CHAPTER FOURTEEN #3
Hunching, I shifted across the carriage, taking a seat next to Corvin on the same bench.
“You carry a deck of cards with you?” I asked, showing my teeth in a wolfish grin.
“Then I have another guess—regarding your identity. Since you still won’t tell me.
You’re a professional gambler.” The space was small, our faces mere inches from one another as we shared his bench.
Corvin looked mildly offended. “Are all of your guesses types of criminals? First, a thief. Now a gambler? Aren’t you worried you’ll hurt my feelings?” I held my hands up with mock remorse. “Tell me who you are and I’ll stop guessing.”
“I wish I could—”
I pointed to the cards since he wasn’t going to answer me. “I have to warn you—I usually win.”
He leaned forward. “So, you’re competitive.”
“No,” I said sweetly. “Just accustomed to winning.”
A devilish gleam entered his eyes. “We’ll see about that.”
We went round for round, cards lain on the bench between us.
We found ourselves to be evenly matched, each winning several times throughout the afternoon in an exhilarating back and forth that made our long day of travel pass by surprisingly quickly.
As evening approached, I returned to my side of the carriage.
Corvin ran a hand through his hair, turning to face the window. “Do you think the Fae targeting you are the ones that showed up to Kaylin’s funeral?”
“It could be.” I frowned, processing his words. “Wait, how do you know about that?”
I had complained at length to the mirror about how the Fae had come and not greeted me…
How it brought back bad memories of visitation days at the orphanage when parents would show up at our doorstep and inevitably choose somebody else to take home.
How it made me feel insignificant, like I was still unworthy of their time or attention.
“You were listening to me in the mirror!”
I took the pillow on my side of the carriage and threw it at him.
“I may have heard more than I originally let on.” He caught it easily in his hands.
“In my defense—it only works if you want to be heard.” His words hit home.
Because I did want somebody to hear me. I had started to use the mirror as a diary after Kaylin left me alone.
But what I really wanted…no, craved…was to not feel completely alone.
“You listened to me spill my guts over several weeks.”
Corvin smiled weakly. “It wasn’t my intention to spy on you in the mirror. You seemed overwhelmed to be alone. With responsibility soon to be thrust upon you. I could relate. That’s all.” His soft admission dampened my mock outrage.
“Then I forgive you for not telling me sooner. Are you going to give me my pillow back?”
He pretended to think about it. “Mmm, you know what— No. It’s mine now.
Unless…you plan to come and get it?” I could tell by the way his eyes sparkled with mischief that he didn’t plan on making it easy for me.
Should I rise to the bait? He grinned lazily at me, his entire demeanor exuding casual arrogance.
When that didn’t get the desired reaction, he fluffed my pillow in his hands, tilting his eyebrow ever so slightly in my direction and shooting me a look that just dared me to try and grab it back from him.
I looked out my window, planning my next move.
It was almost a full moon. I could tell because the moon was already rising in the sky, even though the sun was yet to fully set.
If Fiere was right and my powers were tied to the cycles of the moon, then they should be easier to use than before.
Even if it had been a while since I’d tried to call upon them.
But I felt stronger lately. Ever since Terani’s moonstone offering.
I thought back to my dreams of late. Dreams in which a previous Midnight Sovereign shaped moonlight to her will, summoned a shield to protect herself.
What else might I be able to do? Could I command it with any finesse, despite my lack of training?
I reached for my moonstone necklace. I visualized Moira’s fierce confidence, her absolute belief in herself.
Moonlight poured into the carriage—
Imperceptibly at first. Then, stronger. A definitive silvery light gently surrounding us.
Before, I called forth moonlight to protect myself.
Now, I wanted to manifest it away from my body.
Convince it to shape itself to my will. I leaned forward slightly in my seat.
“If you’re so confident I won’t be able to grab it from you, then how come you’re still gripping it in both of your hands?
Why not set it down?” I taunted him, eyes intently focused on the object in his hands.
Corvin looked at me with the same predatory focus, his grin cracking a fraction wider.
In a gesture of mock acquiescence, he slowly lifted his hands away from the pillow.
It was my opening.
Even if I had no idea if what I was about to try would work or not. With his hands raised above his head, I struck. Drawing upon my powers, I directed the moonlight to take solid form, summoning silvery restraints.
The moonlight in the carriage coalesced—
And bound itself around both of Corvin’s wrists, just as he finished fully raising his arms in a fake gesture of surrender.
I had his hands well and truly pinned above his head.
The moonlight wrapping itself around his wrists with the same restrictive pressure, as if I had used a rope instead. He made no move to break his chains.
I leaned forward, our knees touching, grabbing for the pillow.
“Now that belongs to me,” I said in a saucy tone.
Corvin’s nostrils flared, his eyes tracking mine, lips curving into a wicked smile.
“Is this how you resolve all conflict?” he asked.
“Bondage? Aren’t you trying to deter me from taking your stuff?
” I reached down slowly, purposefully prolonging my victory, hand hovering above the pillow on his lap.
“And so what if it is?” I responded cheekily, reaching for—
Corvin shifted form in a sudden blur of motion, causing my concentration to break and his moonlight restraints to vanish. Taken by surprise, I wrenched my hand back, leaving the pillow unguarded.
When Corvin took human form again, he was holding my pillow.
I lunged for him.
Then the carriage hit a bump in the road, toppling me directly onto his lap.
Luckily for me, the soft pillow and Corvin’s body cushioned my fall.
His hand went instinctively to my hip, preventing me from banging against the side of the carriage.
His voice shone with amusement. “Would you look at that. You’re on top of me again. It does seem to be a theme with you. Twice already.” He winked at me. “It brings to mind that saying…what was it again? Oh yes, third time’s a charm.”
I scowled at him, finally yanking my pillow out of his hands. “I don’t commiserate with pillow thieves.”
He laughed, shooting me a roguish smile. “That’s too bad. Perhaps I’ll have to change my ways.”
“Maybe you will,” I huffed playfully. Corvin chuckled, slowly uncurling his fingers from my hip.
I returned to my side of the carriage. Tucking the pillow back under my head, I rested the side of my face against its plush surface, realizing it now smelled a whole lot more like Corvin.
And when I fell back asleep, I dozed much less fitfully than before, my face pressed close to the pillow’s soft fabric and his masculine scent, like the sweet smell permeating the air after a fresh rainfall.