I furrowed my brow, mystified. But then he shot a shiny-eyed glance at the drop behind me, and I understood.
He thought I meant to jump.
I couldn’t help it. I snorted. “Really? I only came out here because I had a bad dream. So you can go ahead and close your mouth.”
He didn’t close his mouth. Whatever he tried to say next stalled in his throat.
I sighed. “Come on. After all these nightmares, you think I’d just give up? If nothing else, you should know I wouldn’t leave Amryssa like that.”
That seemed to reach him. His mouth snicked shut. “Okay. You’re...okay? You’re sure?”
I wasn’t, not really, but I wasn’tnot okayin the way he feared. “I’m fine.”
“All right. But...will you come here? You’re scaring me.”
I frowned. “No. I like it here.”
He eyed the scant inches separating me from a dizzying earthward plunge. “Okay. But...did I hear you downstairs? Just now? Outside my room?”
I paused. Shit. I had no feasible way to explain that.
Thankfully, the shadows rustled, saving me from an answer. Kyven wandered out of the darkness, looking tousled and decadent and utterly unsurprised at finding us here.
“Lioness.” He scrubbed at his mussed hair. “Bad dream?”
I gave Merron aSee?look. “Yep. I just came to get some air.”
“Mmm.” Kyven stretched, catlike. When he raised his arms, his entire torso rippled, muscles standing out in places that seemed physiologically impossible.
It was absurd. So ridiculous that evenMerronwatched. But then the steward’s face closed up. “What’re you doing out here, Your Highness?”
“Trying to lure my wife back to bed.” Kyven scanned Merron with abject disinterest. “What’s your excuse?”
“I’m...” Merron glanced to me for help.
I shook my head. If he expected me to admit to lingering by his door in front of my temporary-but-still-very-legal husband, then...nope.
Not going there.
“I’m trying to get her away from the edge,” Merron said uncertainly. “I don’t like her standing so close.”
Kyven snickered and strolled to a bench. “How unfortunate for you. Because last I checked, she could stand wherever she damn well pleases.”
At that, my stupid heart swelled and swelled. Kyven draped himself atop the bench, perfectly at ease. Meanwhile, Merron tensed like a matchstick curved against two thumbs.
They were both looking straight at me. But seeing two completely different people.
“Go back to bed, Merron,” I said, softening my dismissal with a step away from the brink. “I’m sorry I scared you.”
He studied me, plainly affronted, then threw his hands up and padded back down to the attic.
Once he’d gone, Kyven winked.
I expelled a sigh. “Don’t do that.”
“What?” A smirk curved his mouth. “I didn’t say a thing.”
“You didn’t have to. Your face did all the talking.”
