Page 36 of Raven Rebel (Sablewood #1)

“Find something interesting out there?” A low voice asked.

She spun, a hand to her mouth as the summer heir materialized.

He must have followed her out or emerged from the far side of the wide balcony, but she had not heard him.

He ignored her surprise and looked over the railing.

“Those hills are the edge of the summer court, just as the autumn court ends in the trees there. If you could see west, you would see our shared agriculture.”

Blinking, she stared at the golden faerie.

He was Cerne’s rival. And he was standing beside her explaining the geography around them.

Wavy hair the color of dried wheat fell over his brow.

Everything about him was broad, from his defined jaw to his shoulders.

He looked like he personally did most of the threshing of their courts’ shared harvest.

She waited for some sort of introduction, some shred of decorum, but he simply leaned onto the railing and stared over the landscape beside her.

If he had no manners, she would have to take the lead. It was a way to place formality between them. “Apologies,” she said, her voice rough. She cleared it. “We have not been introduced.”

“I am Luce, from the Summer Court, and you are Lady Meara.” He stated it so plainly. Then, with a note of curiosity, he asked, “Did you enjoy meeting Queen Araluen?”

The question caught her off guard. He didn’t sound like someone making idle conversation, nor did he carry the hostility she expected from Cerne’s near-enemy.

When she hesitated, he turned to look at her.

Thick lashes framed eyes of two different colors, one the deep blue of a summer sky, and the other a complex honey brown.

Her breath caught as she was caught in their depths.

“No, it was fine,” she stammered. “I didn’t know what to expect, but she was kind.”

He stared at her for a moment and then nodded. “She is.”

Meara dragged her bottom lip through her teeth, unsure of what to say. Those bicolored irises unsettled her.

“I would have remembered you if we had met before,” he continued. “Where did you live before you joined the Autumn Court?”

Her inhale was measured as she gathered her thoughts. He was not a safe person to confide in, in fact, she was sure he was one of the people Cerne seemed to worry about.

“If you will not speak to me, I can accept that,” he said quietly, taking her silence for rejection. “But do not fault me for attempting it again when we meet at Samhain.” A hint of a smile warmed his rugged features.

The door swooshed open and the shards of light scattered across the stone floor, shifting over her feet as the glass moved. Familiar antlers stood out, marking the silhouette as Cerne’s.

“Luce, what are you doing?” His voice had a friendly air, but Meara sensed the threat under his words. Cerne was skilled at those courtly games, sounding friendly while promising retribution. She turned, her hands gripping the railing as she pressed the small of her back against it.

Luce glanced back, looking unconcerned. “You could have introduced me. It would have saved your lady from some distress.”

Meara scowled. “I am not in distress. But being approached by a stranger with a spear strapped to his back is not a common experience for me.”

Cerne stepped closer, offering her a hand. She placed her fingers in his warm palm, feeling the draw to him as his fingers closed over hers. Luce sighed behind her, and she glanced over her shoulder in time to see the light catch the golden stubble on his jaw as he turned back to the view.

“Good evening,” she said, trying to assuage the discomfort of the situation. Cerne’s lips thinned into a hard line as he pulled her away. “Is there anywhere else we could go? It was a bit warm in there.” She searched his face, her heart jumping at his soft expression.

Luce straightened and strode past them. “I could never leave a lady in discomfort. I will leave this space to you. Good evening, Meara.”

“You have my thanks, Luce,” Cerne said. The sharp tone felt like a defense she was tucked behind.

His arm looped around her, emphasizing the feeling.

The familiarity was a balm, and she melted into him, letting him warm the icy parts of her.

He spoke into her hair. “I’m going to have to have a word with Tayen about leaving you. ”

“Unsupervised?” she added. “I do not need a bodyguard nor a chaperone. No one else here has one.”

His finger tipped her chin up until their eyes met. “No one else is brand new to the court with magic craft that has barely been discovered. Craft you cannot wield. Yet. And trouble seems to find you, though I cannot blame it. You are beautiful. ”

She wanted to argue, or at least glare at him, but his hold on her waist tightened and his mouth lowered to hers.

She tipped her chin up, feeling his lips brush over hers.

He paused, giving her a chance to pull away.

She prayed the shadows provided privacy and the entire ballroom wasn’t watching as she met his kiss hungrily, pressing into him.

His fingers dug into her skin, the pinch of pain adding to the delicious strokes of his tongue against hers.

“Dance with me?” he murmured, leaning back to look into her eyes. The softness of his forest eyes comforted her after the shock of Luce’s intense gaze.

“I’m afraid my dancing has not improved.” He chuckled at her confession. “But wait,” she said, raising an eyebrow, “you were too drunk to dance with me at our last banquet. So perhaps I am a wonderful dancer and you are a terrible one.”

“Only one way to know,” he said, his hand sliding down her arm to grip her wrist and tug her into a twirl.

She turned under his arm and then fell back into his chest. His mahogany curls fell over his cheeks as he dipped his head to capture her mouth again.

She kissed him slowly, savoring the slide of their lips together.

When she released him to take a shuddering breath, he smirked. “I thought we were going to dance. It is the more socially acceptable option of the things you make me think of doing.”

Meara shivered, wanting to press nearer to him, closer until she crawled into his ribcage and lived in his confidence and warmth. His voice was rough and low. “It’s up to you, my lady. To the dance floor, or shall we find a more private alcove?”

She ran her teeth over her lip again, trying to sort out her racing mind.

Every rational thought swirled into a mess as his mouth trailed over her jaw and he pressed a kiss to her earlobe.

Her hand went to his hair, pulling him away.

“You cannot expect me to make a wise decision when you kiss me like that.”

“Sorry.” His grin said otherwise. In fact, he looked wildly pleased with himself. He ran a hand down the inside of her raised arm, tracing her ribs and dipping to the small of her back.

Scoffing, she rolled her eyes. “You haven’t been sorry a day in your life.”

His rakish smile widened. Her stomach flipped, and she tipped her head back, offering her mouth. Her eyes fluttered shut, anticipation coiling within her, when raindrops splashed onto her cheeks.

The clouds rumbled, and rain began to pour in earnest. Throwing his arm around her, Cerne rushed them back under the edge of the roof. His arms enveloped her, shielding her from the chill and mist of the rain drenching the ground a mere footfall from where they huddled.

She stared into the landscape as rain obscured the darkened rolling hills. His breath was hot on her neck. “Should we go back to our rooms?”

Her hands wrinkled the fabric of his shirt. “As appealing as that idea is,” she murmured, her words slow and halting, “I think we should rejoin our friends.”

His chuckle was dark, but his hold on her loosened, giving her space to breathe. “If you desire a dance, I promise to not complain about any stomped-on feet.”

“I don’t-” she protested.

“Of course - I promise to not step on your feet. Better?” She nodded. Slowly, he peeled away until a hand width separated them.

Leaving one hand on the small of her back, he guided them into the ballroom where they joined Tayen and Brenna in a dance.

The steps were slower, thankfully, and she allowed Cerne to guide her.

Only once did she step on his foot, and he gave her no reaction.

In his arms, the overwhelming crowd of the room didn’t bother her.

Everything fell away until there was only his arms twirling her and her sister’s smiling face as they passed each other on the ballroom floor.