A Crown of Felling by Brindi Quinn

Author:Brindi Quinn [Quinn, Brindi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Never and Ever Publishing
Published: 2021-02-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Hello, Old Friend

“Will you be deciding to share it with me, this strengthening of bonds you and Edmond have undergone?”

Of course, Windley, who was abnormally clued in on my every movement, had noticed that my interaction with Edius was taking far longer than it should for a mere turnip-related question. Of course he had perked his pointed ears to make sure I was okay.

“Well, he did comfort me,” I admitted, “for I was worrying a bit.”

“Yes, I’ve been waiting for you to bring it up.”

But I was unwilling to make his worries grow for the sake of my own.

“It’s fine.” I shooed at him. “Though it did get a bit weird after. I may have gone too far when I thanked him. His instincts flared, but he overcame it. And then he felt bad.”

“And I assume you gave him a hearty speech to lift him up?”

“Yeah, but he made fun of me!”

“Of course he did.” Windley cast a jester’s grin. “Well, good on you for diffusing it. Though I am jealous. If you want to overlook the sea at night beside a mysterious southerner, I’m more than available.” He drummed his fingers once against the small of my back as the turnips roasted over the fire before us.

He wasn’t jealous, for he knew where my heart lay. I had already proven the extent of it back when he unburdened his past.

See? Solid. There were no love triangles to be had.

Though the more understanding he was, the more I cringed over my reaction to seeing Flora the first time.

“What’s that look?” he laughed.

“Ugh. I worry my affections dull my wits a times.”

“Excellent. I could use a level playing field. Come, let me dull them further.”

Hard to resist an invitation like that, not with such devilry in his smile, not with his heart opening wide to take me in, not with his fingers coiling beneath my chin to draw me closer—

But he hesitated, gaze drinking me in: “Though it would be a shame to dull something so bright.”

‘If ever there was a shiny one, it is you, my queen. So shiny I’m afraid I’ll dull you if I get too close.’

Maybe he had been hinting his fears all along. Maybe I was ignorant to have assumed that someone like him had no reservations when it came to physical love.

“I’m not afraid of you dulling me, Wind.” I leaned into the space he refused to breach and gave him all the love in my eyes. “For I know that you would never harm me.” Never. “Your arms have never been a place of fear for me. And if it means getting close to you, I would gladly let you share in my shine.”

He swallowed, looking at me a million ways. “You, lion queen, are—”

“Look what I found!”

That deep voice, so rudely interrupting a moment that was sure to have ended in a fireside kiss, was Edius, coming out of nowhere, back from scouting earlier than promised.

But he did so with good reason.

Windley sprang up, hatchet unsheathed, for Edius had just pushed a person into our campsite.

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