A Court of Stars and Memories

87. Seeking Permission

It was late when Lysander returned to Cyrus and Colette's that evening. Mitsi was already lounging in bed when he entered the bedroom. She raised a brow and he offered a sheepish grin.

"Wynter is a strict instructor," he said. "I swear my ass is probably bruised from all that time in the saddle."

Mitsi smiled with a faint chuckle. "Your ass will be fine, but you smell like horses."

"That's to be expected, Owl," he teased, then trekked into the bathroom. Mitsi's soft footsteps followed shortly.

"I spoke with Mina today," she said while he shrugged out of the warm fleece-lined riding clothes he'd been wearing all day. "She's decided to stay here and keep up with the store."

"Corbin told me before he left after Winter Solstice," Lysander replied. "He asked if I'd be all right someday running the Exchange without him."

"Do you think he'd actually like living here?"

"I think it'd be an adjustment, but he wouldn't mind. Give him some novice warriors to bully and he'll be perfectly content."

Mitsi giggled and he lowered his wings slightly, watching her reflection in the vanity mirror as she crossed over to the tub and let it fill with warm water.

"I'm sure Wynter and Kallias would be glad of his expertise. They complain all the time about how their warriors are being trained. They think they need someone meaner to work them into shape."

"I imagine an Illyrian trained warrior would suit their needs."

"Quite well," Mitsi agreed.

Lysander stepped out of his pants and tossed them aside. When he raised his head, he caught Mitsi's gaze in the mirror. A smirk curled the corner of his lips. "Is my ass bruised?"

She rolled her eyes. "No." His smirk deepened and he saw the exact moment when she caught onto the thoughts drifting through his head. Her cheeks flushed crimson and Mitsi averted her gaze. "You are mortifying," she groaned.

"And you're beautiful when you blush." He joined her and brought her lips to his in a long kiss. "But no need to worry, Owl. I was just teasing." Mitsi blinked, her eyes widening. "I'm not really into spanking anyway."

Mitsi shoved him away with a flustered gasp and Lysander couldn't hold back his laughter. It shifted to a surprised shout when Mitsi cupped some of the bath water in her hands and flung it at him. She raised a finger to her lips amidst her laughter while he wiped the water from his shoulder.

"Cyrus and Colette are sleeping," Mitsi admonished when she could form words again.

Magic tickled Lysander's fingertips as he cast a shield over their room. "There. Now they won't hear anything." Mitsi squealed when he waved a hand and water flew at her.

"You're horrible!" She sputtered, pushing doused hair from her face.

Lysander stuck his tongue out. "You started it."

Mitsi smacked water towards him again and Lysander covered himself with his wings. He lowered them only when he heard feet pattering through a puddle on the floor. Lysander let out a holler as Mitsi dumped a cup full of water over his head. She dropped the cup and he caught her by the wrists, shaking his wet hair over her face.

"Ugh, you still smell like horse," Mitsi laughed, struggling to break free from his grip. Lysander just pulled her closer and kissed her soundly. At last, she pushed him away. "Go take your bath while I clean this up."

"As you wish," Lysander chuckled. He settled into the now only half-filled tub and switched the water on again. Mitsi retrieved a towel and began to mop up the water spilled across the floor while he watched. "So what else did you and Mina talk about while I was gone?"