Page 95 of Knight from the Ashes (Crown and Crest 1)

“I think so.”

I try not to look too disappointed when he lowers me to my feet, but what girl wouldn’t be if she found herself in my position?

Once I’m steady, he takes a subtle step back. We stand here, face to face, neither of us sure what to say.

“I’m supposed to stay with Maisel tonight,” I tell him to break the silence.

He nods. “Bartholomew, Pranmore, and I are staying with Gruebin, but who knows how we’ll all fit in his cottage.”

“What are the chances that Maisel is going to try to cut my hair in my sleep?” I gather the long locks over my shoulder as if I can protect it.

“She had better not.”

I smile. “Why?”

“Because…” He sets a hand on top of my head in an almost brotherly way. “Because I like your hair.”

I blink up at him, feeling…something.

Something that goes past simple attraction—something I don’t want to think about.

“If I were going to cut her hair, I’d already have done it,” Maisel says, appearing out of nowhere and making me jump.

She tugs on my arm, pulling me down to a crouch so she can inspect Pranmore’s work. After several seconds, she grunts her approval and releases me.

“Your nose,” I say, realizing she’s no longer wearing her bandage.

She touches it self-consciously. “The Woodmore paused to fix it when he passed me just now.” She turns her head to the side and scowls. “Tell me the truth—it’s crooked, isn’t it?”

“No, it looks fine.”

She grunts as if satisfied, and then she turns to Henrik. “We have strict rules here in the village. There won’t be no dallying in the middle of the night, you here? Calendula will stay with me; you will stay with Gruebin. You’ll see each other in the morning.”

“It’s Clover,” I correct, feeling awkward.

Maisel scowls as if she thinks I’m trying to sass her. “Whatever. We’re a moral bunch, and we don’t want no humans coming in and starting trouble.”

My cheeks flame. “We’re not—”

“I understand,” Henrik says solemnly.

“Good,” Maisel says gruffly as she walks toward her cottage. “I’ll be giving you a chance to say goodnight, and then I’ll collect Calendula.”

“It’s Clover….” Henrik says, but she’s already walking away.

Embarrassed, I turn to Henrik. With a forced laugh, I say, “Honestly, these gnomes…”

Henrik steps close, and my heart nearly stops when he takes my hand. One of the moons has just crested the mountains, and it shines down on us. In the silvery light, Henrik brushes his lips over my knuckles, just as Ayan did earlier.

But Ayan didn’t make me feel like I was going to melt into a puddle in the middle of the gnome village.

“Goodnight, Calendula,” Henrik teases softly when he releases me. “Sleep well.”

I mumble a strange cross between “thank you” and “you too” that horrifyingly comes out as, “Thanks to you.”

A smile ghosts across his handsome face, and then he walks me to Maisel’s cottage. Before he goes, he runs an affectionate hand down my hair.

“What are you doing?” I whisper.

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