I narrowed my eyes. She had been keeping them from me.
“Why would she do that? I thought the whole point of the Academy was to join the changelings up with their mates. How are we supposed to do that if she won’t let us all near each other?”
Shea raised her voice from behind us. “There has always been the rule in place, Norah. No physical relationships between instructors and changelings, and that includes something as innocent as a kiss. It seems that hasn’t stopped you though. First Liam. Then Kael.”
My cheeks flamed. “Okay, sure. Maybe there was a little of that, but it was no reason to threaten to send anyone away from the Academy.”
“This realm depends on balance.” Shea gave me a measured look, seemed to decide that I wasn’t about to pummel her, and trotted closer on her ebony horse. “Everything is about the ebb and flow. Four seasons, perfectly formed to represent all aspects of the realm, divided up equally. Cause confusion and chaos in that balance, and the entire realm suffers.”
“Okay, but—”
“Alwyn is very good at recognizing a changeling’s Court. She sees Winter in you, which means Kael is your mate. Messing about with Liam is only going to lead to heartache later. For one or all of you, not to mention Sophia and Lila who need their mates as well.” Her sparkling orange eyes bore deep into my soul. “I would advise you to focus your attention on what you can have instead of what you cannot, though I can see now that you are very stubborn and furiously independent. No wonder Liam’s confused.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but she cut me off.
“Enough about that.” She waved me aside. “We’re here.”
Chapter Five
Here turned out to be a little tavern on the outskirts of the free territory. It sat amidst a long row of towering cedar trees, their evergreen limbs churning in the chilly autumn wind. Only the front of the tavern could be seen. It was a small squat building with two floors, the stone work old and worn. The rest was hidden amongst the green canopy.
“We’ll stay here for the night, and then we’ll go on through at dawn,” Alastar said, leading his horse to a stable that was almost twice as large as the tavern.
I jumped off the horse and edged closer to Liam, despite Shea’s irritating warnings. “Why are we staying here for the night? It sounds like this whole thing is urgent.”
“It is urgent, but the Summer fae are taking extra precautions right now,” he said in a low whisper. “The border between the free territory and the Summer lands has been closed. This is the only way in and out, and only at dawn. The Summers no longer allow free access, too worried that the Autumn fae will sneak across and stab everyone in their sleep.”
I swallowed hard, mostly because he was probably right.
That night, I couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned in the small, knotty bed, the faded sheets getting tangled in my limbs. I couldn’t stop thinking about that damn Barmbrack Ring. Alwyn had threatened Liam with banishment from the Academy if he so much as looked at me for too long. All this time I’d yearned for him, dreamt of him, wished for him. Had he been yearning for me, too?
With a frustrated sigh, I threw my legs over the side of the bed and padded across the chilly wooden floor in the thin cotton shirt I’d worn to sleep. I hadn’t thought to pack any pajamas for the journey. It was the middle of the night. None of the Hunters would be awake now, except for those keeping watch downstairs. Better yet, Shea would be nowhere in sight.
I pressed my ear against the door and listened for any signs of life in the hallway. When none came, I slowly twisted the doorknob and pushed. Low light spilled into my room from the flickering sconces that lined the walls. I’d seen Liam go into the room two doors down. The room with the door that was very much opening right this second.
My heart thundered hard when his brilliant red hair appeared in the darkened doorway. His eyes latched onto mine. Even in the dim lighting, there was no mistaking the heat in them. His lips curled, and he crooked his finger, beckoning for me to go to him.
Suddenly, I felt very shy. It had been easy to be brave when he wasn’t standing right before me, looking all manly in his low-slung pants. They sat perfectly on his waist, showing just the slightest hint of a strong and muscular V. Not to mention his chest. His thin shirt clung to his biceps, highlighting the muscles that I knew were strong enough to throw me over his shoulder.
Not that I was imagining how he might throw me over his shoulder.
Okay, so maybe I was.
Definitely was.
When I couldn’t force my feet to move, he let out a chuckle and stepped out into the hallway. His door creaked shut, and the lock clicked softly in the heavy silence. Soon, he was before me, softly pressing me back into the safety of my own room. He followed me inside and closed the door to shut out the world, the Hunters, and the distant Academy’s eyes that were so intent on making sure we stayed apart.
“What are you doing?” I whispered, staring up at him as my heartbeat raced at a speed that could rival a train.
“Coming to see you, which is exactly what you wanted, darling.” He arched an eyebrow as his gaze caressed my bare thighs. “Or are you going to tell me there was another reason you were sneaking into the hallway in the middle of the night? Don’t tell me you were going to pay Shea a visit. I might not be jealous of your affection for Kael and the others, but I can’t bear the thought of another Summer’s hands on you, even a woman’s.”
I swallowed hard, my heartbeat flickering against the vein in my neck. “I thought you weren’t allowed to be alone with me.”
His lips twisted into a wicked smile. “I’m not. Sometimes, it’s fun to do the things we’re not supposed to do.”
A thrill of excitement went down my spine. “What else are you not supposed to do?”
Liam dropped his forehead to mine and breathed deeply through his flared nostrils. “I’m definitely not supposed to do this.”
I leaned in closer, resting a timid hand against his smooth, muscular chest. “And I doubt I’m allowed to do this.”
“Most definitely not.” His voice went rough and deep, and then he slid his fingers into my loose braid, tangling his hand into the twisted strands of my long, blonde hair. “Touching you is most definitely off-limits.”
My heart rattled in my chest, and I pressed up onto my toes, breathing in the sweet summer scent of him. “And kissing me? Is that off-limits?”
A low growl rumbled from Liam’s throat, and his grip around my hair tightened. “Don’t tempt me, Norah.”
“Why not?” I breathed. “You want to kiss me. I want to kiss you. And no one is around but us.”
“You heard what Shea said. Giving into this will only lead to heartache, and hurting you is the last thing I want to do.”
“Maybe it doesn’t have to hurt,” I whispered.
He sucked in a deep breath through his nose, his eyes flickering with that impossible heat. A heat that I could barely resist anymore. “I can’t help but notice you aren’t wearing any pants. Or your ring.”
That stupid Barmbrack Ring again. Wrinkling my nose, I shook my head. “I didn’t know I was supposed to be wearing it.”
He let out a low chuckle. “That’s what you do with a ring, darling.”
“Hmm.” I cocked my head, my lips spreading into a teasing smile. “I thought you didn’t believe in that whole barmbrack thing.”
Slowly, Liam loosened his grip on my hair and trailed his fingers along the back of my neck. Goosebumps tiptoed after him, and my fingers ached with the need to reach out and return his touch. He slid his forehead against mine. Our noses brushed. Our lips were so close that the scent of fresh, sweet summer filled my head.
And then the door swung open. Because of course it did.