Chapter 9

“A kiss?” She whispers, smile fading, and her eyes flicker down to my mouth before they lift to mine again.

“A kiss. The courteous way one would thank her gallant hero for saving her life.” I denote coquettishly, and she blinks.

“My life was never really in danger. Therefore, I was in no need of saving.”

“You were still a damsel in distress, were you not?” Mira smiles a little and nods in response to my question. “I showed up to protect you, did I not?”

“You did.”

“Then I ought to get a kiss from the princess as a reward for my gallantness,” I state smugly, and she looks up at me thoughtfully.

“What happened to the seven other options. You said you had ten different ways I could thank you, but you only listed three of them.” Mira questions, and I grin, leaning down closer to her ear.

“I would tell you, Tinks, but I don’t think your virtuous self is ready to hear of such things,” I whisper in her ear, deliberately brushing my lips against the shell of her ear as I spoke to her, which