“Your lovely sister has a point,” I said. “I hear wicked creatures prowl these forests from dusk until dawn.”
Rage flared in Aveen’s eyes.
“It isn’t as dangerous as all that,” Lord Bannon countered. “But I must agree with Keelynn. You should stay here tonight. Stay as long as you’d like.”
“Why thank you, Lord Bannon.” I threw in a curtsey like a good little lady. “You are most kind.”
“Come, Marissa,” the sister said. Aveen’s grip loosened just enough for Keelynn to tug me into the wide hall leading to the grand staircase. “I’ll show you up to the spare room.” Our skirts brushed as we crossed to the staircase and climbed toward the bedrooms.
Aveen came hurtling behind us, slipping and falling straight into me. I caught her before she could topple headfirst down the stairs.
“Marissa will need something to sleep in, and your night dresses will be far too slim,” she announced loudly enough to wake the feckin’ dead.
Aveen’s sister gave her a worried look before shrugging and saying goodnight. Then off she went, gliding away. I didn’t pay attention to which room she entered. All that mattered was that Aveen was leading me to her bedroom.
I had no objections to sharing a room with her, but “ladies” who were “good” and “kind” didn’t share beds with men like me.I held my breath, waiting to hear what sleeping arrangements she would suggest.
“This has gone on long enough,” she said. “You need to go away. Now.”
A better man would’ve done just that.
But I wasn’t a better man, and I wanted to see how the night played out. Tadhg wouldn’t be able to keep the ward there much longer. I could probably find a way to break through, but that would require too much magic I didn’t feel like wasting.
I flicked my wrist for show. “Looks like you’re stuck with me a little while longer. Could you imagine what would happen if it never came back and I had to stay here forever?”
Her glassy eyes narrowed. “I can’t think of anything worse.”
“She’s feisty when she’s drunk. I like it.” The more bite, the better.Make me hurt, beautiful.
When she tried to settle her fists on her hips, they slipped right off, and she stumbled forward. “I’m not drunk.”
Liar, liar, skirts on fire.“I’ve known my share of drunk women, and you, my dear, are sozzled.” I gave her upturned nose a flick, loving the way she hissed in a breath. Knowing she hated it made me want to do it again. “Now, if the drunk lady would kindly show me to the spare room, I would like to get out of this feckin’ corset.” It wasn’t uncomfortable per se, but it did keep my lungs from expanding fully.
“You’re not staying in the spare room. You can stay here.”
Hell yes.We could get up to all sorts of mischief together once she sobered up.
“I’ll take the spare room,” she finished.
Dammit.
“But you must promise not to leave this chamber,” she added as an afterthought.
I laced my smile with just enough sarcasm to imply that I had no intention of doing just that. “I promise.”
“I mean it, Rían. You must swear on your own life that you will not set foot out of this room.”
My smile widened. I couldn’t help it, could I? She looked so pretty when she was irritated. “I swear.”
Aveen launched the pillow at my face, then stomped over to the armoire to retrieve two night dresses. As if I’d waste magic by holding this glamour in my sleep. She demanded I change into the dress and sleep on the floor.
What did she think I was, a feckin’ dog? The Queen would relinquish her hold on the Forest before I slept on a feckin’ floor. “I’m not sleeping on a floor when there’s a perfectly good bed right there.”
“You’re not sleeping with me.”
“Not drunk, my arse.” Had she forgotten the plan already? “You’re sleeping in the spare bedroom, remember?”
“It is clear that I cannot trust you to stay on your own. I will stay here all night and guard you.” She offered me the shift, as if I’d be caught dead sleeping in it.