Page 136 of The Spider Queen
“Have you ever been able to make them sing?”
Thane looked back at me over his shoulder and smiled. “Once.”
I opened my mouth to ask another question, but he shook his head. “Leave your questions for the moment. Please?”
I thought about protesting. I’d been kept in the dark long enough, but the look on his sculpted face had me pausing. “All right. But will you at least tell me where we’re going?”
“Here,” he said, stepping aside to reveal a large placid lake. It looked silver and white in the moonlight, and I wondered about its true color. The ground was covered in green moss. My feet pressed into the damp and spongy soil as Thane led me toward the lagoon. A blanket covered in dishes of food greeted us.
My stomach moaned in anticipation.
Thane laughed, brought our hands to his lips again. Once I got settled and tucked my bare legs underneath me, I took a moment to look around.
“It’s beautiful here,” I commented. Beyond the Veil was serene and soothing.
He smiled and sat down on the blanket across from me. “Wine?”
I nodded, inhaling the aroma of food. Nothing had ever smelled so decadent. I couldn’t wait to gorge myself.
Thane poured two glasses of a deep red wine and handed me one. Looking into my eyes, he clinked his goblet against mine. I took a sip and gasped in surprise.
“Oh! I wasn’t expecting that,” I said with a laugh, setting the wine glass down.
“What did it taste like for you?” he wondered.
“Spicy pomegranates.” I frowned. “Did it not taste like that to you?”
“Pixie wine. It’s charmed to taste different for each individual.”
My eyes widened, fascinated. “What does it taste like to you?”
“Cherries,” he said, voice dropping with a raspy purr. “And plums.”
I was captivated by his stare, but then he moved and released me. I shook my head, feeling like I was under a spell.
Needing to get something into my belly, I reached for a slice of dark brown bread. Thane’s hands were there first. “May I?” he asked.
“Oh. Okay.”
He slathered the bread with butter before handing it to me. “I want to do everything for you tonight. Will you let me, Poppy?”
Feeling as though he was asking me something I didn’t understand, I nodded anyway.
“We’re safe,” he said. “Nothing can harm us here.”
Relief curled through me, and a sigh I didn’t know I was holding in escaped my mouth. “Are you—did I—free you?”
He smiled. “Not yet.”
“Then how can you beyou?”
“It’s this place. It only accepts the true forms of beings. Benevolent magical beings that can normally take a different form can only be themselves here.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
He reclined on the blanket, propped his hand under his head, and looked at me. I tried not to get distracted by his bare chest, but it was impossible.
“Take water trolls, for instance.”
