Page 17 of Shardless
When she finally started to quiet down, he loosened his grip and released her fists. Her shoulders were still heaving from the exertion, but she made no move to push him away.
“Hi,” he whispered, already moving to give her some space. But before he could step away, she gave an unexpected sigh of defeat and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“Hi,” she said, burying her face in the crook of his neck.
Skye’s chest felt uncomfortably tight as he folded his arms around her tiny frame, the feeling growing stronger when she gave another soft sigh and relaxed into him. She didn’t speak, and neither did he, and for a little while, it was easyenough to pretend that everything was still okay.
“Quick question,” he said when he felt her start to pull away. He waited for her to look up before giving her damp hair a playful tug. “Why are you wet?”
Taly shoved him as she stepped back. “That’s a long story,” she said with the ghost of a smile. Staring out over the sea of white blossoms blanketing the side of the road, she toyed with the pendant around her neck and scuffed the dirt with the toe of her boot. When she spoke, her voice held an edge of uncertainty. “That stuff about the hot water wasn’t really true, was it?”
That prompted another fit of laughter from Skye, made worse when she huffed and started walking ahead of him. “Taly, wait!” He started jogging after her, still chuckling. “It’s not true. None of it,” he said as he fell into step beside her. Shrugging off his greatcoat, he draped the heavy garment around her shoulders. Something inside him sighed in relief when she reached out and pulled the small peace offering more tightly around her. “Except for the part about Sarina shopping. She’s always had a problem, but it’s been a lot worse lately. I have no idea why.”
He saw her trying to fight it, but despite her best effort to maintain a neutral expression, her lips began to quirk to the side. She let out a frustrated sigh, chewing on her bottom lip as the corners of her mouth continued to twitch.
“Don’t do it,” Skye whispered loudly. “Don’t laugh. You know it just encourages me.”
A muted snort escaped, followed by a giggle. Looking up, Taly finally gave him a real smile. “You’re an ass,” she said with a shake of her head.
“Thank you,” Skye replied automatically, awide grin splitting his face. This was more like it—more like them.
Eventually, they came upon Harbor Manor itself. It was a sprawling stone structure, built when the Time Queen was still in residence on the island—a monument to an era of splendor that had long since passed. Thanks to the Marquess, the home had been kept in good condition. The gray stone facade was regularly repaired, and ivy crawled across the exterior. Ivain had given up long ago trying to contain the plant’s chaotic sprawl, and now the willful creeper was as much a part of the manor as the blanket of snowdrops that covered the front lawn.
As they ascended the gray-stone staircase, a tall, lanky man rushed down to meet them.
Ivain Castaro, the Marquess of Tempris, had lived on the island for over 700 years—ever since he bought Harbor Manor as a wedding gift for his late wife. He was at this point in his career one of the most renowned shadow mages in the fey world, and it was for this reason that Skye had been sent to train with him when he was only nine years old.
Laughter bubbled up out of the fey noble’s throat as he took the stairs two at a time, and his hands raked through a shock of blonde hair so bright it was almost white. His high forehead only served to accentuate his long, slender face, and despite his highborn heritage and the nearly eternal youth that it granted, lines forged from a countless number of gentle smiles creased his skin.
“There she is!” he called out in the cultured accent of the mainland fey. “My little one has finally come home!”
Ivain embraced Taly, picking her up andtwirling her around before depositing her back on the ground. Holding her out at arm’s length, he appraised her with a critical eye, no doubt noting the way she still shivered beneath Skye’s greatcoat. His nostrils flared, and his eyes flicked down to the bloody tear in the leg of her trousers. It wasn’t the only bloodstain that peppered the worn and faded garment.
“Hello, sire,” Taly said, her tone uncharacteristically formal.
“Sire? Since when doyoucall me sire?” he questioned with a scowl. Taly bowed her head out of habit. Though the Marquess was a kind man, he had learned by now how to cow his mischievous wards with just a look. Skye still squirmed just thinking about being on the receiving end of that stark, blue gaze.
After a long moment, the Marquess’ stern façade cracked, and he affectionately ruffled Taly’s wild hair. “I jest. I jest. Shards, you are skin and bones, little one. We’re going to have to fatten you up. Tell me, Skye—did you manage to convince her to stay for dinner?”
Taly opened her mouth to reply, but Skye cut her off. “She said she had other matters to attend to, so I wouldn’t want to presume.” He bumped her shoulder and gave her a smirk as he moved to stand next to the taller man.
“I see.” Leaning down to look Taly in the eye, Ivain whispered conspiratorially, “I approve. You shouldn’t make things too easy for him.”
Skye snorted. “When has she ever made anything easy?”
Taly smiled serenely. “I’ve always told you, Skye. You’d have a much easier time if you just stopped arguing back.”
Ivain laughed loudly as he reached over and slapped Skye on the shoulder. “Truer words were never spoken! Skye, my boy—take that advice to heart. You really will be happier when you learn to stop arguing with the women in your life.” Smoothing back a lock of wispy, white-blonde hair, Ivain announced, “Well, I need to get back to work if I’m going to be able to take this evening off, so I’ll leave you to convince her, boy.”
Turning to Taly, the Marquess ducked down to look her in the eye. “Just in case, I’ve already instructed Eliza to prepare lamb and noodles tonight. Still your favorite, I hope. And even though I told her that you wouldn’t want her to make a big fuss, our Elizainsistedon making a sugarberry pie. The kind with the candied walnuts on top. I believe I also saw her making brown sugar ice cream this morning. Apparently, 21 is supposed to be something of a milestone for young mortals, and she would not be deterred.Notthat you should let that influence your decision. No. You have your own life now, and we respect that.”
Ivain made to leave but briefly turned to add, “Although,Eliza did have to go all the way to the mainland to find sugarberries that were in season. Poor dear—she’s had a terrible time this past winter. She’s just now getting back on her feet after a nasty case of dowsing fatigue, but she simply would not listen to reason. It had to be sugarberries because that was the little one’s favorite.”
Skye laughed at the retreating noble, chancing a glance at Taly. She didn’t seem pleased.
“I’m starting to think I should’ve just walked the other way,” she said, her nose scrunched uplike she was trying to figure something out. “Shards, that’s low. Fine. I’ll stay for dinner, but only because there’s pie. You guys know how I feel about pie.”
As he turned to follow her inside, Skye added sheepishly, “I swear, there really is a job.”
