“Danielle’s right,” Abi said before looking at her kid. “Two meals a day isn’t enough for a growing child. It’s time to go, Greyly.”
The girl straightened the doll’s arm and handed the doll back to Noru.
“Will you teach me more tomorrow?” Noru asked Greyly.
The girl nodded and returned to her mom’s leg. Abi looked Noru in the eye, said thank you, and hurried away with her group. Noru slowly stood, his gaze tracking the woman and little girl. Abi probably didn’t know it yet, but she and her child had just been fey-sighted and marked.
Shaking my head, I turned away from Matt and Noru. Tor waited by the wall, watching me as closely as Noru had watched his woman. Instead of going to Tor, I went to Ashkii and asked for a ride home. Tor didn’t say anything. He understood what I was doing. Tomorrow, I’d ask a different member of our group to carry me.
As soon as we were inside Tolerance’s walls, Ashkii left me with Tor.
“That looked a lot more hostile than I’d anticipated,” I said as he walked with me. “Do you think the fey who were serving are all right?”
Tor’s laughter rumbled from him.
“They are fine, June. They spent the day watching pretty women. I saw seven women today, by the way. One met my gaze and smiled at me. How many more women do I need to see for you to believe I only want you?”
I glanced at him and shook my head.
“You’re impossibly cute sometimes.”
“I’d rather be impossibly handsome. Should I take my shirt off?”
A laugh escaped me, and I quickly shook my head.
“No. Leave it on at least until we get into the house. I don’t care how well you’re able to deal with the cold. Seeing you shirtless now would make me cold.”
He grunted and continued walking with me.
“I’m worried,” I said, growing serious. “If they’re this angry about the soup kitchen, they’re going to be even angrier about the next part of our plan.”
“I agree. But I will keep you safe, June.”
“I meant I was worried about you.” I stopped walking and faced Tor. “They beat the last man I cared about so badly that he broke up with me and went to die.”
“Those humans cannot hurt me.” Tor gently ran his fingers along my jawline. “There is only one human who can hurt me. But, I trust her with my heart and my life. She is the smartest, bravest, most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
He winked playfully at me and dropped his hands to his side.
“If I am ever hurt, I will do as Uan has done. I will try to heal on my own and only return to the caves if I have no other choice. But I wouldn’t break up with my female. I will ask my brothers to watch over her until I return.
“I will always come back to you, June.”
I itched to step into his arms. To grab onto all that he offered with both hands. I thought I’d been giving myself time to heal, but I didn’t think that was the case anymore. I was holding onto my heart, trying desperately not to let Tor steal it. But it was far too late for that.
“You say the best things sometimes,” I said softly.
He grunted and fell into step with me.
My pulse was hammering when we walked into the house. I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I knew I wanted to do something.
“What would you do if I kissed you right now?” I asked, hanging up my jacket.
“Hold still and hope you don’t stop.”
I grinned at him and waved at the couch. “Take a seat.”
He had his boots off and was sitting where I’d indicated before I could blink. His enthusiasm did little to calm my racing heart.