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“I just wish I could make her explain,” I said, feeling suddenly a little hopeless. “Or know she is alright.”

Carnon raised his brows, a realization dawning on his face. “Didn’t you say that witches could travel and communicate by mirror?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said. “But you need specific supplies and a witch mirror, which I seriously doubt we will find here.”

“And if we could find one?” he asked slowly. “Would you want to try to reach her?”

“Yes,” I said. “But she would have to be near a mirror as well, and it could be dangerous if my grandmother was nearby.”

“Then let me help you,” Carnon said, looking down at me with warm green eyes. The dark hair fell across his forehead a little as he looked at me, and warmth pooled in my stomach. “Tomorrow, let’s go to the market and see if we can find what you need.”

“Really?” I asked, looking up at him hopefully.

“Really,” he said, cupping my cheek and stroking my cheekbone with his thumb again. “We won’t be able to get an audience with the king until the next day anyway.”

“What?” I asked, surprised by this news. “How do you know?”

“I asked around at the coffee shop,” he shrugged, turning to sit on the bench at the end of the bed to remove his boots. “He’s been gone, but he’s supposed to return the day after tomorrow.”

“So,” I said, feeling a flush creep up my cheeks. “So you're stuck with me for two more nights?”

Carnon looked up, his grin turning a little feral. “Think how much I’ll be able to teach you in that time.”

Chapter 26

I was awoken in the most delicious way possible, with Carnon kissing his way down my naked body. He had definitely taught me some tricks the night before, and I had a feeling he planned to do more “teaching” this morning.

“Do you never sleep?” I yawned, luxuriating in the feel of his hair between my fingers. He looked up at me, grinning from where he was poised over my stomach, placing gentle kisses to my navel.

“How could I possibly sleep with you naked in my bed?” he asked, pressing kisses to my stomach and my sternum as he made his way back up my body. “Gods, how are you so fucking perfect?”

I blushed as he bent to kiss me, this one slow and languid, as if there weren’t a clock ticking down our minutes together.

“How often will I see you?” I asked quietly. “After I ask the king for his protection?”

Carnon’s eyes met mine, his gaze steady and contemplative. “I don’t know,” he said at last, brushing another kiss over my lips. “But every day, if I can manage it.”

My heart gave a little leap at this suggestion. I wondered if Vera had ever felt as attached to her conquests as I did to Carnon. I knew it was dangerous, letting myself get attached. But apparently he would live longer in this kingdom than in mine, so maybe…

“Gods, Red,” Carnon said, chuckling. “You look like you're planning to go to war, not to meet the Demon King.”

“Sorry,” I said, smiling faintly and returning his kiss. “I’ll just…miss this, I suppose.”

Carnon smiled, the look turning heated. “If I get my way,” he said, voice low as he bent to flick his tongue over the shell of my ear, “there won’t be anything to miss.”

“Carnon,” I said, feeling silly for the question I was about to ask, especially since his tongue was doing terrible things to my ear. “What am I to you?”

He stilled, pushing himself up a little to look down at me. “What am I to you, Red?” he countered, giving me one of his typical non-answers.

“Currently you’re an alarm clock,” I said a little irritably. He chuckled, moving back down my body with slow, languorous kisses.

“Hmmm, what are you to me?” he asked, punctuating the sentence with kisses across my belly. “A distraction.” Kiss. “A delight.” Another kiss. He looked up then, his smirk a little wicked. “An excellent student.” I pushed at his head playfully, and he laughed. “An interesting problem I have yet to solve,” he finished looking up at me again. “But a challenge I gladly accept, freckles and all.”

“So, lovers?” I asked, feeling strangely anxious about his answers, which were, as always, not really answers. He smiled, this time full and warm instead of his wicked smirk.

“Lovers,” he agreed. “Does this mean you won’t be running around finding other men to teach you the ways of lovemaking?” he asked, raising a brow at me. I wrinkled my nose, and he laughed.

“‘The ways of lovemaking’ makes it sound like an art form,” I said wryly, running my fingers through the longer side of his hair again. Carnon pretended to look affronted.