Page 77 of Feathers so Vicious

Devoted.

My belly fluttered for all the wrong reasons. That Cici knew should concern me, but instead, a comfortable warmth settled in my core like it did every night when Sebian pulled my head onto his chest, wedged my toes beneath his calf, and stroked his fingers through my hair.

We hadn’t been intimate since the night Malyr had spanked me. Too much turmoil with the sudden turn of events, leaving me so exhausted, I basically fainted into bed at night. And yet, he seemed perfectly content with just holding me, that scoundrel whose reputation was crumbling. Why?

I looked up to hisanoa. The beast ran its beak through its wild fluff of feathers, exposing a bald spot on its neck that made it look like a chicken that had barely escaped plucking. Not an impressive specimen by any stretch of the imagination. With Sebian’s mate out of the picture, could his devotion ever grow into love? Was that a silly thing to long for? For him to want me, desire me, love me?

Yes, because I was fucking betrothed to his friend, which made my next swallow go down like dry oats. “It’s not what you think.”

“It’s exactly what I think.” She lifted her pointer and tapped the air three times, one for each syllable. “Im-pres-sive.No lady had managed to catch Prince Malyr’s interest for marriage, just as none had managed to claim Sebian’s undivided attention. Pray tell, however did you manage to snatchboth?I might yet learn from you.”

The only thing I could possibly teach was how to create a mess of epic proportions. I needed to fuck Malyr, and instead, he’d let Sebian fuck me. Add to that Lorn, who had attacked me over said betrothed I hadn’t even fucked. An impressive mess indeed…

I thumbed the ribbon on my wrist, something that had quickly grown into a habit whenever I needed soothing. “I’ll tell you if you teach me how to seduce Malyr before our wedding night.Often.”

Cici’s bosom stopped lifting for a fraction of time, no longer than it took her gaze to sweep down to my stomach, and to the old oak at the center of the gardens before us from there. “Like I told you once, I’ve never managed myself into his chambers. You’re on your own.”

My ears pricked at her undertone, suddenly reserved where it had only ever been friendly. “You loathe me now, too, don’t you? Like all the other ladies. It’s not like I want to marry Malyr, you know. I have no choice.”

“Do you know why Father and I took residence at the Court of Ravens instead of staying at Hanneling Hold like my ancestors? Because Prince Malyr took it from my family and gave it to some newly-ascended Raven, Lord Baradur.” She took a deep breath, then looked straight at me. “None of us ladies have a choice; it comes with the title. If we did, we would spend our days sipping wine and gossiping about handsome stable boys that bring twice the fun but none of the miseries of marriage. Now do it again.” Cici pointed at her feet as she repeated the beginning sequence of steps with light-footed grace, making it clear this conversation was over. “You have to be on your toes for this one, Galantia, and quite literally.”

I followed along, wiping a thin layer of sweat from my forehead, which I had worked up even through winds promising winter’s first snow. “It’s the handholding and consecutive turning that always gets me since the steps change.”

“It’s the most important part,” she said. “When a raven courts another, they fly together and playfully touch their wings in flight. Here it comes. Hold my hand. Good, now turn and step to the ri—your other right, Galantia!”

One second, my legs twisted around each other, and the next, I landed with my ass on the ground. “I’ll make a fool of myself tomorrow, and that’s exactly what he wants!”

“Ah, but only until I steal the show with my graceful movements!” Sebian rose from the bench and walked over, yawning and stretching his arms overhead, then stopped before me with a wink. “You’re too stiff. Just… move your body any way you want. Step backward. Sway your hips. Throw your hands up. Flap your arms. Be playful, sweetheart, like this.”

He grabbed my hand and pulled me up against his chest, humming a tune as he guided me into something barely resembling circles. His fingers intertwined with mine, lifting my arms up and down like wingbeats.

“Flap your wings. And one, two—” Releasing one hand, he spun me around my own axis, only to let go of me entirely in favor of waddling around me like a duck as he clucked and croaked, ripping a giggle from me. “Be silly, be ridiculous. That’s what courting is about. Having fun. Being playful. Taunting each other. Come on, show me!”

Memories invaded, reminding me of that day at the beach when I’d spotted seagulls fighting over a dead crab in the sand. How they’d flapped their wings, hopped about, and shook their heads until their feathers fluffed up, making themselves look bigger, more intimidating.

A happy memory, which made something tingle in my core. Before I knew it, it spread into my limbs. Grinning from ear to ear, I strode in a circle with the long-legged grace of a crane, flapping my arms and shaking my head until my hair whipped my heated cheeks.

Cici burst into a laugh, but she quickly regained her continuance and shook her head. “This is ridiculous…”

“Ridiculous, yes, but so much fun!” The gods knew I hadn’t had much of that lately. “Besides, nobody is looking.”

Until I turned, sensing all heat dissipate from my cheeks at the sight of Malyr. He leaned with his shoulder against a stone column wearing a fine tunic, looking all sorts of wrong.

Because he wassmiling.

But only until our eyes met, which caused his smile to die at the sharpness of his narrowing lips, the joyful expression quickly replaced with his cold, somber stare.

Whatever energy I’d felt fizzled away. Something Sebian was unaware of, who waddled and clucked around me just as Captain Asker walked up beside Malyr. He exchanged a few words with the prince, only for Malyr to nod and take his leave. Then, Asker walked toward us. “What are you doing?”

Sebian’s spine snapped straight at Asker’s rough baritone, bringing a dead-halt to his dancing. “Having fun?”

“When having fun interferes with more important matters, it is called beingirresponsible.” Asker bore his stare into Sebian for another moment, the air between them strangely cool, then his attention drifted to me as he hinted a slight bow. “Perhaps you will allow me a few words as we walk the gardens? I shall very much like to try for a new vision.”

“Of course,” I said and followed beside him along the sea-shelled path that wove through small trees, evergreen shrubs, and moss-covered statues.

I glanced over my shoulder at Sebian, offering him a smile as he followed at a brief distance behind us. His features remained hard, telling me these two didn’t get along. Why not?

Asker gave me a side glance, his salt and pepper hair tightly braided along his scalp, his beard rather coarse. “You must find this strange that I am seeking you out now.”

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