Page 52 of Of Nine So Bold

Her brow rose. “Oh. I, um… Oh, dear.” Her cheeks flushed pink and she chuckled, retreating a step in embarrassment. “Should I apologize? I?—”

“Not at all!” My hands caught hers before I realized what I’d done. Blanching, I released her quickly.

Gods, her skin was as soft as rose petals against the roughness of my own.

Clearing my throat, I shoved that discovery to the depths of my incessantly observant brain. “I… I didn’t mind.”

For a moment, she was still as only a vampire could be still. At last, she gave a tiny nod. “Okay.”

The silence stretched.

“Did, um…” In spite of myself, I motioned for her to sit on the step below the carriage door. She had to be tired, after all.

And gods help me, I didn’t want her to go. Not yet. “Did you ever find out who left them there?”

She hesitated and then sank down. “No.” A rueful smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “I never asked, either. I was too scared someone would take them away if anyone realized they were there.”

“Perhaps when you claim the throne again, you can get more. Create a whole section so you never run out of stories and don’t have to hide what you love.”

And if she did, gods help me, there wouldn’t be a corner in this world that could hide a book she desired. I’d find each and every one. I swore that by Berinlian himself. I’d fill shelf after shelf until she needed whole buildings to house them all.

Just to see her smile.

She glanced up. “I’d like that.”

I couldn’t breathe. That beautiful joy in her eyes stopped my heart and lit up my soul. Words pressed at me, leaving my entire being teetering on the edge of blurting out something I shouldn’t—couldn’t—ever say.

“There you are!” Clay leaned around the rear of the carriage.

I flinched back, a sharp breath shooting into my lungs. On the carriage step, Gwyneira straightened, blinking hard and turning away from me.

Clay gave us both a curious look. “You two okay?”

Did wanting to punch him count?

Shuddering, I drew myself up with effort. I shouldn’t punch him. I should thank him for saving me from making a fool of myself. “Fine.”

He gave me an odd look. “Okay, well, the humans want to get moving, and with this storm coming in, we probably should listen and head out soon.”

I nodded tightly. “I understand.”

He didn’t go.

The urge to punch him was starting to win.

“We’ll be there in a moment,” Gwyneira told him.

That same odd look lingered for a heartbeat. “Okay.” Flashing her a grin, he disappeared back around the corner of the carriage.

Scattered raindrops plopped on my head as if to prove Clay’s point.

Sighing, Gwyneira rose to her feet. Turning to me, she rested her hand gently on my arm, where it looked so delicate and small. “Thank you,” she said softly. “For saving me and… and for everything.”

My mouth moved, searching for an answer and finding only the truth. “Always.”

She smiled.

Even through my coat, I swore I could feel the loss of her warmth when she lowered her hand and walked away.

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