Page 117 of Ever After

“And you?” I ask.

His mouth twists. “I will do what I always do. I will go to the hall and stand outside the gates, futilely watching for a sign of my love like some love-blind swain.” He looks at the two of us. “But perhaps for the first time in centuries, I feel I am on a path to being with him again.”

“I hope so,” I say.

He smirks. “Because you need your honeymoon back?”

“Well, of course,” I say honestly. Levi makes a disapproving sound, and I wink at Branok. “But also, because I feel that you and Xander are our friends.” I roll my eyes. “Trust me. That’s never happened before.”

He studies me for a second. “You are an extraordinary man, Blue Billings. The talk of you was right in some ways. You are quick-thinking, cynical, and bold in an exceedingly foolish way.”

“Lovely.”

He smiles. “You are also loyal and far too warm-hearted for your own good.”

“Please don’t tell anyone or there’ll be a line of ghosts demanding help from York to Land’s End.”

“And I am honoured to be your friend. Goodnight. I shall see you soon.”

Levi follows me up the stairs. “Shower?” he asks tiredly. “I smell of grave soil and sweat.”

“I have never found you more attractive,” I say seriously.

He huffs a laugh before making his way into the bathroom. “Start the shower,” he says, the words mumbled as he strips off his jumper.

I gaze between him and the clawfoot bath, which he’s very determinedly not looking at. The thing is, Levi loves a bath. He can spend hours in there topping up the water, listening to music, reading, or, rather weirdly in my opinion, doing nothing at all. He hasn’t gone near the bath since the possession, and it grieves me that my cursed abilities with ghosts took some joy from him.

I hesitate and then say casually, “How about a bath?”

“Erm, no.” His body stiffens and he bends to take off his trainers and socks. “I just want a shower tonight.”

“Well, I don’t know about you, but my body is aching. Being dragged headfirst into a grave and bad-touched by a dead bride really takes it out of a bloke, you know.”

He bites his lip to hold in a very obvious smile. “Poor you. I must say robbing a grave is equally tiresome.”

I lean back against the sink. “So, a bath would be nice. Yes?” I leer at his bare chest. “Gives me plenty of quality time to grope you in the water.” He hesitates and I quickly add, “I’ll even throw in some candles and shit for a romantic air on our honeymoon.”

His smile breaks loose. “Candles and shit? You should write romance novels.”

I fold my arms over my chest. “Well?” He’s looking everywhere but at me. “Levi?” I say to get his attention back. “I know you had a bad experience.” He opens his mouth to no doubt downplay it, and I add firmly, “It was a fucking awful experience, but the entity who possessed you was destroyed. You’re wearing the amulet so it can’t happen again. Nothing is going to happen to you.” I run my finger idly over the sink, feeling the cold porcelain against my skin. “But if you don’t want a bath, it’s absolutely fine.” I catch his pretty eyes. “Completely fine,” I say.

After a few moments of silence, his mouth firms and he says, “Okay.”

“Really?”

He nods. “You’re right. I have been avoiding it, and I don’t think that’s healthy.”

“Well, you’re a better judge of that than me. You sure?” He nods and I spring forward to start the bath. I pour in the lavender bubble bath, watching as purple bubbles begin to form. “It says it’s good for relaxing.” I look at the bottle and then pour a shitload more in. “What?” I say when he snorts. “It’s going to take more than an average amount to relax me tonight.”

“Tell me about it. It’s not been the most relaxing honeymoon.”

“I know. We’ll have to have another honeymoon just to get over the first one.”

He starts to laugh, and I look at him affectionally. “I love you so much,” I say, the fierceness almost taking me by surprise.

“I love you too,” he says calmly. “Always and forever.”

The room fills with the scent of lavender, sweet and soft. It reminds me a little of Rosalind. Her favourite lily of the valley has that slightly comforting, old-fashioned, delicate scent too.