stretched for her kisses and nibbles, groaning as the presses grew longer, wetter. I was ready to fall back onto the bed and drag her down with me when the door squeaked.
Another squeak followed, girlish and startled. "Oh! My apologies—"
The door snapped shut again, and Bryony pulled away with a giggle. "Poor Nora, I've scandalized her three times this week. No room is safe."
"Certainly not our bedroom," I reasoned.
"It was probably the only room she hadn't caught me in yet, I can't blame her. But it means she has my tea ready."
I nodded as Bryony slid away, the chill of the room helping cool the fever of arousal that had risen up. "Have you spoken to her yet about…you know?"
Her second nature, just like her brother's.
"Not yet," Bryony said, stroking a fingertip over her bottom lip. "I can't decide if we're both dancing around it. Or if I might accidentally surprise her and leave her feeling caught."
"She knows she's safe with you," I said. "Jack would've told her."
We'd seen a little of Nora's brother, the viscount, coming and going with council business. I was surprised by how well I liked the man, considering he had such a fancy title. I wondered if a second nature kept a high man down to earth. Wendell was like that too, although Thao really wasn't.
Bryony nodded absently, moving for the door and then glancing back at me. Sweet warmth took over her features. "Speaking of the two-natured, I have a task for you and Cresswell if you're willing."
"Of course," I said.
Bryony arched an eyebrow at me, her smile going mischievous. "You'll have to be dressed for it, Owen."
I glanced down and grinned at my own nudity. "Just making sure you didn't need me first."
Bryony giggled and ran for the sitting room door. She shut it behind her, and a murmur of conversation filtered through. Good, maybe she'd talk to Nora while she waited for me. I had a feeling Jack was a fox shifter, but I wasn't certain about Nora yet, although I thought she might've been some kind of bird.
When I was younger, unaware of my own extra senses, I hadn't been able to tell the second natures apart, but I was learning with time. Nora's was faint, delicate, and a bit nervous. Jack's had more strength and a predator's hunger, but it was still nothing compared to the great boom of Cresswell as he took a step or the hollow belly hunger he had when he looked at Bryony.
I dressed quickly, forgoing some of the fine clothes that had started to appear in my small collection for a soft, warm pair of pants and a loose linen shirt. I hesitated in the wardrobe, and then went ahead and borrowed one of Thao's sweaters. It'd be worth it just to see the pinched expression on his face as I returned it to him.
Bryony was sipping her tea in the windowsill, chatting with Nora, who sat curled up in an armchair and who blushed deeply as I entered the room, her eyes refusing to land on me. I didn't know if Nora was naturally shy of men, or if she was just suitably aware of Bryony's possessive habits, but I was happy for my mistress that she'd found a friend she could be comfortable with.
"You look just right for what I need from you today," Bryony said smiling at me. "Cress has gone to change into plain clothes."
"Are we running an errand?" I asked.
"Not an errand exactly, but I am sending you into the city," Bryony said. "Word is thin from Griffin these days, and I feel out of touch with the two-natured. I was hoping…"
I picked up as she trailed off, not minding the thought of revealing my extra talent to Nora. "You want me to see if I can find some in the city?"
"Owen has an extra gift," Bryony said softly to Nora, whose eyes widened. "He can sense second natures."
"Oh! That's—well—"
"I mostly ignore it," I said to Nora. "Feels like prying."
She sighed and nodded, but her face turned down to her lap, where her hands were twisting together. Bryony would soothe her once they were alone.
"If you can find a community, Cresswell might be able to work his way into the conversation," Bryony said. "See how people are feeling, what their concerns are."
I smiled at Bryony. "Feeling like you've run out of things to do?" I asked.
"Stopping this from becoming worse is not the same as fixing what was wrong to