Fayne seemed undaunted. “Shadow! It’s been so long!” She hugged him tightly and squealed. He blinked over her shoulder ro rhe table, where Cellica was staring at him in shock. Myrin looked at him, then the newcomer, then down at her stewshe seemed to shrink on her stool. Cellica looked halfway between angry and wonderstruck. “Oh, Shadow, we’ll have such a glorious time at the revel,” she said, emphasizing her words breathlessly. “I can’t believe you have an invitationI can’t wait to wear my dress! Oh!” Kalen could hardly breathe, she held him so hard. “Kalen,” Cellica asked slowly, “Kalen, who is this? What revel?” “Iurph,” Kalen said as the woman kissed him again, cutting off any words. This kiss was harder than the first, more insistent, and he tasted her tongue in his mouth. A little hand tugged the hem of the half-elf s vest. “Pardon, lass,” Cellica asked, hands on her hips. “Who … who are you?” “I’m Fayne,” the half-elf said, lacing her fingers through Kalen’s.
