Page 43

"I said⁠—"

"Do not mistake the fact that I like you." I quoted.

His eyes widened. Just slightly. "...That was not the point."

"It really sounded like the point."

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Oh, for Hell's sake."

"You said it."

"I was attempting to explain my concern for Mrs. Wilton."

"You accidentally confessed instead."

"I did no such⁠—"

"You like me."

He stared at me. Long enough that I almost felt guilty. Almost. Finally, he sighed. "...Apparently."

The single word landed somewhere behind my ribs and bloomed into warmth. I stepped closer. "So..."

"No."

"I haven't asked anything yet."

"I know that tone."

"What tone?"

"The one preceding trouble."

I smiled sweetly. "I like you too."

He looked away. His ears, I looked again, could demons... blush? The tips of his ears had turned the faintest shade darker.

"I am not blushing."

"I didn't say you were."

"You were thinking it."

"I absolutely was."

He sighed toward the heavens. "I preferred the beetles."

I laughed so hard I had to grab his arm to stay upright. He looked down at my hand, but didn't move it away. He didn't even pretend to. Instead... his fingers quietly turned over beneath mine. Until they were holding my hand. Entirely by accident. Or so I was absolutely going to let him believe.

Azaren sat at the kitchen table surrounded by old journals and maps, muttering darkly every few minutes whenever the laptop refused to cooperate. I was halfway through washing the dinner plates when a strange sound drifted in from the living room.

"Mrrrow."

Followed by frantic scratching. I frowned. "Reggie?"

Another miserable meow. I dried my hands and hurried around the corner. Reggie sat beside the fireplace, furiously rubbing the side of his face against the rug.

"Hey, sweetheart." I immediately knelt beside him. "What's wrong?"