Page 84 of Spark of Sorcery

“So you’re in a relationship with the Princes now?”

I stop walking. Am I? And am I happy about that? I didn’t really have much choice about things in the beginning but lately I’ve been spending time with them –doingthings with them – of my own free will.

It just sort of happened. I haven’t stopped to consider if I’m happy about it.

If this mate thing is real, is this fate pulling us together?

“Don’t tell me, Cupcake,” Fly says, pulling on my arm. “It’s complicated.”

Clare’s door stands ajar, one of her records playing softly in the background. We find her arranging potential outfits on the bed. Fly goes over to inspect them.

“I like the way you’ve matched this skirt with this sweater. Your taste is definitely improving,” he comments. “It’s down to my influence.”

I pull Clare to one side as Fly rearranges clothes items. “Did you do it?”

Clare adjusts her glasses and nibbles on her lip. “Not yet, Briony. Give me a chance!”

“You need to do it before you build it up into this big thing and chicken out.” She grimaces. “Would you like to have dinner with him?” She hesitates, then nods. “Then do it.”

“Okay, okay,” she says.

We agree on the skirt and sweater Clare picked out because, to quote Fly, “it shows off your legs and makes your chest look bigger than it is”.

Then I kiss them both goodbye, guilty I’m leaving them for another evening, and hurry along to the Princes’ tower. I could deviate quickly to check in again on Blaze, but the bell chimes seven. I pick up my pace and am knocking on the door a few minutes later.

I cringe at the realization that Beaufort has already trained me to be here on time.

Son of a bitch.

Chapter Thirty

Beaufort

I open the door to find our little thrall scowling up at me as usual. I assume I’ve done something to irritate her, but what the hell that is, I have no fucking idea.

Not that it bothers me. Those scowls are hotter than the sun. The sun in Onyx Quarter. Because here at the academy we hardly ever see it.

“Nice to see you too,” I mutter, striding away down to the kitchen.

The front door shuts behind me and I hear her scurry to catch up. At the kitchen door, I pause and she comes to stand alongside me. She looks at me in puzzlement, then into the kitchen.

The table has been laid for two, with a tablecloth, the finest porcelain dishes and candlelight. More candles flicker allaround the kitchen, and strings of burgundy flowers decorate the room, their fragrant aroma filling the space.

“Oh,” she says, blinking at the spectacle.

“Come on.” I take her hand and lead her inside.

The first course, scallops, lays waiting on the plates. I pull back her chair and wait for her to take her seat. Then pour her a glass of wine before taking the seat opposite.

“Is it only the two of us?” she asks.

“Yes,” I say, lifting my wine glass to take a sip.

“Why?”

I lower my glass. Her question annoys me. She spent Wednesday evening with Thorne. She spent most of the ball with Dray. I’ve had fleeting glimpses of her attention and frankly I want more. Yeah, I know we’re meant to share. Yeah, that’s hot. But I also want her to myself. Her eyes onme, her mouth kissingmylips, her body entwined withmybody.

I try to suppress my annoyance but it escapes in a pissy little sigh.