Page 58 of Stolen Threadwitch Bride
The words, all of them, fluttered in my belly. Frightening. Exciting.
Wasn’t I being brave tonight? Bold Ariadne wouldn’t remain silent, she would reply. So I would.
“Isn’t that what this is?” I lifted my chin, not quite enough to meet his lips again. “Wasn’t that what I was inviting when I did this?” My fingers followed that same line of his jaw, harder this time, letting the stubble scrape my fingertips so they tingled.
Despite the cool night air, his skin was much warmer this time.
He closed his eyes, pressing against my hand. “I think I’ve found a new light in the night sky,” he murmured before piercing me with his gaze again. “My evening star.”
My heart skipped a beat at that. I’d always hated anyone calling me “my” anything, but “my evening star” from him? I shivered, grip tightening on his jacket.
A smile flickered across his face, and he grazed one canine across my lower lip, the touch so light it made my breath hitch.
Then his mouth covered mine in a kiss that was anything but exploratory. This claimed me and yet as I pulled him close, letting him stand between my thighs, this was also a kiss that gave.
Every teasing touch, every long look, everyalmostmoment there had been between us: he gave me what it had promised in that kiss, in the press of his hard body against mine, in the hand at my back making the jewels jangle in a sound that merged with the distant music indoors.
I arched and wrapped my legs around him, wanting, greedy, aching, and he pressed against me, hard upon the softness at the apex of my thighs. I was liquid fire in his hold.
“Ahem.”
I jerked away, a gasp jolting through me.
Ly straightened, still holding my back so I didn’t topple over the balustrade.
“It’s time for the run.” Boyd’s voice, even more clipped and cool than usual.
Goosebumps crept up my left leg, reminding me it was bare, thanks to the slit in my skirt and where Ly was flush against me.
“Very good.” He bit his lip as a grin tugged at it. “We’ll be right there.”
“Oh, I’m sure you will.” Boyd’s footsteps faded away.
I gulped down a long breath, trying to calm the frantic pounding of my heart from all we’d done and the sudden interruption.
“Come on, my evening star”—Ly’s grin softened to a smile—“we have a Calan Mai game to play.”
Calan Mai
Either excitement or dread trickled down my back. The forest was warmer, damper than the terrace, and in its fae light flecked darkness, I was alone. Although it was a new moon, Ly’s wards kept us safe from the Wild Hunt and other fae dangers.
He wouldn’t be able to keep doing that if he didn’t get the seed back from Goren. I shivered at the reminder.
As we’d walked here arm in arm, he’d explained their tradition to me. Every Calan Mai, they unleashed a wolpertinger with silver-painted antlers into the forest. The guests separated and fanned out. Whoever caught the fae creature won a boon from the lord of the land—in this case, Ly.
Part of me whispered that I might be able to use that boon to break the Tithe and return to Briarbridge.
Another part of me that had grown louder since speaking to the Lady of the Lake posed the question: did I really want to?
Skirts gripped in one hand, I crept between the trees and winced—both at the question and the sound of my steps as I cracked twigs and rustled through the undergrowth.
Briarbridge and Rose had been the two constants in my life. Constants were comforting and comfortable. They’d helped me get through the death of my parents. I loved Rose, missed her and our weekly visits from Annon. But did I love Briarbridge? Did I really miss anyone else there?
A glimmer of light shone through the trees ahead—perhaps a clearing. Although I was safe from the Wild Hunt, my heart thudded fast and heavy in my chest. Logic andknowingwere no antidote for instinct, and mine jangled along every nerve, hissing that forests at night were danger incarnate and fae forests, far worse.
So I aimed for that light like a moth throwing itself at a flame.
Ly had promised he would come and find me, but there was no sign of him yet. Still, as I passed between the trees towards the clearing, my eyes strained for a hint of violet-blue gleaming hair.
