Page 144 of Of Masks and Fury

“Both,” I said. “Everything. I want her to have choices.”

As she turned back, Betina’s smile widened. “You’ve fallen hard, haven’t you?”

Completely. Utterly. Without question.

“Just help me bring a smile to her face,” I said.

“Oh, I think you’ll manage that all on your own.” But she was already moving around the kitchen, assembling items on a big tray. “Fresh bread from this afternoon’s baking. I’ve got some honey butter that’ll make her weep. Roasted fowl. There’s a complete bird left from dinner. Cheese, fruit, and plenty of the little pastries you adore.”

I pretended to pout. “Will I have to share them with her?”

“I’ll give you extra, though, if I know you, you’ll be feeding her most of them and grinning while she eats them all.” She arranged everything on the tray, adding a carafe of wine and two glasses. “Will this do, or should I add more?”

I surveyed the spread, already imagining Isi’s expression when I presented it to her. “It’s perfect. Thank you, Betina.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You’re carrying it all the way to wherever you two will dine.” She fixed me with a mock-stern look. “And you’re going to tell her that Betina Farlain prepared this food with her blessing on what’s growing between you.”

“I will.” I lifted the tray carefully. “I should warn you, what’s growing between us is already well past the seedling stage, so if you’re placing bets, keep that in mind.”

“Oh, I shall.” Her trill of a laugh followed me out of the kitchen, echoing in the stone corridor as I made my way toward the back stairs.

The tray held enough food to feed four people. But I’d seen how Isi ate when she was truly relaxed, putting away portions that would shame most warriors. The woman had an appetite that matched her spirit; fierce and unapologetic.

I navigated the corridors, nodding to the few guards still on patrol, smiling at them and dipping my head, not caring what they thought of a king carrying a tray of food through the castle. I’d found the woman I intended to spend my life with, and I wasn’t going to waste a single moment pretending otherwise.

She wasn’t inside my suite. Frowning, I left, taking the food through the halls to the room she’d been assigned once she’d bonded with Pherin.

I rounded the final corner and stopped short.

Light spilled from beneath her door. Voices carried through the wood, too muffled to make out words.

At her door, I shifted the tray to one arm and knocked with my free hand.

“Come in,” Isi’s voice called out.

I nudged the door open and stepped inside.

Four pairs of eyes turned my way. Isi sat on the bed with Lexie beside her, both women bent over a book. Kerralyn had taken a chair near the window, and Derren stood near the fireplace that crackled with flames.

They all looked up at my entrance, staring at me with varying expressions of surprise and amusement.

“Your Majesty,” Lexie said, her lips twitching. “Do you work with the kitchen staff now?”

“Apparently.” I moved further into the room, setting the tray on a low table near the bed. “Betina sent her blessing on whatever is growing between Isi and myself.”

Isi’s laugh rang out.

“You brought me food,” she said, her eyes dancing with delight. “Aren’t you wonderful.”

“I brought you a feast.” I gestured to the spread. “Courtesy of our head chef, who seems to think we need spoiling.”

“She’s not wrong.” Isi rose from the bed and strode over to me, her hands settling on my chest as she looked up with so much love in her eyes it gutted me. And that made me want to drop to my knees and worship her. “You’re perfect. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You haven’t tasted it yet.”

“I don’t need to.” She stretched up and kissed me, soft and sweet and thoroughly distracting. “It looks delicious, like you.”

When she pulled back, I caught Lexie and Kerralyn exchanging knowing looks. Derren studied the fire.