Page 45 of By Mistake
Andrus smiled faintly."I almost believe you, Your Highness."
She winked and then was gone, though the door hadn't closed before Greivs stepped inside."Sorry it took me so long to join you.We received word about you lingering here, so I wanted to be sure all would be well at the manor before making my way here."
"I appreciate it," Andrus replied, "though I'm certain I'll be sent along back home soon enough for my own safety."
Oresti shared a look with Shimari, then said, "No, I think you should stay here.Farthing is getting meaner and nastier by the day, and he's going to have a much harder time hurting you while under my sister's sharp gaze."
"Your clothes and other items will be delivered shortly," Greivs said."I left before the packing was finished, but it should have been close behind."
"Great," Andrus said, sinking into the sofa with a sigh."I take it all back about your overbearingness being charming.I've been dealing with Farthing a long time.He doesn't want me dead until he's taken everything from me."
Shimari replied, "He's growing desperate, for reasons we don't know.His murders of the council are sloppy, cocky.He needs for this law to not pass.Why?Does that tie to his interest in Bothwell Manor?How?We need these questions answered.We already know that the letter I spelled traced here, though I could not say exactly where as the spell has long faded."
"We can guess," Oresti said."All right, then Greivs and I are going out to find answers to some of those questions.Snoop around here as you're able, Shimari, but be careful.I don't want you to wind up ensnared by some old magical trap that time forgot with none of us near enough to help you."
"How sweet, little human, but never fear, I can take care of myself.Traps like that were seldom made for my kind."
"Try to stay out of trouble, then, brat."
"No promises," Shimari replied, nearly purring the words."Maybe later we can all discuss the naughty thoughts filling your silly heads."
Andrus groaned and stood."Absolutely not."
Oresti swept him up into a hard kiss, savoring the warmth of him, the sweetness, how earnestly he kissed every time.No artifice, no distraction, wholly in the moment, no matter what else might be happening.
When he drew back, he leveled his attention on Shimari, who matched it full measure with glittering red eyes."Come here, demon."
Smirking in that smoldering way of his, Shimari prowled close, leaning up as Oresti leaned down, grasping at his face as Oresti fed at his mouth.If Andrus was warm, then Shimari was burning, tasting of blood and magic and a strange something he could not capture enough to describe.His fangs were sharp and teasing, reminding him of that bite to his jaw not so long ago.Kissing Shimari could easily become as addictive as kissing Andrus.
This was not a development he'd expected, but he wasn't feeling anything close to upset about it.
Judging from the flushed face and avid staring as they drew apart, Andrus didn't have problems with it either."Be careful, both of you.I'll see you…sometime tomorrow, I'd imagine.At which point exhaustion will probably get the better of me."
"Be careful yourself," Andrus said."Summon Shimari at the slightest hint of real trouble."
"Of course."Resisting the urge to start another round of kissing, he gestured for a highly amused Greivs to follow him and headed back out into the night.
Thirteen
As he'd guessed, Oresti did not return that night, and he still wasn't back when Andrus awoke.
In Oresti's bed, because despite his protestations that it was bold and presumptuous and everything else, they'd ignored his protests and installed him there all the same.
At this rate they'd be planning the wedding by the end of the year, and wasn't that the wildest thought he'd ever had.They had only just started courting and already he was making himself comfortable in Oresti's private quarters and thinking (not so) jokingly about weddings.Ridiculous.
Then again, Oresti waltzed abouthishouse like he owned it, so Andrus may as well act in kind.
On the other hand, he was not even remotely used to the royal treatment, where people gently woke him up at the requested time and dried him off when he stepped from the bath and helped him dress and did his hair.It was all rather absurd, because he could do all of those things by himself just fine, but he didn't want to be rude to Oresti's staff.
When he was finally done with all of that, breakfast was waiting in the small room off the main chamber.Oresti had an entire suite that some would describe as an apartment.The only thing missing was a kitchen, really.
He sat down where a place had been set for him, and waited bemusedly as breakfast was served, including some ridiculous concoction of fruit juice and sparkling wine.It was so impossiblyspoiled bratthat he didn't know what to do except drink it.Alcohol with breakfast, unbelievable.
Two servants remained nearby, standing before a buffet table that held pitchers and more to refill whatever he wished.If this was a private breakfast, how much more ridiculous were the family and public meals?He didn't want to know, but he would find out anyway.Hopefully not today, though that hope wasn't very high.It had been overwhelming enough meeting two of Oresti's sisters last night, and one of them the crown princess herself!
"Have you seen Shimari?"he asked.
"Master Shimari woke earlier and said he wanted to explore the palace, but did not give a time on when he would return."
