Serenna busied herself with poring over one of Aesar’s tomes. Even though he would’ve already gleaned anything important, she had nothing better to do than to search for any clues as to where one of the remaining Hearts of Stars might be.
A few hours had passed since Fenn had peeled himself off the bathing chamber’s floor and shambled out of the Aerie for the evening. With those injuries, he’ll need weeks before returning to the—
A heavy cloak dropped onto the table. Serenna reared back in her seat. Having been so absorbed in skimming Aesar’s translations, she hadn’t heard anyone enter the sitting room.
Across from her, Fenn loomed with folded arms. Uncharacteristically out of his armor, his dark trousers glittered like scales, catching the light from the moons. His own cloak enveloped a loose tunic, unlaced halfway down his chest. Flaunting her tether’s key.
“What’s this for?” Serenna asked, touching the garment’s furry hood.
“We’re going outside.” Fenn crouched to indulge Aiko, who padded over from a sofa to reap his attention—which she’d refused to tolerate from Serenna earlier with a flick of her tail. “Bundle up.”
Evading reminders of what the eclipsing moons’ glaring light meant for tonight, Serenna had selected a seat facing away from the open sky. She twisted around, looking out a window. “But the sun just set. I can’t imagine it’s pleasant out. And besides, you’re…” She frowned, examining Fenn’s completely healed face more closely. Her question was beyond skeptical. “Did Lykor mend you?”
“Aesar did. We discussed what happened.” Fenn engrossed himself in scratching Aiko’s tufted ear, coaxing out a purr that vibrated throughout the room. “In an unrelated matter, he thought you might enjoy watching the elven eclipse with company.”
Fenn’s comment was a flaming arrow punched into her gut. Serenna’s heart tumbled, thinking about the prince performing his duty in Kyansari. Aesar’s books had been an escape, a way of avoiding thinking about what the Summer Lunar Solstice meant.
Serenna closed the tome in front of her, intending to decline. “And I suppose you volunteered because you have nothing better to do tonight?”
“I certainly didn’t imply that.” Fenn rose, his unbound hair spilling over his shoulders, softening the planes of his cheekbones. He tilted his head, earrings clinking. “As I’m still indebted to you, I was hoping this service would be repayment enough.”
When Serenna narrowed her eyes to see through his flimsy motivation, Fenn suggestively raised his brows. His painfully obvious gaze drifted to the center stairs, leading up to the sleeping quarters before he said, “Unless you had an impulse to engage in a different activity this evening.”
The insinuation kindled a cursed, molten thread of intrigue. Scowling, Serenna crossed her legs and shoved her arms into a knot. Unamused by the spark of hope glowing in Fenn’s eyes, she battled his smoldering stare.
She could remember when this warrior had intimidated her just because he was a wraith, but now… Now she wrestled with a shameful thrill heating her blood. Unsure how to navigate this straightforward, relentless interest she’d never received before, skirting the fringes of flirtation was Serenna’s only defense.
Knuckles braced on the table, Fenn extended his fangs—likely to intimidate her—leaning forward to combat her defiance. “I had planned on spending the evening at the Lagoon, but now, rather than getting my—”
“Put those fangs away,” Serenna snapped, her exasperation coming out more forcefully than she intended.
Rising, Serenna decided that she wouldn’t squander this presented opportunity to annoy Fenn. She shouldered on the cloak, since her guard seemed determined to drag her outdoors. It seemed pointless to mention that they could watch the moons more comfortably from inside the Aerie.
“For your information,” Serenna said, tugging on her boots, “I didn’t ask for you to sacrifice your time at the Lagoon.”
“It’s a chilly night.” Fenn shrugged. “I’m open to warming up there afterward.”
Serenna’s heart banged against her ribs while she made every effort to avoid envisioning what that entailed. She yanked her hair out from under the cloak, tossing the strands over her shoulders. “I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“Hard to intrude when I’m inviting you.” Fenn had retracted his canines by the time he opened the sliding glass door leading to the balcony. He stretched, scraping the obsidian stone of the doorway before waving her through. His eyes locked on hers before she passed the threshold. “Perhaps I have an interest in spending time with a particular she-elf.”
Serenna’s pulse stilled from his claim, any clever response she hoped to form crumbling to dust. He’s shameless. But I like that about him.
Pointedly ignoring him as she sidestepped outside, Serenna surrendered her arguments about how they spent nearly every waking moment together as it was. Fenn’s low chuckle said that she’d only lose whatever ground she hoped to gain.
Light streamed down from the full moons, hovering over the jagged mountains, drenching the valley like beacons in the night. “Should we move some of the furniture out here?” Serenna asked, drawing the furred hood around her neck.
An errant gust swirled a flurry of powdery snow, flakes gliding aimlessly through the icy air once the draft subsided. Fenn brushed the stirred hair out of his face, smirking too smugly. “I have a more secluded place in mind.”
“Naturally,” Serenna said, nervously laughing as her heart picked up speed. So it’ll be just the two of us. Alone somewhere.
Placing his palms on the balustrade, Fenn leaned over the edge to inspect stars knew what. Safe from his view, Serenna studied him. From his towering height and wraith lankiness, to the way his indigo skin glinted with shimmering iridescence, highlighted by moons. When he turned back before she could get any further, Serenna whipped her eyes up to the sky.
Realizing how they were going to get there, she emitted a defeated sigh. “And I suppose you’ll be jumping off the balcony and warping us to this mysterious place.”
Fenn tilted his head. “Do you not trust me?”
“Of course I do,” Serenna answered automatically, grasping the claw he extended.
Eyes dancing like the stars, his slanted, cocky grin was irritatingly charming. Serenna pinched her lips and flushed.
She squeaked when Fenn suddenly swept her off her feet, cradling her across his chest.
He pulled himself up to stand on the parapet, teetering on the ledge. Serenna’s stomach clenched. Knowing her objection was futile, she still asked, “Can’t you simply hold my hand when we do this?”
“I could.” The chilly gale whistled past, yanking at Fenn’s unbound hair. “But I like this position better.”
“I figured,” Serenna muttered, clutching his cloak. The precarious height and the blustering breeze snagged the breath in her lungs. Anticipating the whirl of his teleportation, she squeezed her eyes shut.
Fenn’s chest rumbled when he spoke. “I think I can make it there in ten warps.”
Serenna jerked in his arms, squawking with alarm. “Ten!” Her eyes flew open to see Fenn scanning the horizon. “Wait—”
They disintegrated into a twisting nether of darkness, her protest snatched away by the wind.
CHAPTER 41
SERENNA
