As he reached around the back of my neck and kissed me hard, he sent through the bond,It’s an old but efficient one.
Krew deepened the kiss, as if he didn’t know his father was there, and I pulled the lapel of his tailcoat, bringing him in even closer. He didn’t stop and neither did I until the king made a noise clearing his throat.
Krew snapped his head that direction but made no move to let go of me. “Bother me tomorrow, Father. It is my birthday, and I am decidedly busy at the moment.”
Krew’s voice was ice cold.
The king put up a hand. “Well since you didn’t like my first gift to you, your tastes having changed, I was only going to let you know that another gift will be delivered in the morning to your room before you disappeared for good.”
“Okay. Canyoudisappear now?” Rarely had I heard Krew regard his father so cruelly. Even if he was continuing to trail his lips across my collar bone.
The king, rather than getting angry, smirked. “Happy birthday, my son.”
Krew didn’t wait for him to leave before his lips were back on mine. As I peeked to make sure the king was really gone, I considered all he’d just said.
“Wait,” I gasped, shoving Krew back. “What does he mean your tastes have changed?”
Krew let out a defeated sigh. “Years ago. When I was mourning Cessa...”
It all clicked. “You slept with the acrobats?”
He gave me a nod. “Yes.”
I wanted to be mad, I wanted to be jealous. It was more than awkward considering the king had just implied the acrobats had been one of Krew’sbirthday gifts, but I also knew I had a past too. Still, I couldn’t help but be curious. I could be jealous all I wanted, but I couldn’t deny they were beautiful. “Which one?”
Krew winced and took a small step back from me. “Both of them.”
He looked like he was preparing for my magic to attack him, his eyes traveling my arms and looking to my palms. Seeing him preparing for my wrath did something funny to my heart. So he had a past with those women. He’d also sent them away immediately and sought me out. He didn’t let the acrobat sitting on the arm of his chair stay there for even a half of a song.
Rather than use my magic on him, a giggle escaped out my lips. Then another. “You just looked so concerned I was going to really,” I looked around to make sure no one else was with us, “attackyou.”
“Do you blame me? So much feistiness contained in such a small person.” Krew’s lips curled into a smile. “Let’s get to the dismissing portion of the evening, shall we?”
“Let me guess, having feelings again, are you?”
He grabbed me by the hand and pulled me away from the scratchy green tree. “Numerous feelings. Including feelings of making any doubt bouncing around in your cunning head vanish.”
Within the hour, we were back in Krew’s wing doing exactly that.
* * *
There wasa knock on the door. Realizing my sound barrier was still up from the night before, I brought my fingertips into my palm to drop the barrier before someone saw my color of magic.
If it was Owen coming to wake me for a session, he wouldn’t have knocked. And if it was Silvia, Owen would have notified me first.
So whoever it was, wasn’t normal.
Realizing I was still very much without clothes, I checked to make sure the sheets and blankets were covering everything adequately.
“What?” Krew snapped from next to me.
The door opened and a man carrying a silver box came in. “A delivery for you, Your Grace.”
Without so much as looking toward the bed, the man dropped the package onto the couch and then left as swiftly as he’d come.
“Not more presents,” I groaned as soon as he was gone, grabbing my light pink silk robe I kept next to my side of the bed. All I typically slept in anymore was a silk night dress, so I kept the robe close by for better coverage.
Krew grabbed for me, but I was already out of reach, sliding into my robe and slippers.
