Windswept (The Airborne Saga)
Page 23
After he finished the gagging, gasping, and lighting up as if he’d never felt better, the doctor excused himself. Alone finally with Mason, she stood and made the space between them nonexistent. Perched on the arm of his chair, she all but sat on his lap. So she’d gotten audacious as time had gone on—sue her, she figured.
“Why am I not seeing smiles? Why are you so anti-smiles lately?” While she’d intended it as more of a joke, he answered seriously.
“Because half my kingdom has been burnt down by rebels who nearly took our lives. And they did take many lives anyways. The council is gone and the times unprecedented. Without Eva, I am the last of my bloodline. I don’t know how to go on. How to move to replace them. How to be Prince.”
The weight of his words didn’t go unnoticed by her as she felt them instantly weigh on her shoulders as well. Not immediately knowing how to respond, she stared at her shoes.
“I don’t know much about the government. But, Mason, all I know is that your people followed you. They loved you enough to rise up against an army. They’ll love you while you figure things out.”
Mason made a face.
“You’re right. I know that,” he answered in the affirmative, but the grimace didn’t shake. Before she could ask, he said, “That medicine really tastes awful. The aftertaste is worse than the first.”
She laughed, but couldn’t regret it fast enough. Mason’s arms had slipped around her lightning fast and yanked her into his lap. He sealed his lips on hers just as quickly and Avery gagged on the taste.
“Ugh get off!” She gasped but he held on. After a moment, she did little to fight. The taste had dissipated in favor of the sweetness of the kiss. When he pulled away, her head felt light.
“I’ll teach you some manners one day.”
“Human manners I’m not interested in.” He gave her a half-cocked smile. “But you know you like it.”
Avery rolled her eyes, too afraid to deny it while her face remained flushed.
“Are you going to miss it? The Willow magic?” she asked him.
“No. The only good thing that ever came out of it was you. I still, to this day, haven’t figured out how the odds worked out. You found it in California. One amulet among sea glass and rocks. Impossible. If you hadn’t, I’d likely be dead.”
She rolled her eyes this time while his mood stayed on serious things. Shifting her head, she nuzzled her face into his neck and breathed in his musky scent.
“If I hadn’t, I never would have known this world existed. Or you. I hate all the people that have suffered for the Willow magic, but I’ll never stop being happy it existed.”
Mason’s fingertips snaked up her back, but he didn’t fully embrace her.
“You’re covered in paint, Avery.”
Remembering suddenly, she pulled away with newly pink cheeks.
“Paint, dust, plaster…”
He sighed.
“Come on, I’ll take you up to our room to get a shower.” He shifted so she stood and then held her hand. She held it happily, willing to follow this harpie anywhere.
“So, Mason, about you all installing some stairs in this building…”