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Was there a library in Gloamtide? If there was, did people use it?

Had there ever been anything like a library there, she wondered. And at the back of all these thoughts lurked the darkness that was Rhovan. Visions of the murder scenes flashed through her mind. Body parts. How did one create something that combined machinery with living flesh?

She thought about that. Tickerkins were perhaps the closest comparison, and had developed to the point where they were indeed regarded as living creatures, even though their forms were entirely mechanical. But fighting, killing, war machines...and ones that could apparently change their shapes?

That was something else entirely.

Cyrus returned, interrupting her thoughts. “The messenger is on the way. It’s not far to Theryn House, so I’d guess we have an hour at least before he returns.”

“Is there somewhere I can change?”

He raised a somewhat sceptical eyebrow. “Really? I only have about twenty rooms here...I’m not sure I can find one for you to use...”

“Sorry,” she laughed. “That was utterly stupid.” She walked to him and put her hands around his neck. “However, in my own defence, I am finding that my brain becomes rather muddled when I’m around you.”

He smiled and put his arms around her, pulling her close. “I’m rather glad to hear that.”

She sighed against him, then twitched a little. “What are you doing?”

“You did say you would need to change. I’m just giving you a head start.”

Maelin felt the lacings of her corset loosen. “I see. That’s extraordinarily kind of you.”

“I thought so.” Two more lacings loosened. “But if you’re not careful, this entire thing will fall off.”

“Oh dear.” He swept her up in his arms as if she weighed next to nothing. “We can’t have that. If it’s going to fall off, then I think we need somewhere more private.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Thankfully, the hall was empty as he carried her through and up the stairs to the first floor, and what was obviously his bedroom.

Books lay everywhere, she noted, but the central feature was the huge four-poster bed, complete with an embroidered canopy, and a down coverlet that looked like a huge snowstorm had covered the mattress and pillows.

She discovered how soft it was when Cyrus unceremoniously dropped her right in the middle of it—and landed on top of her, bouncing them both, and making her laugh as she caught her breath.

“Now, aren’t you glad I loosened all those lacings?” He grabbed her corset and tugged it free, then gazed at her bared breasts. “I certainly am.”

She couldn’t argue, but she did tug at his jacket. “Off, off...”

“As my Lady wishes.”

Mae lay, half naked, watching Cyrus strip. He was as efficient in his disrobing as he was in anything else, and even with boots to contend with, he was back on top of her, skin to skin, before she had chance to catch her breath. And he was every bit as effective in removing what was left of her clothing, until there was nothing between them, just the heat generated by their bodies.

She ran her hands down his spine, loving the feel of him, the warmth of his skin, the power of the muscles that lay hidden normally beneath his conservative clothing.

“Mae,” he murmured. “When you touch me, your eyes turn silver.”

“You light strange and wonderful fires inside me,” she murmured back, wriggling a little to get in touch with every part of him. “I didn’t understand desire before you, Cyrus. I always thought it was something dreamed up by writers to make their characters more interesting. But I was wrong.” She captured his face in her hands. “I desire you. I desire you from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. I ache for you sometimes, I lose my breath when I think about you at others.”

“Mae,” he whispered. “You awe me.”

She wriggled. “Then show me pleasure, Cyrus. Please...don’t wait...”

Her thighs were already spread wide, and she could feel his arousal throbbing between them as she closed her knees against his hips.

“Mae,” he whispered, “I can’t resist you. I want you too much. I’ll never stop wanting you...”

He slid into her, slowly, almost reverently, until they were joined.