So I decided to spend my first—and likelyonly—day off with my hostage.
A day that would start with a cherry tart. I’d asked Eava to make them specifically for Aveen, and she’d been more than happy to oblige. Just like the flower seeds Aveen planted, I wanted to plant myself in every moment of her day. From the color of the dresses she wore to the tart on her breakfast tray. I wanted to be everywhere with her, even when I wasn’t.
After the executions, I had some paperwork to finish and names to write in my ledgers. Best to get all the tedious shite out of the way in the morning so I could have a free run at the day. When I finished, I poured myself a drink, preparing to do battle with my beautiful hostage.
I found her up in the tower, chatting to her sister the way I used to chat to her. If she knew, would she smile or frown? Probably the latter.
“I miss you,” Aveen said to her dead sister.
Her fondness made no sense. Keelynn had been as annoying as a burr in one’s boot. She and Tadhg had that in common, I supposed. No wonder fate thought they were perfect for one another. What I wouldn’t have given for an entire year without Tadhg. Just the thought left a smile playing on my lips.
“And I misshimtoo,” she whispered, as if it were a secret, sordid confession.
My throat felt so tight, I could barely swallow my sip of whiskey.
Himwho? Him me? Surely not.
But what other him could she mean? Not Ruairi. She’d been with him all week.
Had Aveen really missedme?
“Silly isn’t, it?” she went on. I held my breath, letting each word steal a little more darkness. “You wouldn’t think it was silly, though, would you? You’d think it was romantic. You’d tell me I should let him sweep me off my feet.”
My smile faltered.
Heroes swept women off their feet, not villains.
“I do not sweep women off their feet,” I said once a tost was in place, watching Aveen’s shoulders stiffen. “I drag them down with me.”
She turned slowly, her throat and neck—even the tops of her ears—blushing the sweetest shade of pink. “How much of that did you hear?”
Only the best bits. I tried to take a drink, but my smile made it nearly impossible. Aveenhadmissed me. “Did you just miss me today, or have you been pining over my absence all week?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” She was trying to deny it, but the way her blush darkened as she stomped past told a different story.
I could’ve called her back, but there was something more enticing about the idea of facing her wrath when she walked straight into the tost’s invisible wall. I stepped behind her, breathing her in. Filling my lungs with gardens and sunshine, goodness and light. “I missed you too, my little viper. Will I show you how much?”
We were so close, I could count the goosebumps riddling her arms. “That sounds like torture,” she said, soft and breathless.
You have no idea. “It would be.” I’d make it the most delicious, delightful, delirious experience. She didn’t slap me or curse me or tell me to go to hell. My beautiful hostage turned, giving me full access to her throat, her heaving chest, her full hips.
My darkness writhed, begging for her.
Something akin to hope swelled within me.
A dangerous, addictive thing.
A dark shape moved in my peripherals. When I found the pooka scowling down at us, I let go of my human with a curse. Disbanding the tost without immediately murdering him for interrupting drained my daily allotment of patience. Aveen’s gaze dropped to her slippers, her face still flushed.
“I’ve been shouting fer ye,” Ruairi announced, his voice gruff and eyes lingering a bit too long on Aveen.
I took a drink to keep from strangling him. “We’re a little busy.”
“He’s in an awful state,” Ruairi said with a scowl.
“Does he not realize what day it is?”
“Oh, he knows. He’s waitin’ in the great room now.”