Til Death Do Us Bard: A heart-warming tale of marriage, magic, and monster-slaying by Black Rose

Author:Black, Rose
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 2023-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

Interlude

Fourteen Months Ago

Logan drained the last of his drink and slammed down the tankard. Right. He was going to do it. Neither gods nor man could stop him now. Pie stood in the corner, showing the barmaid sleight of hand tricks. A gold coin flashed across his knuckles and then vanished from sight. Pie held out his empty hands and she gasped in delight. Logan had to move now, or he’d lose his chance.

The back of his neck itched as he stood, the confidence of several pints sliding off his shoulders. Logan fought to hold onto it. After his marriage had ended, there had been numerous one-night events – a bit of meaningless fun to warm the bed and nothing to leave them attached in the morning. As Logan had got older – and grumpier – and more set in his ways, they’d become few and far between. But why shouldn’t he? At least he knew Pie was interested.

He wasn’t quite sure what to say to make the barmaid go away, but fortunately Pie spotted him first and headed over. Logan’s heart leapt into his throat.

‘So,’ Logan said as the bard approached. ‘You still want to seduce me, right?’ Immediately his ears burned, and he wanted the floor to swallow him up. That was smooth.

Pie grinned. ‘You don’t waste words, do you?’ He put a hand on Logan’s shoulder and the smile slipped a little. ‘I do, definitely, but . . .’

Logan’s heart sank. He’d left it too late after all. He tried to turn away, but Pie didn’t release his grip.

‘Hear me out. Last time you were pretty clear. What if this is the beer talking, and tomorrow you wake up and think ­differently?’

Logan shook his head. ‘Ain’t the beer.’

‘I just want to be sure that you’re sure.’ Pie leaned in close, and Logan noticed for the first time that his eyes were both green and brown. ‘I’ve been many people’s bad ideas. I don’t want to be anyone’s regret.’

‘What do you want me to do? Stand on one leg? Sing a song?’ Frustration put a hard edge to Logan’s voice. ‘What will convince you that this isn’t the beer talking, that I want this?’ He lowered his voice. ‘That I want you?’

‘Tell me what’s different this time.’ The bard rested his hip against the table, and Logan tried not to focus on the way Pie’s loosely laced shirt revealed his collarbone.

‘Last time you surprised me. Didn’t give me the opportun­ity to think. This time . . . This time . . .’ He stumbled over the words, much harder to harness than feelings. ‘I did good today. Saved those children. They went home to their families, happy. Why shouldn’t I get some happy time too?’

Pie’s eyes widened and so did his smile. He put a hand on Logan’s cheek, drawing Logan’s lips to his. He wore a citrusy scent that drove Logan’s senses wild.

‘Well, in that case, you’ve absolutely come to the right place.’ Pie took his hand, pulling him towards the stairs.

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