost my sense of time chasing after a bird. Never seen one like that before. It had feathers as blue as your eyes!] he tells me, wagging his tail so rapidly I’m worried about my equipment, so I urge him to sit.
He’s found so much joy in being able to transform into the Sunwolf, and I love to listen about his exploits in the forest. I’ve also heard gossip about him giving rides to children in the local village, but I dare not confront him about it, as I’d have to urge him to stop. As long as I pretend not to know, I don’t have to take a stand.
“You’re just adorable. Did you make sure to avoid crossing Dame Tallin’s patch? She wasn’t pleased that you stepped on her vegetables last time.” I give the golden bone he has for a face a kiss to soften the tone of my question.
Dame Tallin is a good friend of my mother, or as close to a friend as she can have, and while I don’t speak to my family anymore, the last thing I need is the two of them having a new reason to badmouth my beloved.
Hawk grunts. [It’s a shortcut.] But moments later, I’m blinded by light. By the time I’m able to open my eyes again, a naked hunk is kneeling in front of me, with both arms locked around my midsection.
My face flushes. “Hawk! I told you not to transform naked! What if there’s an emergency that requires you to shift in front of others?” I stifle the need to cover his shoulders with a blanket and kiss the top of his head. He’s so impulsive, but I can’t help but find that quality attractive. On the upside, our rooms are next door, so it’s not like he’ll be strutting through the palace without any underwear.
He shrugs and offers me a cocky grin. “Kyran said he doesn’t mind. And who’s to argue with him?”
Typical Hawk. Talking about the Lord of the Nocturne Court, the protector of the realm, as if he were a friend from the tavern. Who couldnotlove this man?
“Well, I imagineKyranwould not be happy if you walked around naked in front of his husband. He’s known to threaten men for lesser transgressions. But come, my love, let’s not waste time,” I say yet still give him another kiss before pulling on his hand.
Hawk grunts. Moments later, I’m in his arms and holding on as he carries me past the door, and then upstairs, to the chambers that have been so graciously provided for us. In the past, I would have considered quarters so far away from the Lord’s an affront, but the location is convenient for both me and Hawk, who enjoys the relative freedom provided by the small lodge in the Nocturne Gardens.
“You worry too much. He knows I only have eyes for you.”
I wrap my arms around his shoulders as I look into his eyes. I’ve learned to love their darkness, as it’s a part of Hawk now, like the golden tattoos on his face and the sharp teeth. All those features are a testament to the sacrifice he was ready to make for me.
“Are you saying you’ve beentalkingto the Lord about such things?”
Hawk shrugs. “Nah, it just came up when we talked about the wedding anniversary.”
He is impossible. And I love it.
“Speaking of which, get dressed. We need to be at the port by moondown. Have you fed Bloodgore?” I point out the red frog in its grand terrarium. We may have lost the redpole from Tassarion’s disposal, but I gifted Hawk a new one not long after we settled in here. It’s been growing since, and is now the size of his fist. I dread to think how big it will still get, but my man loves it, so I’ll just deal with what comes accordingly.
Hawk nods, but his pitch-black eyes widen as he puts me down in our front room, which is filled with books and the games Hawk had me import from the human realm. One of those caused a week of strife between Lord Kyran and myself. A board game called A Game of Thrones. The night when we both played it with our respective husbands got unreasonably heated as we argued over the rules, the betrayals, and then over who won. Hawk hated it, since he lost his army within the first hour of the match. He ended up dozing off but my violent argument with Lord Kyran woke him up. I’m not proud of my moment of madness. In the end, we had to agree to a peace brokered by Luke, which involved a Nocturne Court-wide ban on the game.
I turn on the lamp Hawk helped me construct out of numerous glass vials. It’s a more elaborate version of the lava lamp I owned in the human realm, as that one couldn’t be recovered and is no doubt being passed on the black market. I don’t even mind, as while a nice memento of our troubled journey, it doesn’t work without electricity anyway.
“Where are we going?” Hawk asks.
“It’s a surprise, but one I’m pretty sure you will appreciate.”
I grab my cane as he dresses. I wish my leg could have healed better, but despite the efforts of the best medics, I’ve been left with a bit of a limp. But it’s a price I was willing to pay for Hawk’s safety and happiness.
