For her part, Aldis doesn’t even look at me.
I would take it as a slight but for the careful body language she’s conveying and the aggression wafting off Sol in waves. This is his cousin, but he’s treating her almost like how he dealt with Ramanu.
She bows slightly. “You’re two days behind on correspondence.”
Just like that, his crest deflates and his shoulders slump. “The others do realize I’m the one who runs this territory and, as a result, they should be fine waiting for me to reply at my leisure, correct?” The words should sound arrogant and brash but instead come out almost hopeful.
Aldis shakes her head. “You know that isn’t how it works.”
“Yes, I suppose I do.” He sighs. “Can I bother you to bring it into the library? I’ll wade through the paperwork there.”
“Of course.” She sketches out another bow. “Breakfast, as well?”
“If it’s not too much trouble.”
She makes a distinctly amused sound. “I’m more than willing to help out for now.” Aldis risks a glance at me, her dark eyes warm. “You look well, Briar.”
“I am, thank you.”
She turns on her heel to stride away from us before Sol can do more than hiss a bit. As soon as she turns the corner, his crest lowers completely. I eye him. “Mating frenzy, huh?”
“I can’t control it entirely right now.” He shakes himself. “It will get better with time.”
We head down the hall and into the library. I can’t help the little sigh of happiness at being in this space again. Most of the rooms in the keep are rather comfortable, but this one feels downright magical.
I take a step toward the stacks of books and stop short. “Is there anything in here I shouldn’t be handling?”
“Anything dangerous is locked up in our vault. Nothing here can hurt you.”
I was more asking about what I might damage, but I suppose that’s answer enough. I start forward, only to be brought up short when Sol hooks an arm around my waist. “Food first.”
“But—”
“I have a feeling I’m about to lose you for hours.” His voice is warm and indulgent and makes me feel strangely soft. “Food first, and then you can explore until lunch.”
I’m tempted to argue just to see what he’ll do, but it’s a fair ask, and truth be told, I am hungry. I turn in his arm and smile up at him. “Thank you. You didn’t have to ask Azazel to send Ramanu to tattoo me. I know you didn’t like it.”
“It had nothing to do with them spelling you and everything to do with them poking me until I wanted to bite their head off, horns and all.”
I’m not entirely certain he’s joking. In fact, I’m suddenly sure he’s doing that brutal honesty thing again. I should not find the idea of Sol biting someone’s head off in my defense charming, but I’m having a hard time keeping perspective. This realm is so different than the one I was born to. It seems brutal in some ways, but I’ve been met with more kindness in a short week than in all my life.
Azazel, strangely protective of his contracted humans.
Sol, so big and ferocious and gentle at the same time.
Even Ramanu. They’re aggravating in the extreme, but how long would Sol and I have avoided each other if they didn’t intervene?
Aldis appears with a plate of food, and Sol and I chat easily as we make quick work of it. It’s all small talk, which is partly my fault, because I keep shooting looks at the books. He finally sits back with a hissing laugh. “Go, Briar. Have fun exploring.”
I rise. I have every intention of hurrying to the stacks, but I impulsively throw myself into his arms. “Thank you.”
Sol hugs me close for a long moment and then sets me on my feet. “All you have to do is ask. If it’s within my power, it’s yours.”
An extravagant promise. He is the ruler of an entire territory, and while I might not fully understand how large that might be or what it entails, it doesn’t change the fact I could abuse this promise. There’s an element of trust in the offer. I’m not certain I deserve it.
I smile, my throat tight. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Entering the stacks feels like entering yet another world. It’s even quieter than the rest of the keep, and the soft sound of my dress swishing about my legs feels almost absurdly loud. I pick a book at random, a thick leather-bound tome. It’s heavy enough that I sink to the ground to open it, and I hold my breath as I do. Will Ramanu’s spell work?
The words give a sickening swirl and then reform before my eyes into English. I run my fingers over the ink wonderingly. Magic. Strange how I can encounter so much beyond comprehension, but this is the magic that has my heart filling with wonder.