I had missed most of the visit to the blacksmith because I had been checking up on a possible draining from a townsperson we hadn’t had on our list. Turned out to be a simple ague though.
“Thanks.” I put them on, smiling. The people of Leafshire Cove made these for me under this gorgeous witch’s advice.
“What’s that face for?” Tully asks me in a whisper while Rustion instructs the builders on the final keystone at the top of the structure.
“It’s silly.”
“Tell me,” she orders. “I saved your life. You owe me.”
“It’s just… I didn’t realize the folks here would welcome me so easily.”
“You didn’t? You certainly acted like you were welcome from day one.”
I drop a quick kiss on her forehead, which sends a thrill through me. She rests her head on my chest and takes a deep breath. I envelop her in my arms.
“You must be exhausted. I wish I could do this next magical task for you, but of course, as you never fail to remind me, I’m no witch.”
She sets her lips against the base of my throat and flicks out her tongue as if she is a snake tasting the air. “I can do this. I don’t want you in there, but I know better by now that your arrogant arse won’t listen.”
“Correct.”
I kiss her hair. I’m no longer truly worried about another minotaur seeing us kiss and deeming her as mine forever, but I was trained to believe that so it’s tough not to feel like I’m claiming her. I would love to claim her. I wonder what she would think of that. Would she ever commit to being one person’s mate? And if she did, could we ever have proper sex? I don’t even know for sure if we’re physically compatible. I mean, we are, but we might not be in every way.
“The only reason I’m not fighting you more is because if I pass out,” she says, “I’ll need someone to drag my arse out of there, so I can heal and try again.”
“I will always be up for dragging your arse.”
She shakes with a laugh, and I adore the feeling of her happy in the circle of my arms.
If I could persuade her to be my mate, what could I offer? I have nothing. I have less than nothing—I have a multitude of problems. I don’t want to pull her into all of that. She saidshe wanted to help me with raising the money, but it’s not her problem and I don’t want it to be.
“Tully, now is the worst time to bring this up, but how much are you enjoying this thing we have going on?”
She stills in my arms. “Too much.”
I huff a laugh. “All right. Why isn’t it exactly the right amount?”
“Because I’m a witch. You’re too good for me.”
I take her arms and hold her so that I can look into her face. Her chin is sharp and her eyes sharper even in the gloam of the day’s last veil of light.
“You are good, Tully. You can act snippy and fiery all you want, but you have a heart of gold. If I had any money, I’d bet it all on that fact.”
A slow, reluctant smile ghosts over her mouth and she sets her hands on my chest. I lift one and kiss her fingers.
“But you do smell like pickles.”
“I’m not the only one.”
Chapter 23
Tully
Cyrus, Rustion, Romulus, and Laini wave encouragement before they brick up the door of the room. The place is pitch black. I know the mirror is in the center of the structure and the stones are now in my pockets, but I can’t see them at all.
“Is the darkness a problem?” Argos asks.
“No, I’ll use my witch’s third eye.”
