The Scarlet Tanager by Emigh Cannaday

Author:Emigh Cannaday
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: elves and fae;romantic fantasy elves;dark fantasy elves;paranormal fantasy romance elves;paranormal fantasy female protagonist;romance with elves;elf romance
Publisher: Emigh Cannaday
Published: 2016-08-06T17:47:52+00:00

Chapter 22

bedtime story

That night Annika lay on her stomach with her chin propped up on her elbows, watching Finn move about the room from the comfort of his bed. Of all the things she was feeling, she was mostly jealous of his pajamas. He’d changed out of his white riding breeches into a comfortable pair of linen shorts and a well-worn white t-shirt, but not a square inch of gauze covered his limbs. After the late lunch al fresco with him and Galileo, his mother had drawn Annika yet another bath and then changed her bandages for the night. The wounds throughout her body had healed considerably, and Annika didn’t care if she was soaking in a tub or lying against a pile of pillows; she was quickly growing bored with the business of getting enough rest. She felt more awake and alert than she had in days, and it took more effort than she expected for her to lie still. Finn had already lit half a dozen candles, and had just blown out the long match. It sent a thin wisp of smoke into the stagnant air, and then lingered in a cloud near the ceiling. The porcelain pitcher and basin on his nightstand had been replaced with a large wooden mug of water just in case she got thirsty in the middle of the night.

“Can I take these braids out?” she asked, swinging her ankles back and forth in the air. “I always sleep with my hair down.”

“When your bandages come off for good, then you may,” he replied, taking a thick blanket out of a chest near the foot of his bed. “But until Anthea or my mother says otherwise, you’ll need to keep your hair up.” He folded the blanket in half, and then in half again before laying it on the floor beside the bed. Then he reached for the lightweight one they’d had their picnic on earlier that day.

“I’m starting to get really itchy,” she complained, reaching her arm around to try and scratch her back. “It’s driving me nuts.”

“That’s a good sign. It means your skin’s healing,” he said, unfurling the blanket. A soft clatter sounded on the floor, and Finn’s face scrunched in confusion as he picked up the fallen object.

“I suppose this got wrapped up in there by mistake. I’ll bring it back to the stable tomorrow,” he said, revealing the riding crop from earlier in his hand.

“Give it to me,” Annika said, holding out her hand. Finn’s eyes widened with intrigue. “Please?” Still watching her curiously, he handed it over. She immediately began to scratch her back with the tip of it, sighing in relief.

“Just be mindful not to misuse it, or I’ll have to take it away from you,” he warned gently as he grabbed a pillow off the bed, dropping it on top of the blankets on the floor. “Now, about the lights? Shall I put them out or leave them be?”

“What do you want, sludoor?” she asked, still scratching her back.

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