Page 78 of Reaper’s Curse

I pressed my hands together, my eyes glued to the incoming bird.

Please be a letter. Please be a letter.

With a calming breath, I slid my hands to my thighs and reminded myself that I wasn’t a silly, lovesick high school reaper. I was a full-grown female, who was merely worried about my coreaper. After all, three days had passed without a word.

And, well, try as I might to focus my thoughts elsewhere, the thing that had happened between us…the fight turned…ugh. Yeah, that kept creeping into the back of my mind.

Did those three days without communication speak to his regret?

I didn’t want to give energy to that doubt…that thought…that was attempting to undermine my confidence.

The crow dropped onto the table, hopped into my lap, and deposited a message.

I stifled a squeal and started to unroll the new correspondence.

“Do you always talk to the birds?”

My back stiffened at the sound of Winter’s voice. I hadn’t heard him come in.

Crushing the letter in the palm of my hand and pressing it at my side, I twisted toward the open door to the receiving room.

The prince sat in a chair positioned to face into the bedchamber. He slouched with his legs spread, and his head propped on a fist, elbow weighted into the chair arm. The restraints Lucas had snapped into place several nights prior around Winter’s wrists were still locked into place. With the one around his neck gone, the prince appeared to have earned a reprieve.

I glanced down to remind myself of what sleepwear I donned. Comfortable, oversized pieces. Probably more of his clothing.

I adjusted to better face him. “How long have you been sitting there?”

“A while,” he replied dryly.

I pressed my mouth into a frown. “What is a while?”

His lips twitched into a lazy smile. “Long enough to see your excitement at finding the birds waiting for you when you woke up.”

Heat rushed up my neck and across my cheeks. If he had been watching since I awoke, then how much had he seen? Everything? Did he know about the crows delivering letters?

He pushed off the chair arm and sat straighter. “You’re feeding them. Can I assume that is why they have been crowding the palace roof and the many terrace spaces?”

“No.” I choked on a laugh. “They were here before I started feeding them. I’m just being kind.”

“Uh-huh.” He leaned forward, pressing his folded arms into his thighs, and studied me.

I looked away, unsure how to feel. Relieved that he appeared to be all right? Or angry that he had let himself into my rooms…again?

Maybe both. Maybe feeling both emotions, and more, was acceptable.

Leaping to my feet, I straightened my top and pants and marched to the bed to fluff the pillows and pull the covers into place in a show of making the bed. The action provided me the chance to slip my most recently received message out of sight.

“Listen, Winter. Don’t get me wrong.” I spun to face him. “I’m glad you’re all right. The last time I saw you…”

The image of Winter’s magical stormed-blue eyes jumped to mind, stealing my words. My gaze wandered to the view of the terrace as I grappled for and caught my thought.

Returning my attention to him, I folded my arms across my chest with a huff. “You can’t keep letting yourself into my private space whenever you feel like it.”

“I know.” He bowed his head. “Boundaries have never been one of my strong points. They were rarely enforced where I was concerned.”

“Well, they should be.” I shifted my weight.

He raised his head, his cerulean gaze meeting mine. “You’re right. They should.”