I wasn’t letting her go until I had to. If I had the power to make this night last forever, I would.
She side-eyed me. “Someone like you would surely prefer widow fingers or orphan ears.”
I swallowed my smile. “I save those delicacies for special occasions. I could always ask Eava to whip some up if you like?”
“I’ll eat the bloody tarts, you loon.”
“Brilliant.” Food sorted. We’d need something to drink as well. And some plates and serviettes. I rolled to my feet, straightening my breeches from where they’d ridden up.
“You’re leaving?”she asked.
“There’s no need to worry your pretty little head. I’ll be back.”
Her eyes flashed.
I loved it when she was angry.
“When I return, I want you wearing your best dress and a smile.” Because if she remained in that robe and shift, I wouldn’t be able to control myself. “Do you hear me, miserable Aveen?” I gave her shoulder a flick.
“I hear you, oh magnanimous prince,” she grumbled, rubbing her shoulder.
I evanesced back to Tearmann, running toward the castle gates and straight to the kitchens.
Eava startled when she saw me.“What’s the gleam in yer eyes about?”
“None of your business, witch. Where are the tarts?”
She turned fully to face me, a smile on her lips. “None of your business, Little Rían.”
Not now, witch.I didn’t have time for this. Every moment I spent here was a moment wasted. “The tarts.”
She flicked her wrist, and a single tart appeared.“Ye can haveone.”
“I need all of them.”
“Why?”
I ground my teeth together. “Forher, all right?”
“Oh! I knew it! I feckin’ knew it!” She hugged me to her chest, damn near breaking my ribs. “When’ll I be meetin’ her?”
“Never. Now can I have the tarts?”
“Surely, after all these years, the Queen—”
“Tarts.”
Eava let out a long sigh before shifting a tray of tarts. I found a decent bottle of wine in the cellar, then pulled out two solid gold plates and a tray. The witch hummed while she packed everything into one of the baskets from the corner press.
I gave her wiry gray head a kiss before popping by my room to change into one of my finest waistcoats. I needed to shift some more furniture as well.
And some flowers.
Lots and lots of flowers.
* * *
When I finally returned to Aveen’s bedroom, I found her sitting at the dressing table, covering her beautiful face with makeup.