“Don’t inns reuse the same sheets every time they have a new guest?” I asked.
“Yes?”
“That’s disgusting. Just the thought of it had my skin crawling. Sleeping in the same bed as countless strangers with only a quick wash in between. Human cities smelled bad enough as it was. There was no way I could debase my wife by letting her sleep in something as filthy as an inn.”
Cherry snorted before a stream of giggles rang through the air. “You are so weird.”
“Hmm.”
“What’s with the boxes?”
“You had cuts on your heels. So I bought you new shoes.”
“A lot of new shoes, apparently.”
“Are you complaining?”
“Nope,” she said, burrowing further against me.
Lying here like this felt like a dream I never wanted to wake up from. Even if it was only the result of the honeymoon magic’s insistence. It would be a memory I cherished for centuries. Again, the need to steal her away churned in my gut with an awful sickness. A sickness that grew more intense with the knowledge that I had to be the one to ruin this moment. “Princess,” I began.
She elbowed my gut.
“Honey badger,” I amended. “I need to talk to you about our little trip.”
“What’s on your mind?” she asked.
“I’d like to… well,likeisn’t the correct word. But I need to take you to stay with a friend of mine. She’s a human woman and she could take you home if you wish.”
“Where will you be?” she asked, yawning.
I closed my eyes and allowed myself to breathe in the scent of her hair, filled with an ardent need to commit it to memory. “I’ll remain in my castle until you’ve had enough time to decide what you want to do. Unless you ask her to, Usha will not tell me where you live.”
She rolled to face me and settled her head on my arm. “Why?”
This was much harder to do with her facing me. All I wanted to do was pull her closer and kiss her full lips until I was the only thought that crossed her mind. “I spoke with Fallon the Shadow Dragon this morning.”
“The one that you helped kill Myva?”
“The very same. He and Felix, a werewolf acquaintance of ours, both have human wives. They mentioned you would feel more comfortable if I left you in the care of another human woman and let you be.”
Her nose scrunched as she searched my face. “Why would they tell you that?”
“They think you’re scared of me.” I gave in to temptation and traced my thumb along the rich dark skin of her jaw. “Are you scared of me, Cherry?”
“I suppose I should be,” she mused. “Yet somehow I get the feeling that I’m not the terrified party here.”
Hope was a terrible thing, and I stomped it down before I gave too much weight to her words. “Still, they think—”
She put a finger to my lips. “I’m not their wife, I’m yours. You promised to take me anywhere, and I want to see a unicorn.” Her gaze drifted as she trailed off. “Maybe a cyclops too. Oh, wait, are ghosts real?”
I’m yours.The words echoed in my mind like a sweet caress.
My voice took on a strained edge as I resisted the urge to crush her to me. “You attempted to brave the horrors of Volsog to get away from me. What’s changed?”
She raised her brow. “You and your little buddies released hoards of dangerous monsters into the world. Without the goddess’ protective barrier, my home would be an easy target for attacks. I haven’t decided if I trust you enough yet to protect us, but I am starting to like you. So I’m staying.”
Such a practical little thing.
