A Court of Stars and Memories

78. A Mate's Proposal

    Lysander woke before Mitsi the next morning although it hardly surprised him. He'd barely been able to coax her to eat something before she fell asleep last night. She'd collapsed into bed the minute they entered his bedroom and hadn't stirred since.

    Lysander traced a knuckle down an ivory lock of hair that dangled in Mitsi's face, before smoothing it behind her pointed ear. Her features remained peaceful and given her stillness in sleep, he assumed she hadn't dreamed, which was a relief.

    Despite her attempts to shield her dreams from him while she was in the Spring Court, a few had reached him across the Bond. He'd only seen fragments, which was how he knew she was trying to hide them, but what little he'd seen had told him enough.

    Lysander hadn't questioned her though. All he'd done was send a few gentle tugs across the Bond, enough to wake Mitsi without alerting her to his presence. It had worked but his concern remained.

    Lysander breathed a sigh and brushed a thumb across her cheek. He'd been hoping there would be news from the Winter Court to give her now that she was back, but so far, there hadn't been many updates.

    The only positive thing they'd learned was that Ebner and Julian's scents remained fresh on the outskirts of Nivis, so they hadn't crossed the border and wouldn't be able to now. Perhaps that would be enough to soothe Mitsi's remaining fears.

    Lysander smiled as her eyes fluttered open and she twisted onto her back, stretching her arms over her head. "Morning," she yawned. Mitsi sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?"

    "Still early. The sun only rose two hours ago."

    "Oh." Mitsi turned to him with a smile. "You're not due in Windhaven yet, are you?"

    "No. I didn't plan to go until this afternoon anyway." He propped himself up on an elbow and took her hand in his own, kissing her knuckles. "Did you think I didn't want us to have some time alone, Owl?"

    Her smile deepened and her cheeks flushed pink. "Of course not." Lysander rose fully and cupped her cheek in his palm, pressing their lips together. "Did any letters come for me while I was gone?" Mitsi asked when he pulled back.

    "One from Colette which I left in your room at Mom and Dad's, and there was a report from Micah."

    Mitsi furrowed her brows and her suspicion tensed within the Bond. "What did it say?"

    "Your father and Julian are trapped in the Winter Court. They didn't breach the border."

    Mitsi's eyes closed and a brief sigh of relief escaped her. "Do they know where they are?"

    "Somewhere around Nivis, and Kallias, Wynter, and Micah are closing in by the day, but that's all I've heard." Lysander hesitated, watching Mitsi intently. Her eyes remained closed but her expression had shifted from relief to nervousness.

    Her forehead creased and she bit her lip, still not looking at him. "You'll be able to go home soon," Lysander found himself saying, the words much fainter than he anticipated.

    Mitsi opened her eyes once more and faced him fully. "Home," she echoed, a thoughtful look reflecting in her features.

    "I could plan to come see you at least twice a week, so long as Rhys and Devlon are willing to spare me for a while. I trust Kallias and Viviane won't have any objection when we tell them we're mates. Unless you don't want to tell them, but they'll recognize it in our scents anyway."

    He knew he was rambling, but embarrassingly, he couldn't make himself stop. He'd been trying to acquaint himself with the idea of being separated from Mitsi like this since the day the Bond formed.