I could tell them how he’s doing it, but I don’t think that would be wise.
I do, however, smirk at Falion.
And then I lace my fingers together. “Library of Arrenhahl? Is that not the repository of the Living Oracle? They say there are copies of every book ever written within its walls.”
“I could tell you,” Mistmark says in an apologetic tone, “but then I would have to kill you. I am its Guardian, after all.”
It’s tempting to point out how he is clearly failing if he can’t keep Keir out—and that gives me some insight as to why my prince…. I mean, why Keir, keeps stealing inside it.
Because he can.
“Interesting. Have you read every book within its walls?”
Mistmark smiles. “I’m not that old. Not like Keir.”
“But I’d imagine you’ve learned so many intriguing things. And you’re clearly an intelligent male.” I rest my arms on the table and lean forward. “Perhaps you can settle a bet between me and Keir?”
Keir’s hand comes to rest upon the back of my neck. “What are you doing?”
I don’t know how he’s in my head—please tell me he can only send private thoughts and not pluck them from my mind—but I ignore him.
“I’ll try, my lady.”
“Excellent.” My smile holds teeth. “You see, we were having a silly little argument about something and Keir thinks I’m wrong. Perhaps you can clear it up for me?”
“Zemira. You can’t ask him about the horn.” There’s tension in his touch. “We’re friends, but I’m not entirely certain I trust him.”
“I can only try,” Mistmark muses, noticing Keir’s strain and clearly mistaking it.
“When a fae male sends out a Summons for a truemate—a bride—he knows she’s out there,” I say, “because he’s been granted a vision by the goddess. Keir claims he could foretell my arrival by the constellations in the sky.”
Mistmark stiffens as though he realizes I’ve just pushed him out onto a frozen river and I’m about to throw him an anvil.
And Keir’s stare incinerates the side of my face as his head whips toward me.
Oh, you didn’t expect that question at all.
“Sometimes the goddess is so merciful, yes,” Mistmark says carefully.
Falion finally looks interested in something other than the figs.
“What if they get it wrong?” I ask, because I’m not above pushing Keir out onto that ice with an anvil too. “How can they tell if she’s truly the one?”
Both males wear an expression as if they heard cracks lancing through the ice beneath them.
Keir cuts in sharply. “I told you—”
“A male can tell by a single kiss.” I arch a brow at him. “Yes, I know what you told me while you were wooing me at the Court of Dreams.”
“Ah….” Mistmark looks toward Falion in search of a lifeline.
Strangely enough, it’s the assassin who answers me. “It’s the combination of a female’s scent, her taste, her pheromones…. It ignites a recognition within the male. It speaks to the territorial nature of the beast he once was, when we first conquered these lands, these forests. So when he says he knows by a single kiss, then he knows. Every instinct within him is clamoring to take her to bed and never let her out of there. The urge to breed his child upon her is almost impossible to deny.” Falion shrugs. “It’s a little uncouth, but I’ve seen men I previously thought to be sensible fall prey to such utter nonsense. It happens.”
“It’s not nonsense,” Mistmark warns him, as if this is an old argument they’ve had a million times over. “One day, my friend, you are going to be minding your own business when a female drops into your lap and you’re going to lose all good sense, and I am going to laugh myself silly over it.”
“Highly. Unlikely.” Falion’s tone drips with frost.
“Hmm.” This is unexpected good fortune in the turn of the conversation. I thought it would take me longer to steer it in this direction. “You’ve felt such a calling before, my lord?”
Mistmark tears his focus from his friend, a faint scowl etched between his brows. “We all know I’m getting married, do we not?”
“Strangely enough, I think I’ve heard the odd mention of it. There’s some low-level betting going on about whether you’re going to get the bride to the altar or not. Some expect you to cry off, and some expect the bride.”
He sighs. “What can I say? I was granted a boon by the goddess. There are certain stars aligning in my very near future that seem to be playing out precisely as predicted. The Blood Moon is in the skies. I am several days away from being brought to heel. Each and every element is falling into place. Though I have not yet kissed my intended, I daresay even I may be overcome….” His vision grows distant for a second. “Although…. I already thought I’d found her, a long time ago. But I was clearly wrong. So perhaps there is something to be said for some confusion. Is there more than one mate offered for each male? Perhaps. And now I don’t know if I’ve helped your cause, or Keir’s?
I already thought I’d found her….
A little flight of butterflies take wing within me and it’s all I can do to not blurt out, “Three years ago, perhaps?”
Somehow, I keep my mouth shut through sheer force of will.
“Merisel prefers solid facts she can see and feel,” Keir replies, closing his hand over mine. “My lady doubts my intentions.”
“It’s not your intentions I doubt.”
I love the challenge I see written across his face. It feels like Keir’s been in control of this arrangement at every step of the way. A year and a day of service. I owe him some unruly behavior.
“There you are, my love,” says a clipped voice behind me. “My brother’s been looking for you.”
Belladonna. With Anissa standing right behind her like
