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Taly took a shaky breath. “Behave,” she warned, though she couldn’t help slipping a hand between them, just to make surehe wasn’t bluffing. He wasn’t. He was hard, perfect, and ready. “I think we may have already traumatized poor Aiden yesterday.”

Skye reached down to cover her hand with his own, thrusting against her palm, greedy for friction. “He should learn to knock.”

“On a supply closet door?”

“Especially on a supply closet door.” He tried to lean her back on the table, but she resisted.

“Em.” He nipped her lip, one last attempt to sway her. “I don’t want to have to re-sanitize this entire area.”

Skye had the nerve to look disappointed and the gall to make it look sexy. But he stepped away, giving her room to breathe.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, surprised there wasn’t a damp spot on the table when she jumped off.

“I’m here to see you,” Skye said, idly circling the tent.

The way he said it… She pulled her eyes away from where they’d been unapologetically ogling his ass. “Shit. Did we make plans that I forgot?”

Skye stood in front of the meticulously organized shelves—her pride and joy—reading the new labels. A small smile graced his mouth. “C’mon, Tink. Let’s not do this.”

“Do what?”

“Stop playing dumb. Aiden told me. They’re bringing Kalahad out of the healing sleep today.”

Aiden had a big mouth.

“I…mayhave heard something about it.” Taly busied herself with setting up a new cauldron.

“I know, Tink. Not the specifics, but I know you’ve got something planned.”

“Then you also know you can’t stop me.” This was, after all, the second reason she’d taken this job—right after the need todistract herself from feeling completely useless. To be here for the day, themomentwhen Kalahad finally woke up.

“Taly, whatever you’re planning to do is probably ill-thought out and irresponsible. Kalahad might be ill, but he’s still Highborn. What if he wakes up and decides you’re a threat?”

Taly scowled. Just like that, he went from sex god to judgmental asshole. It was amazing she didn’t have whiplash. “Don’t start with me, Skye. Iwilltalk to Kalahad.”

She needed to look into his eyes and see for herself that Bill wasn’t in there.

“Okay,” Skye said.

“Wait, seriously?”

“But I’m going with you.”

“No.” Taly shook her head. She had this timed down to the minute. Kalahad was the brother of a High Lord, under strict guard. No one was allowed inside except the healers and a select few menders. She had a singular window to slip in unnoticed when the afternoon and evening shifts swapped out. “It’s already risky enough with just one.”

Hands flat on the table, Skye leaned in until they were nearly nose-to-nose. “I can’t stop you from being stubborn and reckless. I’ve accepted that. But someone is going to be there to watch your back.”

“Just because you’re royalty doesn’t mean you get to boss me around.”

“Oh, I’m not invoking any royal authority. I’m telling you this as your mate. You have two options: either I go with you, or you’re going home.”

Her pulse spiked—irritation, surely. Nothing else. She crossed her arms. “I really regret letting you call me that.”

“Make your choice.”

“The only way I’m leaving here is if you carry me.”

The look on his face said that was a valid option, and that little spark of irritation flared somehow hotter.