A villain, that’s who.
Two lumps of sugar splashed into my cup. I only picked it up to give my hands something to do besides strangle him.
He held the cream toward me. “No cream?”
“No cream.”
By the time he finished preparing his cup, it was more cream than tea.
“What do you mean ‘it’s a gray area’?”
Settling himself against the blue cushion at his back, he took a long, slow sip. “The law says that I cannot shift items from a ship or a shop or a bank, but it does not explicitly state that I cannot shift personal items that have already been purchased if the owner leaves his or her door unlocked.”
Well then. I’d just have to remember to lock my bloody door next time, wouldn’t I?
I took a sip of tea. “And what does the law say about binding spells?”
“It says that if a human is foolish enough to bargain with the fae, she accepts the consequences.” His smile peeked from over his cup. “So, while I appreciate you calling for tea, I must decline your request to remove the spell.”
I wanted to stamp my foot or pull my hair or—or pull his hair. Instead, I set my tea back on the tray. “Why?”
His finger tapped against the chair like the ticking of a clock. “Because using magic to avoid marriage is another gray area. And the fewer people who know of my involvement, the better.”
“My sister would never tell anyone.”
“Forgive me for not taking the word of a liar.”
“I’m not a—” The words melted on my tongue. I had just admitted to lying to him about not telling my sister. What a bloody disaster.
Rían hid his grin in his teacup.
What was the point in staying here if he wasn’t going to give in? I shot to my feet and started toward the door.
I didn’t expect Rían to turn himself back into Lady Marissa and follow me.
“Don’t you have anything better to do?” I hissed, catching the latch and throwing the door aside. Town had gone quiet, with only a few servants darting between shops, carrying canvas bags of fruit and veg.
He skipped behind me, dancing out of the house, not bothering to lock the door. “Ohhhh, angry Aveen is my favorite.”
I hurried to Meranda’s and quickly climbed the three stairs to her door. The bell over the door gave a welcoming jingle.
“Lady Aveen,” Dame Meranda greeted with a broad smile. “I hear congratulations are in order—”
The bell jingled a second time. Rían stood in the entryway, swishing his skirts from side to side.
Meranda’s face paled when Rían wiggled his fingers in a flirtatious wave.
“Would you excuse me for a moment?” I caught Rían by the arm, forcing him behind a tall dress form holding a violet gown with a sequined bodice. “You can’t be here.”
Rolling his eyes, Rían flicked his wrist. “What kind of fiancé would I be if I didn’t accompany my wife to pick out her trousseau?”
I’d already picked out my trousseau but didn’t bother correcting him. “You’re not really my fiancé.”
“It’s best to keep up appearances. You never know who’s watching. And thanks to my brilliant disguise”—he fluffed his skirts—“the humans won’t mind.” In my ear, he whispered, “Unless someone catches us kissing in a dark shed.”
Memories of yesterday at the beach came flooding back, bringing with them the forbidden heat of desire deep in my belly. I could taste his magic. Feel his lips. His body.
Choose how I unravel you.