“You look stunning, Laurel,” he says resolutely, like he’s trying to speak it into my very being. I feel my cheeks heat and I want to look away again, but his fingers keep my gaze locked on his. Gently, he caresses my lips with a finger and cups my cheek. “Aethers, you’re so beautiful.” Satisfied he’s praised me enough, he lets go of my face before threading his fingers through mine. “Ready for our date?” he asks with his usual devilish grin, though there’s something in it that’s reserved only for me, like a secret between the two of us that no one else knows about. It gives me butterflies in my stomach that are not wholly unpleasant.

“How can I be ready, when I don’t know what we’re doing? Also, you better not be expecting me to walk down all these stairs in this dress.” His lips twitch in amusement.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, witchling. You can aerstep us to the outskirts of Arberly, to the path from the palace into the city.” I keep his hand in mine as I take us there. The foliage has already started its regrowth, and the early blooms of flowering trees and shoots of spring flowers line the path. The air is still quite brisk, but I don’t feel its chill, too heated from being in Thorne’s presence. He wraps my arm in his and leads us into Arberly, though our fingers stay threaded even in this gesture, like he can’t bear to let me go.

“Where are we going?” I ask, impatience to know the plan seeping into my tone. He smirks.

“Right now, we’re just strolling through town. Enjoy the moment, witchling.”

“Fine,” I say with a huff, and he laughs.

“You truly never give up even an inch of control, do you?” The words are chastising, but he’s smiling like he likes it.

“No, because I’m the Queen of a mysterious kingdom and most people are terrified of me, even when they know I’m not what the stories whisper of me. Really gives me the upper hand,” I say, baring my teeth in a mock hiss.