Page 14 of For the Ghastly and Beautiful

“Nope. But I did look.” He sounds so satisfied.

She glances down and away. “Shame… I really wish I could give you one right now.”

“A fuck?” Ecaeris asks, amused but confused.

“You know…” She trails off as she leans against me. “Just something to make you think I cared about what you have to say.”

“You’re awake, are you not?” he pops back, his smirk full of devastating wit.

Ada’s shoulders tighten, sensing the same change in him. And all I can do is grin like a fool, because I know what he’s about to say. But I’m also excited to hear how she shuts him down. I never know what will come out of her mouth next, and that unpredictability is intoxicating.

“It would seem so,” I interject, pushing them to bicker for my own entertainment.

“That’s what I thought.” Ecaeris shrugs, seemingly pleased. “At least you can follow instructions.”

“Imryll?” she politely calls.

“Yes?” I hum, my chest vibrating against her back.

She gazes at me over her shoulder, thrown off by my tone. But how can I explain that her voice is breathing life into me? I stayed distant before, not knowing if she would leave. Now that she’s not, I want more of her time. I want to hear her speak, no matter who she’s talking to or what they’re talking about.

“Can you go find me some rocks?”

I blink at her, half a smile stuck on my face as I try to make sense of such a request.

“To celebrate first times and all that?” Ecaeris asks, knowing exactly why she wants rocks.

I worry for his health.

“One of these days…” She closes her eyes and shakes her head. “I’m going to choke you.”

He chuckles as he stands and stretches. “You already have, or did you forget how you nearly killed me?”

I clear my throat. “She choked you?”

“In front of my mother,” he admits, dropping his arms to his sides.

“So, not sexual? Or…” I leave my comment hanging, laughing at their expressions.

“What? No.” Ecaeris is outraged.

Ada glances between us. “Why is that where your mind goes?”

“You two are together often enough that I assumed—”

She throws her head back, laughing until happy tears roll down her cheeks. “He likes to pester me.”

“That’s not entirely untrue,” he acknowledges. “I was waiting for her to slip up.”

“It’s turning out to be an unhealthy obsession, Doctor. You should take him to the clinic for an exam. I’m worried that he may be mentally compromised.”

He scoffs at her. “My head is fine.”

“Until I get my hands on those rocks.”

She sits in the center of his bed, perfectly poised as she threatens the Mongrel prince. And we all know he won’t do anything about it, because none of us knows if she’s serious or not.