Page 24 of Elemental Affections

But yes, definitely Ezzyn-godsdamned-Sor’vahl. In her bed. The silver and black mask he’d worn the night before had fallen off, as had hers, the temporary adhesion charm ending while they slept. She grabbed it, squinting at the embroidered satin. Though she wasn’t skilled at all in light magic or body work, she was proficient enough a mage to recognize the traces left behind by the faded alteration charm.

She brandished the mask in his direction. “You wore a glamour?”

Ezzyn heaved a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Knew it wouldn’t last the night. Shit.”

Dae sputtered, unsure of where to start with the litany of complaints clamoring in her head. She’d slept withEzzyn.Gods all break. Every niggling doubt, each tiny moment of recognition, familiarity jarring her thoughts, all of them ran back through her mind. His mannerisms. Hisvoice,how it had sounded off. As if he’d been faking it. Now she knew why. His eyes—the glamour hadn’t touched them. Gods, she was a fool. Should’ve seen through it. All it had taken was a mask and a change of hair—color and a little additional length. It was still long, now shrunk back to mid-chest. Throw in some low light and he’d had an easy time of pulling off the farce.

“Listen, Anadae, I—”

“You knew,” she accused. She pointed at their masks. “You knew it was me.”

He shrugged. “I … yes. I managed to figure it out. Such a sleuth, am I.”

Dae tried to recall what they’d talked about at the social. Not much, because they’d only had moments before Brint arrived. Before the gossip started, and Ezzyn—glamoured Ezzyn—had inquired. It had all seemed so innocent. Harmless. The idle curiosity of a stranger.

Her eyes narrowed. “You asked me about him. Brint. Was it fun? Having a little test of your own.”

Ezzyn winced. “I apologize. Not one of my better moments, I admit.”

“You’re such an ass.” Dae pressed her face into her hands. “I can’t believe you kissed me.”

“No,” Ezzyn scoffed. “You kissedmefirst.”

She glared at him.

He held up a hand. “I simply offered my assistance.” His gaze flickered down. “Guess you needed me to save you after all.”

Belatedly, Dae followed his eyeline to realize that she’d let the covers slip, exposing the tips of her breasts. She hiked the sheet back up to her armpits.

He laughed, a short, smug exhale of amusement. “I think we’re a bit past that, don’t you, sweetheart?”

The falsity of his chosen endearment grated in her ears.

“Get out,” she said through clenched teeth, cheeks aflame.

He moved, unhurried, swinging his legs to the side of the bed. Stood and stretched as he cast about for his clothes. Completely unbothered by his nakedness or the morning interests of his dick. Which Dae did not give more than a cursory glance. Nor did she linger on the long, sculpted lines of his arms as he drew his shirt back on.

“Just so you know,” he said, tugging on his trousers, “I would’ve been gone hours ago, but someone likes to cling and hold hands.”

“I do not.”

His shoulders lifted in a noncommittal motion. “Grip like a vice.” He sat at her desk to pull on his boots. “If not Avenor, you sure you’re not missing someone back home? Or am I just special?”

She gave him her most withering glare. “Do you snuggle all of your one-night stands, or was I just special?”

He looked discomfited by her statement about his bedroom habits, which made her feel triumphant. A state he was quick to quash.

“Maybe it was easy to reciprocate what I already received.” He sneered at her, eyes roving over the rumpled sheets. “I didn’t hear any complaints.”

She flushed, embarrassment and rage blurring together. Everflow … fuck, he’d have it over her forever. She’d told him he wasbig.Never mind that he’d been a generous lover the previous night. The way he’d looked at her, his touch, the pleasure had seemed very much shared at the time. How he’d called Brint’s inattention a crime. Words and actions that made her feel desirable again. Had, at any rate.

“If only I could believe anything that I heard last night,” she said, her contempt plain.

Ezzyn went still, boots on, but he made no move to stand. He regarded her, something odd and serious in his expression. He shook his head, mocking smile back in place. “Speaking plainly doesn’t tend to be a weakness for me.”

“More like a fault.” Dae rubbed her temples. “In all that talking last night, you still managed to omit your name. Why?”

He gave another careful shrug. “You did tell me to ‘cure myself of our old familiarities.’ Perhaps I took the suggestion to heart.”

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