Page 211 of A Touch of Poison
But Prince Sepher and Zita didn’t seem to mind. In fact, while pouring coffee, she invited me to their bed. I chuckled to myself about that the next day as I walked through the city to Kaliban’s house, taking a break from research.
When he opened the door, he eyed me and the basket of food. “You do remember I can’t take your memories, right? Or has your mind broken and you’ve forgotten?”
“I remember. Are you going to let me in?”
He made a low sound but let me pass. “Why are you here, then?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged and placed the basket on the side as he watched me from the doorway. “Maybe I just can’t get enough of your outstanding hospitality.”
He grumbled in the way Morag did when I was hardest to love. “I suppose you’re going to want tea, aren’t you?”
“See? That’s exactly what I mean.So welcoming.”
Filling the kettle, he muttered, “You’re almost as sarcastic as…” As he put it on the stove, his words faded into silence and a tightness pulled around his features, making my heart clench in response.
The slippers. His partner must’ve been sarcastic too. Maybe his prickliness was understandable.
“I got you some cake.” I held it up as I emptied the basket. “Lemon drizzle—one of the queens of cake, if you ask me.”
He raised his eyebrows, peering at the wrapped loaf cake. “Oneof the queens? You have… some sort of ranking system for cakes?”
“It’s more a hierarchy. But doesn’t everyone?”
Eyes narrowing, he canted his head. “I’m sure I’m going to regret asking, but… what is your hierarchy of cakes?”
I gestured with the bunch of kale I was putting away. “So, the queens are top tier. Obviously, they’re lemon drizzle, coffee cake (withoutwalnuts), and lemon tarts.”
“Oh,obviously.”
“And pastries are included. It would be ridiculous to have a whole separate system for those.”
“Yes,thatwould be the ridiculous part.”
I pointed a carrot at him. “Don’t think I missed the way you eyed it. Youknowshe’s a queen. And I know you’re dying to get your hands on a slice.” I finished putting the food away and dusted off my hands. “It goes perfectly with a cup of tea.”
“Ah, so I’m getting out plates and a knife as well as the cups, then.” As he fetched them, he frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“Not wrong, just…” He ended on a brisk sigh and poured us tea. “There’s something different about you.”
I stiffened as he slid my cup across the table. “I thought you weren’t going to read me.”
“No, not like that.” He stirred a dash of honey into his drink, eyeing me like hewasseeing into my soul. “I heard what happened… that you’re no longer married.”
“I prefer ‘happily widowed.’”
He chuckled. “It fits nicely. Though, I thought it would leave you afraid. Closed. But… your demeanour. You’re embracing… well, everything, rather than trying to shut some things out.”
I sat back, rubbing my chest. Was I so obvious? “I’m not sure how to take that.”
He lifted one shoulder. “It’s not an insult, and it’s not dangerous, either. But I think you’re starting to understand—you can’t shut some things out and let others in. You shut the door and you lose it all.”
You can’t choose what you numb. If you’re deadened, you lose the good and the bad.It was like he’d been speaking to Ella.
“Your magic seems more under control, too.” His gaze dropped to my fingers. “No gloves. You must be feeling more confident.”
I pushed my hands into my lap in case he decided to test out my control. Only the nails were purple, but I still didn’t trust that to mean I was safe to touch anyone. That I hadn’t hazed by accident for a while was a small matter of pride for me. I’d take my victories where I could. “It seems… a little easier to keep hold of.”
