Page 75 of The Hopeless Romantic’s Guide to Enchantment

Romance wasn’t always their approach when locating the ancient artifacts that controlled warbirds. Every rider, every region, required careful research and brainstorming. Raiden had been easy, because Raiden was their age, and royalty were always looking for advantageous marriages.

And yeah, maybe Cera enjoyed the physicality of it, just a bit.

“If it makes you feel better,” Cera inserted, because although her hope for Raiden as an ally was rapidly diminishing, she didn’t want him to think terribly of them when they left, “you are fucking gorgeous. It was easy to get carried away.”

“She often does,” Tasi sighed. “And then I have to remind her why we’re an item.”

“Sometimes we bring in a third.”

“Once.”

“Twice! How could you forget Téqual?”

Tasi’s face flushed. “Oh, fuck. Yeah. Téqual was a gem.”

Raiden clenched his fists, glaring between them. “I’m going to have you both beheaded for this.”

That was an escalation – but Cera probably shouldn’t have been surprised. She narrowed her eyes. “You almost fooled me into thinking you weren’t utterly terrible. I was hoping you were a product of your upbringing. Beheading? That’s a bit absurd.”

“Still think he’s hot?” Tasi asked, almost smug.

Cera felt a pang of humiliation, but waved it off. This was par for the course; Tasi had agreed to this, but she also spent weeks wondering where Cera was, wondering how close she’d ease towards Raiden this time. After all that, Tasi was entitled to her jabs.

Cera waved a hand. “He is hot. But this response is an embarrassment. I’m over it.”

“Finally,” Tasi said in relief. She readied her blade, sliding into a combat stance, keeping her eyes on Raiden. “You want to get the gates while I watch him?”

“Yep.” Cera raised her voice. “Korvi? Any day now.”

Korvi landed hard on the platform beside them and bent down for Cera to climb onto his head. He lifted her effortlessly to the first platform for the gates, where she unlatched the first lock. Then he hopped over to the second platform, depositing her there instead.

She gripped the huge lever and shouted, “Get ready!”

“No!” Raiden screamed, diving for the staircase.

Too late. Pinske had been ready and waiting, and the second the gate opened, she burst through and landed with a heavy thud beside the broken pieces of the clay ocarina. It cut off Raiden’s exit, and he was left scrambling backwards, staring up at the huge owl with wide eyes.

Pinske pecked at the ocarina’s remains, seemingly satisfied. Then she turned huge eyes on her ex-rider.

“N-No,” Raiden sobbed. “P-Please—”

Pinske raised her clawed foot, but before she could do anything, Cera whistled sharply. Not a magical whistle – just a normal one. The snowy owl paused, glancing curiously at her, and Cera said, “Leave him be. He can’t control you anymore.”

Korvi squawked emphasis, staring the owl down.

Pinske looked between them, then reluctantly pulled away.

Tasi sheathed her dagger and said, “You want me to ride her?”

“I think she’ll like you well enough,” Cera said, hopping back on Korvi’s head and sliding down to the groove of his shoulders. Pinske watched the new woman approach her, but one questioning look at Korvi had her bending down to accept a new rider. Tasi hopped onto the huge owl’s back with ease.

“You’re stealing my bird?” Raiden choked.

“Stealing—” Cera gritted her teeth. “Didn’t you hear our whole speech? No, you fucked over your bird by trapping her in a cage all her life. So, we’re taking her somewhere she can be fed and free. Aviaries. I swear.”

“Please don’t,” Tasi said, and clucked her tongue. Pinske spread her wings, following Korvi’s lead.

Cera craned over Korvi’s back to catch one last look at the disgraced duke. “I really did like you, Raiden. After we drop off Pinske, I’ll be heading to Welk regardless, so I’ll check in when I’m done there. Make sure you didn’t get all murder-y.”