Page 89 of Lady Knight and the Thief

Torren said, “Here, here,” and raised his cup to his lips. Torren’s grey eyes devoured Cypress as he swallowed a gulp of wine.

Despite the heat blooming between her thighs that was entirely unprovoked by wine, Cypress said, “I think I’ve had enough Pixie wine for an entire lifetime, thank you.”

“Oh, come now, Lassie. You cannot swear off the beverage entirely because one man failed to satisfy ye,” Rhene chided.

Cypress laughed. Head thrown back and hand clutched over her stomach, she laughed heartily until she felt as if she couldn’t breathe, and her middle ached.

“Why are ye laughing, Lassie?” Rhene asked, a mildly confused look on his face.

She wiped the corner of her eye with a napkin, trying to control herself. “That uh,” she began, and cleared her throat. “That’s not the reason I have sworn off Pixie wine.”

“No? Then tell us, why don’t you want Pixie wine?” Torren asked and leaned forward. Again, those mercurial grey eyes were locked on her face, tracking every movement.

Cypress’s face felt flushed as she said, “I just think I’ve had all that I can handle.”

“You think once was enough?” Torren asked.

Cypress shifted in her seat under his gaze.

“Once!” Rhene laughed, “Oh, just the once, Lassie? Nay, you have to try it again.”

Cypress looked away from Torren to say, “Now, Rhene, I do believe you’re trying to seduce me.”

“Is it working?” Rhene asked and shot her a large, open grin.

She laughed. “No, not particularly.”

Rhene mimed being stabbed in the chest and twisting the knife.

Again, Cypress laughed. Maybesomepeople were allowed to laugh so freely. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed like this, so free and open.

Their table was served by Athima and a small group of Small Folk, only their hands visible above the line of the tables, plates placed on tabletops before they swiftly disappeared. Athima refilled goblets of wine.

“Wine?” Athima asked when she reached Cypress’s side, and two jugs of wine were offered toward her.

One had a small image of a Paradise Plum, while the other had Faerie wings painted onto the dark, nearly translucent glass.

Something very nearly came over Cypress to request the Pixie wine, but she swallowed the impulse, replying with “The Paradise Plum, please.”

Athima refilled her cup with a nod of her head, then she disappeared, refilling other cups along her way out of the room.

“You’re missing out, Lassie,” Rhene said, taking a draught of his cup.

Torren’s storm grey eyes once more found hers across the table when she said, “I’ll be the judge of that."

30

Malicious Machinations

Seatedinthelushgardens of A'aravos Paravale, Cypress sighed to herself. She had always held back her impatience with ease. Now, though, that practiced calmness seemed to crack with every passing moment.

With the mask that had shrouded Caelith’s malicious machinations peeled back, Cypress found her patience slipping through her fingers, leaving her with a restless energy that made her legs twitch.

And anyway, wasn’t there something about a gentleman’s should never keep a lady waiting?

Torren had not yet arrived, but Athima had brought Cypress here nearly an hour ago with a quick, “The Prince will be right with you.”

Cypress occupied herself by wandering the garden, smelling blossoms that caught her attention.