Page 53 of Degradation

“Yes. He’s meeting potential new friends with established friends.”

Finding his circular talk annoying, I touched my energy to his tunic. It fell off his torso, splitting into sections and expanding into curtains.

Brandle looked down at the heap of material at his feet then grinned at me.

“You only need to speak your wish whenever you want me to undress.”

“And my wish to stitch your mouth closed? Can I speak that too?”

His eyes twinkled with his mirth, but he wisely remained silent.

“I would like to get dressed now,” I said, once again attempting to straighten away from Eadric.

“Are you certain you don’t wish to greet Liam thusly after the long, tiring day he’s had attempting to acquire the help we need to free your sister?”

I stilled and turned to meet Eadric’s gaze.

“Are you attempting to manipulate me with guilt?”

“Yes, but not for my benefit. That would be beneath me.”

The man was positively exasperating but too cute to stay angry at. So I kissed him.

“How?” Darian said. “At the very least, that should have been a cuffing.”

“Next time she’s angry, I vote we send Eadric to calm her. He’s too gifted not to use.”

The rest of them chuckled, and I lightly pinched Eadric’s side as I ended the kiss.

“Spare me, Sparrow. I beg you. I only meant to surprise the youngest of us.”

The door opened a moment later, and we all turned to look at Liam. He paused in the doorway, his brows lifting to his hairline as he took in the sight of me and quickly closed the door.

His desire added to the heady mix already in the room.

“This is a pleasant sight,” he said.

“Come take your seat. Our Sparrow is hungry, and you are her cushion tonight.”

Eadric passed me to Liam, and while I settled on his lap, the others worked together to hang the curtains. Liam’s hands petted me throughout the meal, and though I could feel his wish to bed me, the day’s activities were demanding their due. I yawned continuously, barely finishing my meal before closing my eyes.

Liam kissed my temple.

“Put her to bed; then eat,” Brandle said. “You can join her again when you’re finished.”

“You can take the other place beside her, Brandle,” Garron said.

I drifted off to their collective agreement.

* * *

“She’s right.Your fear of losing her shows you don’t trust her to stay. You don’t trust her love for us is real,” Liam said softly. “But the spell proves it is. We should tell her before this goes any further.”

“And if she refuses?” Brandle asked.

“Has she refused anything we’ve asked of her, you idiot? No. For the love of everything in this kingdom, Brandle, she was sitting on Eadric’s lap, naked, in the middle of our kitchen. How much more do you need to believe her?”

“No arguing in my bed,” I said sleepily.

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