Stolen Midsummer Bride (Stolen Brides of the Fae) by Tara Grayce

Author:Tara Grayce [Grayce, Tara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sword & Cross Publishing
Published: 2021-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

When Basil stumbled through the Anywhere Door into the House, his bones ached with weariness. His skin crawled with the need to wash off the gritty, sticky remnants of spiders. All he wanted to do was wash in the grotto, then collapse into bed, even though he had promised Meg they would talk tonight.

Beside him, Meg’s gore-smeared face and tousled hair gave her a weary, disheveled appearance. She slumped against the Door to shut it behind them.

Around them, the whole House gave a start, then a horrified kind of shudder.

Buddy poked his head over the half door to his stall. “What’s got the House—oh, that explains it. You two are a mess.”

“It was a rough day. Spiders.” Basil rubbed a hand across his face, knocking flakes of dried spider guts from his skin.

The House gave the impression of a shriek—though it wasn’t audible. Then the Anywhere Door flung open, knocking Meg into Basil’s chest. Through the open doorway, the bathing grotto wafted steam into the room.

Basil cleared his throat and steadied Meg. “Would you like to clean up first?”

She nodded, rushing into the grotto with much more eagerness than she had on her first day there.

While Meg washed, Basil eased out of his librarian coat, scowling at the stains. The House would have to work hard to get it cleaned up before tomorrow.

“Meg seems to have handled her first monster attack well.” Buddy trotted from his stall, inspecting Basil as if checking for any injuries. “That’s a good sign, considering you still haven’t told her about Midsummer Night.”

Basil inspected the monster blood dried on his hands. “Yes, she waded into the fight without any hesitation.”

He had been disappointed, yesterday, when she had told him she couldn’t read. But, perhaps, a well-learned human who could read and write wasn’t the wife he’d needed. Meg, with her willingness to tackle the book repair room and her unflinching bravery in the face of a giant spider, had proved herself far better than the mythical dream girl he’d hoped for.

He couldn’t help but grin as he glanced up to Buddy. “Though, I might have to get her a weapon. She destroyed a book using it on the spiders.”

“Shocking.”

“I know. I couldn’t believe anyone would treat a book with such disrespect.” Basil struggled to keep a straight face.

Buddy snorted. “I will have to ask Meg to describe the look on your face. I’m sure it was priceless.”

Basil didn’t even bother to respond.

When Meg reappeared, her blonde hair was wet, and she wore a clean dress similar to the one she had been wearing before. She gestured behind her. “It’s all yours.”

Basil rushed through bathing, thankful to scrub away all the monster guts. By the time he finished, the House had provided a clean set of clothes, though his librarian coat was still missing.

At least being clean had refreshed him so that he felt more prepared for that long conversation he needed to have with Meg.

He left the collar of his shirt open, rolling up

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