Surah stood absolutely still, back to Malin as the male stepped around the counter behind her. Felt the heat of the Prince’s body. Hair on Surah's back rose as her skin pimpled. The backs of her thighs and buttocks tensed from the tingling. Malin stood not even the width of a hand behind her and Surah knew if she shifted, just a little, she could press herself against the stone hard body and hope the arms would wrap aroundher.
Surah saw from her peripheral vision hands hovering on either side of her head. Felt the pads of Malin’s fingers sweep slowly through long strands of her hair. She suppressed a tiny shudder as a callused fingertip brushed the edge of her earlobe. Her ears were doublysensitive.
Malin lowered his head, breath warm on Surah's neck. “I don’t see any glass,” the gargoyle said quietly. “We’re courting. You said a long time ago it doesn’t go against your oath as adoctor.”
“No.”
Malin’s hands left Surah's hair, hovering in the air on either side of the doctor’s shoulders. Cupped, as if the palms were filled withflesh.
“Then as we arecourting, do you think I don’t have a right to be angry someone tried to take you away fromme?”
“I understand anger. Just not the violenttemper.”
Malin laughed softly. “Surah. That was not violence, or temper. When I go to Geza, to teach him how a Princeshouldrespond to a threat to his bloodlines,thatwill be temper.Violence.”
Surah turned, almost in Malin’s arms. “Do you loveme?”
Malin froze, a split second where some unnamed emotion flashed in his eyes. Then he relaxed again. “Ofcourse.”
“Then don’t confront Geza,” Surah said. “That is likely what Lavinia wants. For you to prove how unstable you are, and maybe as a bonus, kill each other. He is my brother. You—” Surah paused. “I don’t want either of yourdeaths.”
“You don’t have any right to ask that ofme.”
“I do.” Surah held Malin’s eyes. “I haven’t given you the right to avengeme.”
The Prince’s haughty smile was both sad and bitter. “And if I take the right? What then, mylove?”
Surah stepped away from him, those two words snatching her breath. He said them so easily. “I won’t play games with you. Please don’t start a war withGeza.”
Malin was silent several moments, but in the end, he agreed. He would not fight his brother. He would not weaken their bloodline, or the seat of the Prince. But he would confront Lavinia—and Surah was fine with that. In a fight between the two of them, her money was on Malin. Who, astonishingly, wanted Surah to remainbehind.
“I’m not a child.” Surah said, eyes wide in outrage. “I’m coming withyou.”
