Page 319 of Ashes of Sin and Stardust

I let her go and ran a hand through my hair, the relief of hearing her laugh and seeing her smile like a hard hit of my favorite drug. Eyes glittering, she threw her arms around my waist and shoved her face into my stomach, mumbling something.

“What?”

“Only you could cheer me up by force-feeding me floor food.”

“Only you could be cheered up by being bullied. What the hell is wrong with you?”

Her face fell into that distant, somber expression. “I have a good Master.” She pressed her face back into me.

I stood stock still, not sure what to say. I considered myself a Master of some things, but Alice wasn’t my slave, and I didn’t think she’d want to be. Gently, I stroked her hair, not sure what to say.

Peering up at me, she said, “I mean, you’re not myMastermaster. But, I don’t know. The girls were talking about stuff...”

I had sent her to The Weston House today to try to cheer her up. She must have had a conversation with them about their experiences.

“Anyway I was just thinking about you, and...” she hid her face again and said something else.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“What did you say?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Alice. Tell me what you said, little bug.”

“I can’t. I forgot. You distracted me.”

“Bullshit.”

“Our pasta is going to be soggy now.”

“Damnit.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay, goblin girl.” I turned off the burner and drained it. “Slightly overcooked pasta never hurt anyone.”

“I don’t think pasta could hurt anyone, unless you’re allergic.”

I looked down at her and raised an eyebrow. “Wanna bet?”

“What are you going to do, old man? Flog me with a wet noodle?”

“If it gets you out of your funk, I’d do a lot of things.”

She made a face, and then left to go set the table.

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