Page 72 of Stolen Threadwitch Bride
“This is the best.” He pointed at one that was flat and round and a vibrant orange-yellow. It had two parts with buttercream and what might’ve been lemon curd sandwiched in the middle. “It’s a macaron. Tastes like sunshine, and I guarantee it’ll make you smile.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Tastes like sunshine? Is this like your magic tasting of starlight?”
He bit his lip in this way that made me ache to kiss him. “You noticed that, then?”
“Of course I did.”
“Well, this is… more of a metaphorical sunshine. It’s flavoured with yuzu, this knobbly-looking citrus fruit Sallis and Hobb grow in the orangery. But”—he inhaled and touched his chest, shaking his head—“the flavour always reminds me of the best summer days.”
His gaze went distant, like he was drifting off in memories, and I wanted to know them—allof them. My heart stuttered at the realisation.
I wasn’t just falling, I’d tumbled all the way down and had landed.
“I’ve stunned her to silence,” he murmured, the dimple making an appearance.
I didn’t dare speak. If I did, for all that I could lie, I might blurt the terrifying truth. My pulse roared in my ears, almost as loud as when I’d fled the sluagh or Goren’s not-changeling.
“Ari, are you—?”
“Ahem.” Boyd.
Of course. Was he destined to appear every time I realised something about my feelings for Ly or our relationship took a new direction?
And was he back to repeat his earlier sentiments?You’re nothing more than a novelty.
Hands twisting in my lap, I hung my head.
“A message arrived for you.” He brought a note to Ly. I didn’t look up—couldn’t—but I felt his eyes on me, burning with disgust.
Once the door clicked shut, I managed a deep breath, shoving down the shame and the cruel things he’d said.
He was wrong. He waswrong.
Ly read the note, eyebrows pulling together, nostrils flaring with each moment.
“What the…?” The paper rustled as he screwed it up. “That… that…” But he didn’t complete the sentence, only surged to his feet and paced, chest heaving.
“What is it? Who’s it from? What—?”
“Goren.” Shaking his head, he turned on his heel and brandished the crumpled note. “He knows about your gift. He’s asked to ‘borrow’ you. ‘Borrow’—he used that word, like you’re a carriage or a pen.”
My chest tightened. “How does he know? He smelled my magic, but I didn’t say anything about what—”
“I know.” Eyes closed, he sighed. “Just as I have spies, so does he.” He shot a scowl at the wide windows. “He’ll have some in the city. They must’ve told him about the supplies we’ve ordered and pieced it together from that.”
I covered my mouth like that could slow my breaths. Goren wanted me. He’d terrified me with just a spectre conjured in my mind. What was he capable of?
“The audacity of it.” Ly bared his teeth, feral ferocity in the lines wrinkling his nose.
“What will you tell him?” If he denied the request, it would make Goren suspicious.
“Tell him? I’m damn well telling himno.” He scoffed as though I were mad for even asking.
“You said I couldn’t hide away last night because he’d get suspicious. What will this do?”
Eyes wide, Ly stared at me, muscle in his jaw ticking. Maybe he realised I was right.
“This could be…” My voice quaked so much, I had to stop and swallow. Wild Hunt, was I really about to suggest this? “It could be our chance. If I go, I can make something that will harm him.” Like the unfinished gloves sitting at the bottom of the work basket. I bit my lip, stomach turning at the fact I’d even considered poisoning Ly.
