The Shadowglass (The Bone Witch, #3)(53)

Kiss me with your generous mouth,

That source of endless wine.

Kiss me close when season’s drouth,

Your lips a taste of mine.

Through storm-led skies and sun-dried fires,

Our love ’twas meant to be.

When roses fade on funeral pyres

I’ll carry your heart with me.

The men applauded like I’d danced the darashi oyun. “Fighting words!” Balfour said. “Softer than what we’re accustomed to, but the heart speaks true! Which does raise the question: Who seduced whom?”

The men found that hilarious, and I laughed along with them. “I’m not entirely certain, Lord Balfour. It was difficult to ascertain who made the first move; we were initially on hostile terms, you see. But that might have been part of his charm.”

“But surely there was a turning point, milady?” Our table was no longer my only audience. About half of the hall was silent, riveted by my performance.

I reflected, ignoring them all. “Perhaps it was when I accidentally used compulsion to save his life, Sir Balfour.”

For some reason, a fresh chorus of laughter met my words. “Surely you didn’t need to compel him to be fond of you?” someone called out. “You have no need for trickeries when you look the way you do!”

“Oh, but I did, and I apologized! It took him so long to forgive me. Even after I offered for him to do the same to me!”

Balfour gaped at me. “You volunteered to relinquish control of your mind? That is quite the test of trust, milady.”

That was true, wasn’t it? As angry as he had been with me, I’d trusted him enough not to take advantage, even when he threatened to do just that. Even when I hadn’t done the same. I drained another bowl. “He didn’t like me, but I had confidence in him. That’s the kind of man Lord Kalen is.”

“How did you convince him of your devotion, Lady Tea?” an armor-clad woman asked.

“I’m still not quite sure. But I remember the day he convinced me of mine.”

“What was it, if I may be so bold?”

“I saw him bathing in a river with his shirt off.”

I was certain the tables would break; the Yadoshans pounded their fists, howling their glee. “We must demand Lord Kalen’s side of the story!” Aden chortled. “Is your young beau still with the First Minister?”

“Not anymore” came the amused reply behind me. “First Minister Stefan didn’t want to keep me for too long. It was a wise decision.”

“A wise man, is our Stefan. Our pretty asha would no doubt be accosted by some hooligans had not our wholesome selves intervened. O’ course, we would never think of stealing your girl, milord! Let’s have another toast for you both!”

“How many toasts have you had?” Kalen asked, peering down at me.

“Does it matter?” My voice slurred. “I am having a very lovely time with all these genta…genner…genteel…boys, and they have been very kind.”

“That’s nice, Tea.”

“I told them alla ’bout you.”

“That’s nice, Tea.”

“I love you. I really do.”

“I know. You are also very drunk.”

“Whatsa sense o’ drinking from Stefan’s very expensive vintage if you don’ get drunk off your ass?” Knox countered.

“I love him,” I confided to the others. “He saved me so many times. He smells really nice.”

“We’ll take your word for it, little lady.”

“He didn’t like me at first though. I changed his mind.”

“So you said.”

“He would have been a fool not to,” Balfour agreed.

“We fought only this evening. He wants me to stay here, but I think I should return to Kion.”

“Tea,” Kalen said.

“I am quite in favor of Kalen’s decision, milady,” Knox said.

“I have reshponsi—reshpunsib—duties to see to. But I would spend forever with him if I could. I would trade heartsglass with him this instant. He is glorious in bed.”

“Tea!” Kalen sputtered, turning a bright red, as the roars of the other men and women grew louder.

“And if anyone here so much as touches a hair on his adorable head, I shall pull out their beating hearts and force them to consume every last vein,” I added cheerfully.



“I think Tea’s had enough for today, gentlemen. If you will excuse us.” Kalen reached down and scooped me into his arms. Without protest, I tucked my head underneath his chin, knowing I belonged there.

“I understand, Lord Kalen,” Aden said almost reverently. “I would follow Lady Tea into battle with that kind of encouragement.”

“You are an idiot,” Kalen said as soon as we were out of earshot.

“But do you still love me?” I asked coquettishly, kissing his neck, oblivious to the hoots still coming from the great hall. “Will you love me if I don’t want to stay here in Yadosha?”

He groaned. “Of course I will, you outrageous little sot. You are going to wake up tomorrow with a terrible headache. The main reason you’ll not want to stay here after this will be because of your inability to look any of those men in the eye again. What song was that?”