Page 122 of What Blooms from Death

“It won’t be the first time people have started talking about me behind my back,” she replied, matter-of-factly.

We ended up in the washroom across from her bedchambers. In truth, there were very few eyes to witness ourscandal; the palace was quiet, its lights burning low—it was much later thanI’d realized. Somewhere in the waves of shared power and magic between us, I’d lost track of time.

“This brings back fond memories,” I commented, settling onto the counter beside the sink and holding up my arm, allowing her to wash away the blood as she insisted on doing.

“Does it?”

“Of the time you stabbed me in the wrist after violently disturbing me from my cursed sleep.”

“Oh. Right. That… We got off to a rough start in this world, didn’t we?”

“Some might argue things arestilla bit rough between us.”

She sighed. “It’s certainly more complicated than any relationship I’ve had with any man in the past.”

“…Relationship?”

She stiffened a bit, but she didn’t retract the statement. “What else do we call it, now that we’ve taken turns cleaning blood off one another?”

I stared at the ceiling, fighting the urge to wince as she wrapped a bandage around my arm. “We seem to have skipped over the more fun parts of a typicalrelationship.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“Nothing at all.”

She made an unconvinced noise deep in her throat.

“Is there something you wouldlikeme to suggest?” I asked.

Her hands grew clumsy. She chewed on her bottom lip as her eyes narrowed on the knot she was working on, clearly trying to stay focused on her task.

I leaned forward. “Because I have plenty of suggestions to make, if you’d like to hear them.”

She regarded me from underneath her lashes. “Is this an example of those courtly skills you spoke of earlier? Are you trying to manipulate my emotions right now?”

I smiled, taking her hand and drawing her in until she was wedged between my knees, her mouth tantalizingly close to mine.

“It’s a useful skill, as I said,” I replied, breathing warmth onto her lips with the words, sending a shiver racing through her that triggered one in me as well. “I’m merely doing my best to teach you.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

I realized it in the exact moment I said it: I was lying.

It would have been the easier thing—the better thing—for this to all be just another courtly game we were playing. A lesson with a clear beginning and ending.

But that’s not what this was.

Her gaze fell to my lips. “Keep manipulating me, then.”

The confident purr of her voice sent a shock of desire straight through me. Desire that was treading entirely too close toneed.

“Those are dangerous words,” I told her, cupping her jaw and tilting her lips closer to mine.

“I’m aware. And I don’t care.”

I traced the shell of her ear with my thumb. “Chaotically wicked, reckless thing,” I muttered.

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