Page 86 of Wickedly Ever After
“And send me a box of chocolate-covered spiders for Midwinter’s Eve—no thanks,” Ida said. “I saw you passing from my window and came to see if I could help. How’s the pony?”
“There’s no sign of lameness,” Hector said. “Tinbit’s salves work well. When I had the dragon burns, he fixed me with a wonderful tincture of calendula and lavender.”
Ida’s mouth quirked at the corner. “I hope you remembered to pack it.”
“I’m hoping we won’t need it.” He dug deeper into the bagand found his box of loose-leaf tea. “Ah. Let me find a pot and some fresh water, and if you could conjure two cups—”
Ida did while he boiled the pot of water with a spell—this being a stable, he didn’t want to start a fire. The hot scent of tea leaves added to the water steamed a wide-awake fragrance into the air. He watched Ida strain the tea at the small farrier’s table among the bridles and broken leather straps, hoping he wouldn’t struggle against these feelings much longer, because right now, he fully appreciated how enchanting a beautiful woman wearing a baggy sweater and canvas pants in the morning could be.
She’d braided her hair. The humidity had loosened enough to frizz around the knots like a soft mist. And when she glanced up at him from under a soft fringe of honey-colored eyelashes and her lavender eyes flashed over her tea cup, he wanted to discard Tinbit’s advice about making love in haystacks.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said, taking a sip of the tea to steady himself. “I believe I should go to the dragons ahead of you. I’m not sure Adair and Morga will be prepared for all of us to arrive asking questions. Dragon mothers, when upset, can be…reactive. I’d like to prepare her first.”
She pursed her lips. “I see.”
“It’s not a long journey to the Flamelord’s cave from here, and Tinbit knows the way. And it would give Hari a chance to sleep in. You can bring Cear along when you come. You’d be there by midafternoon if you left in an hour or so. Perhaps later, if you happen to run into a hungry manticore or a playful chimera, but I’m sure you can handle those.”
“How touching that you have such faith in me,” she said. “What you really want is to talk to the Flamelord without Cearlistening in.”
He glanced down at their makeshift tea table. “That’s partly it, yes.”
“Well, I for one would also like to find out what happened with Alistair and the princess without anyone else asking questions. If Tinbit knows the way, I’m sure he can handle manticores and chimeras as well as I can. There’s no reason for me to travel with them. I’m coming with you.”
“Ida—”
She raised her eyebrows. “Yes, Hector?”
“I really think it’s better if I go alone.”
Ida sighed. “Hector, may I speak frankly?”
“Do you ever do otherwise?”
She smiled. “I know we’re not supposed to be friends. You’re wicked and I’m good, and those two things don’t mix. But surely, we’re both big enough to admit when we’re not on the same side and still be professional? I know you’re not about to change your mind, and you can’t change mine. But your dragon and my princess are more important right now than our…disagreement. I’m not asking for your forgiveness or for you to reconsider what I’ve said. What I am asking for is a truce—just long enough for us to finish what we’ve started. Fair?”
“Oh.” He could breathe again. He’d been afraid she was about to reveal feelings for him. “I…I absolutely agree! Truce.” He laughed and was horrified to hear how ridiculous he sounded.
Ida laughed too, high-pitched and nervous. “You’ve no idea—I wasn’t sure how you’d take that. I’ve been up hours practicing that speech.”
He took her hand. “You didn’t need to. I…I was thinking about asking you the same thing, but in the end, I thought thatmaybe it was simply better if we, well.”
“Didn’t see so much of each other?”
“Exactly! That’s exactly it. I’m glad we got this cleared up. And as for our disagreement—”
“We’ll just not talk about it,” Ida suggested.
“Yes! Absolutely!” He was nodding like an absurd lizard, but his heart was a giant sigh of relief. No. Not his heart. He didn’t have one anymore, thank Gods. Maybe in time she would come around to his way of thinking. When he imagined sitting in Council and seeing another witch sitting in Ida’s chair, he wanted to cry. He’d convince her. She’d see how dedicated he was to dispelling any of her reservations about Happily-Ever-After and everything would be fine.
“Um, Hector? You can let go of my hand now.”
“Oh—sorry.” He let go quickly. “Just—I was thinking, you may need warmer gloves than what we brought. I’ll—I’ll just go…uh…fix yours. Add a warming spell.”
“That’s…thoughtful of you. I’ll just…go back to the hostel. Leave a note for Hari with the spider at the front desk.”
“Can you leave a note for Tinbit as well? I’ll get everything we need ready. You can use my staff as a walking stick if you like.”
“No—once we reach the woods, I’ll beg a walking stick from an oak.”
