One Thousand Kisses by Jody Wallace Page B

transported directly to the healer’s ward, but Embor had knocked on her door as if it were a date.
    Sometimes that was enough to start a flash flood of tattle. It would explain the stares directed at her all morning.
    At least there was a bright side to becoming known as the fairy who’d had the cheek to step out on a Torval—with the Primary. If Warran became so angry he broke up with her, any ostracism she suffered would be a small price to pay.
    Ani sighed, waiting on the cat. Sometimes she hated it here. As a female twin, she’d always assumed her path lay in Elder Court. Tali had cooperated since Court training brought her closer to humanspace. Now Tali had humanspace, and Ani had a facsimile of Court. Politicking, social maneuvering and gossip.
    How soon before Warran heard the rumors? Would he believe them? Would anyone believe rumors like that about Embor? Skythia loved to try new things, especially men, but Embor had that reputation for frostiness.
    In the garden his hormone levels had seemed warm, and last night there had been that powerful moment. No frost anywhere, only heat and blue dye. She’d shocked herself with how willing she’d been to toss custom aside. Who needed a card when she had the man in front of her? Then there was that naughty, delicious, unfulfilling dream that seemed designed to make her seek fulfillment in a more concrete fashion.
    This morning he’d informed her in no uncertain terms everything was forgotten.
    The cat had warned her he was going to lie. Was that the lie? She wasn’t sure if she wanted it to be. No lies were good, but some were more constructive than others.
    Ani glanced at the feline trotting beside her en route to her chambers. “Master Fey, are you feeling more talkative this afternoon?”
    The cat’s tail, which had been level with his body, curled upward like a Spitz dog.
    He was listening. That was something.
    “I was hoping you could elaborate on what lie the Primary told me.” Cats’ predictive abilities had proven accurate more often than not. “There were several possibilities.”
    I should like a blanket.
    Embor hadn’t said anything about blankets. He’d recommended she cover herself last night, but that didn’t correlate unless the cat meant Embor hadn’t wanted her to cover herself.
    But no, Master Fey had indicated the lie would relate to the exam while the secrets could be anything. The cat’s comment was simply a request.
    “I have several blankets,” she told him.
    A fuzzy one.
    “I made a grannie square coverlet last year.” Ani was proud of her dexterity with the crochet hook. Many high-level fairies distanced themselves from crafts, but she found working with her hands therapeutic. Perhaps if she told Gangee she’d make him a scarf, he’d retract his prescription.
    It’s not brown.
    “I see. Hey!” The cat swerved down a corridor. She hurried to keep him in sight. She didn’t want him disappearing on her when he seemed to have such useful information. “Where are we going?”
    Many places.
    They descended several sets of stairs, padded through a kitchen and paused at a window to watch birds. They ended in the hallway leading to the castle laundry. The cat took off like a shot, tearing around the corner before Ani could so much as blink.
    “Is something wrong?” She hastened to the end of the hallway.
    No cat.
    “Master Fey?”
    A cheery voice sounded behind her. “If it’s not the woman of the hour.”
    Ani turned to see her cousin Janelle lugging a load of washing down the hallway. “Fair met. Have you seen a black cat around here?”
    Janelle, her hair more wildly curled than usual, thunked two sacks onto the ground. Together the bags were nearly as big as she was. Ani embraced her with pleasure.
    “Cats don’t like Court. Too many idiots wandering around, likely to step on their tails.” She hefted both haversacks. Ani reached for one, but Janelle waved her off.
    Ani clasped her hands. “I’ve been visited by a