Page 96 of Stolen Threadwitch Bride
The moon was high and bright, as full as my chest, which burst with how rich my life had become and how much I loved the man who spun me, then pulled me close.
I’d been to see the Lady of the Lake a few times since saving Ly and had even invited her to the wedding, but she couldn’t leave her watery home. Still, I’d promised to take her a piece of Hil’s cake and tell her all about the ceremony tomorrow night.
“Hmm.” Ly shifted his hold and pushed a stray hair from my face as we swayed to the slowing music. I shivered at his light touch on my temple. “What’s going on in here?”
With a soft snort, I put my hands around the back of his neck. “Nothing. Everything.”
The dimple in his cheek flirted with making an appearance. “The usual, then?”
“I’m afraid so. But you’re stuck with me now.”
His lips grazed mine, as right as the feel of a needle between finger and thumb. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. And this whirring mind of yours”—he smoothed my hair like he couldn’t help but touch it—“is one of the many,manythings I love about you.”
I couldn’t help but give what was probably a very smug grin. He loved me. Even the things I’d always thought unloveable. I stroked the soft hairs at the nape of his neck and let my touch stray closer to his sensitive ears. His shoulders tensed in anticipation as he sucked in a little breath.
“Flatterer.” My voice came out husky.
“Truth-teller,” he murmured back. With a small, private smile, he lifted me against the hard planes of him and kissed me like we were the only things in all the world.
By the time we pulled apart, our breaths came a little too hard, a little too fast, and the others had disappeared, the music with them.
He nuzzled my jaw, kissed my bare shoulders, made my body quiver. “Should we retire, my love?”
“I haven’t given you your gift yet.”
“Youaremy gift.” He flashed a grin and nipped at my lower lip, forcing a gasp through me.
“And yet, I still have one for you. It’s at the atelier so Fluffy can’t sniff it out.” I’d made a gift for Boyd last week, but Fluffy must’ve been drawn to the scent of my strengthened magic, because she pulled it out of my work basket and we’d found her knocking it across the floor like a toy.
Ly huffed a short laugh in my ear. “Hmm, it’s not a pair of poisoned gloves, is it?”
I narrowed my eyes at him and lightly tugged the short hair at the nape of his neck. “Notthistime.”
He gave a rumbling mock growl but smirked. “Come along, then, I want to get my wife up to bed as soon as possible.” His hands planed up my back and it was equal parts the touch and his words that rose heat in me.
We kissed, and in blooming darkness, we stepped to my atelier.
The dizziness faded in an instant, and I led Ly by the hand through the showroom to the workspace.
All the construction was finished now, the equipment and supplies delivered, the last touches put in place. He and Sylvie were helping me plan a grand opening for a week’s time. The Night Queen had even agreed to come, a fact that gripped my chest every time I thought of it. But I could breathe past it and Ly had promised not to leave my side all evening.
Besides, I’d survived worse.
And after the grand opening, we would go and visit Rose, which made me both excited and nervous. She still hadn’t replied to any of my letters, but despite that and how much I loved her and ached to hear her voice, tell her about all I’d seen and done, and ask about Annon… Well, truthfully, despite all that, I’d embraced being busy with the atelier and wedding in order to put off visiting.
I’d changed so much and so many things had happened since I’d last seen her at the stone circle, I couldn’t help but wonderwhat if?She might not like the new me. But Ly was sure she’d love me just as much as she ever had, and part of me knew he was right. Rose was steadfast, as loyal as they came, and she’d be thrilled to see the atelier—my dream made reality at last. Ly had offered to bring her, and knowing her, it was an opportunity she’d leap at.
It was a smart woman who embraced change and made the most of it. I understood that now.
Ly’s gift was in a small drawstring bag, which I dropped in his hand after making him close his eyes and wait so he wouldn’t see where I’d hidden it. There were bound to be other times I’d want to hide his presents until they were ready to open.
“Hmm.” His brows drew together as he smiled. “I taste raspberries. My favourite.” Licking his lips, he opened his eyes, and suddenly I was all too keen to get home to bed with my new husband.
I held my breath while he opened the pouch. I’d made the suit, but he’d asked me to, paid me to, and it had been to his specifications. This was the first time I’d made him something as a gift, and it was something I’d invented myself. He might not even like it.
He made a low sound as he pulled out the stone. Like the two I’d given the Lady of the Lake, this one was covered with fabric and embroidered. For Ly, I’d chosen a black silk dupion shot with violet, and into it I’d sewn Frankish knots, ray stitches, and swirling textures in subtle, raven colours. Tiny chips of labradorite twinkled amongst the thread. I’d even found a little, gleaming magpie feather and added that to the embellishments.
Ly turned it over, examining every inch of it. “Ari, it’s beautiful.”
