Chapter 104

The rest of the evening goes much easier than the start. The four of us spend hours in the kitchen as Laila continues to make what is apparently a very elaborate and time-consuming soup. Orion does most of the talking, answering question after question as I seek to know more about this world and the politics within it. The picture that begins to develop in my mind is quite surprising – I didn’t know, for instance, that this world has rather a thriving noble class who have houses scattered all over the land and have a great deal to say in the laws and regulations.

And while my first impulse as Queen would be to immediately strip everyone of their titles, Orion’s explanations about the roles that these people play within the world, and how the nobility can be manipulated for political ends, certainly tempers that impulse.

Laila’s soup, when it’s finally ready, is absolutely delicious – especially when served with liberal amounts of crusty bread and fresh butter. I shift Anton back into his corporeal form and we watch curiously to see whether or not he can eat.

“Alas, still a ghost,” he murmurs, unable to smell or taste anything that he puts in his mouth.

By the time we’re finished eating we’re all exhausted. We troop back into the small living room and gather around the little fireplace there, talking idly, our eyes drooping. After all, it was a very busy day, almost dying and saving lives and gaining a seemingly endless resource of power. Very nearly puts a girl to sleep.

Nobody makes any real move to go to the bedroom, everyone instead cuddling up where they are. Orion falls asleep first, sprawled over an armchair, his mouth hanging adorably open. Laila and Anton go next, Laila curled up on a series of pillows scattered on the ground, Anton’s long form spread out over the couch, his head pillowed on my thigh.

I sigh, not wanting to disturb him, laying my head down on the arm of the couch and resigning myself to sleeping curled up like a little snail. I close my eyes, my mind spinning on the events of the day, on my plans for the future – however scanty -

“You can’t sleep like that,” Anton murmurs, his voice thick and grumbly as he reaches up for me.

I gasp a little in surprise when his hand reaches across me, grasping me by the hip and giving me a solid tug downward so that I, like him, am laying on my side, my shoulders about even with his face.

I go still, not – not knowing what to do –

Not used to Anton having a body, having strength at all – having any power to drag me around –

My wolf dances from paw to paw, suddenly quite excited at the prospect.

“Lay down, June,” Anton murmurs, warm, his voice barely audible, tugging on my hip again. “Unless you want me to get up –“

I growl a little, doing my best to glare at him over my shoulder as he calls my bluff. Because even if I am, admittedly, a little freaked out by the new reality of him…

I definitely, definitely don’t want him to go anywhere.

I grumble, pretending to be mad about it, and scootch down a little, my heart starting to pound as I line my body up with Anton’s, my back just…barely brushing against his chest. I exhale slowly, letting my eyes drift shut, putting my head down.

But instantly I pick it up again, frowning, not liking the angle of my neck on this flat cushion without a pillow –

“Here,” Anton murmurs, stretching his arm out over the space where my head just was, his hand dangling out into the open air. “I live to serve, after all.”

I laugh a little and do as I’m bid, laying my head back down on his arm, my wolf spinning in ridiculous circles in my soul at this…rather surprising development.

Because even if Anton and I have spent weeks in bed together, he was always a ghost, just always there – never…never like this.

My eyes flutter shut as my cheek pillows against his arm, shocked at…god, at how damn good it feels. Do – do people who design pillows know about this? Like honestly, the contours of Tony’s arm should be studied for their ergonomic qualities –

Mid-thought, all of my ridiculous musings are wiped immediately away as Tony slips his other hand up and over my waist, across my stomach. And then his arm tightens, pulling more snugly against him.

My eyes fly wide, my wolf emitting a ridiculous series of yelps and yips and howls, as Anton shifts himself behind me, snuggling close, getting comfortable. Because – I mean – how can he – how can he fucking sleep!? His arm is around me – and my back is pressed to his chest – and then to his stomach – and my ass is nestled quite fucking neatly against –

“I can hear your heart beat, June,” Anton murmurs, so soft that I’m sure only I will hear him. “You doing okay over there?”

My eyes go even wider –

God, when was the last time I blinked!?

“Are you comfortable?” he asks, his breath tickling the little hairs on the back of my neck. “Anything you want me to…do?” And then – oh god – the soft rush of his cheek against my skin as he dips his head, giving me just the softest little nuzzle –

“Okay!” I snap, as softly as I can, jumping to my feet and whirling to glare at him.

Anton grins up at me, making me bare my teeth as I realize that he knew precisely what he was doing – that he was totally freaking me out on purpose –

“You rat,” I snarl, my eyes narrowed so completely that I can barely see. I snap a hand up, pointing at the door. “Outside. Now!”

“Oh, come on, I was just getting comfortable,” he murmurs, all long and sexy and –

Oh god damn it. God damn it!

“You come outside right now or I’ll light you on fire,” I growl, summoning a tiny flame in my hand as I lean towards him, my threat quite clear on my face.

Anton just laughs, lifting his hands up in submission and starting to sit up.

I don’t bother to confirm that he gets up fully, vanishing the flame away in my hand and stalking for the door as quietly as I can manage in my angry state. Because who is he to – to mess with me – to so clearly torture –

I yank the door open and stalk outside, looking up at the moon – the crescent one, my favorite, hanging high in the sky like a curious eye, watching down on me, laughing a bit. I clench my fists at my side, glaring up at it.

“June, don’t be mad.” Anton’s voice rings out behind me, at its normal volume as he pulls the door shut behind him. “I didn’t mean to piss you off –“

“Oh?” I ask, spinning towards him, lifting my chin to glare up into his face as he steps close. “Did you mistake me for someone else!? For Beatrice, perhaps!?”

“Beatrice,” Anton murmurs. “What on earth does she have to do with anything?” He inhales deeply and lifts a hand to brush my hair back over my shoulders, his fingers trailing along my neck as he does. My eyes threaten to flutter shut at the soft feeling of his touch – but I force them back open with a glare.

“She’s your mate, apparently,” I snap, narrowing my eyes. “And she probably wouldn’t like you getting all snuggly and spoony with me on the couch!”

“Beatrice isn’t my mate,” Anton murmurs, dropping his hand to my shoulder and then letting his fingers trail down to my arm. “Besides, I think the real question is whether or not you liked it.”

My mouth pops open in surprise. “She’s…she’s not your mate?”