Chapter 948: She Just Has To Tease

Charlotte looked down at Liam with the kind of delighted expression that usually preceded an exceptionally irritating conversation.

"Well, shouldn’t you be happy to see me?"

"I was happy before I saw you."

"Oh, sweetheart. You really do know how to make a girl feel special."

Liam considered closing his eyes again. Unfortunately, he knew enough about Charlotte to understand that ignoring her would only encourage more creative methods of harassment.

She leaned slightly closer, examining his crossed legs and relaxed posture with obvious amusement. "Meditating, are we? How responsible. How disciplined." Her smile widened. "How wonderfully obedient."

Liam’s eyes narrowed a fraction.

Charlotte noticed immediately.

"Oh?" she said. "Did that one touch a nerve?"

"You wish."

"Really? Because I heard our dear commander has forbidden you from leaving Veyrhold." Charlotte made a thoughtful sound, tapping one finger against her chin. "Imagine that. Liam Hunter, the boy who barely listens to instructors, finally put on a leash by Princess Sheila herself."

Liam stared at her.

’Remarkable. She’s been here less than a minute and has already found the exact subject I was trying to stop thinking about.’

Charlotte looked delighted by his silence.

"Should I congratulate her?" she continued. "Getting you to behave must be one of the academy’s greatest achievements. Perhaps I’ll ask Edith to record it."

"Charlotte."

"Yes, darling?"

"Has anyone ever thrown you off a wall?"

She laughed. "Not successfully."

"An unfortunate oversight."

"And here I was about to call you an obedient little monster."

"You have already made the mistake of speaking."

"But you haven’t denied it."

Liam glanced toward the ground outside the battlement, briefly considering the distance.

’Would the paperwork be worth it?’

Probably not.

Besides, Charlotte could transform into a jaguar. A fall would be unlikely to accomplish anything beyond creating a highly offended feline with an even greater incentive to bother him.

He looked back at her. "Sheila gave a reasonable order. I’m following it. Try not to make the concept sound miraculous."

Charlotte’s eyebrows lifted.

"Well, now I’m genuinely concerned. You sound almost respectable."

"A temporary condition."

"Good. I was beginning to miss the unpleasant version of you."

"You’ve been speaking to him this entire time."

"Then he should learn to appreciate my company."

Liam gave her a flat look.

Charlotte laughed again and finally moved away from where she stood over him. She settled on the broad inner parapet a short distance to his left, one leg bent comfortably while the other rested against the stone walkway. The position kept her clear of the archers’ movements and allowed her to look out over the Southern District.

A pair of students passed along the wall, carrying replacement equipment toward the next watch position. Charlotte waited until they had moved beyond easy hearing distance before turning her attention back to Liam.

For several seconds, he thought she might finally explain why she had approached him.

Instead, her expression changed with sudden delight.

"Oh! Speaking of things I’ve been meaning to ask you."

Liam closed his eyes.

"No."

"I haven’t asked anything yet."

"Preventative measures."

"You are going to love this one."

"That would be a first."

Charlotte ignored him. "That beautiful shadow creature you brought back earlier. The one carrying Celia."

Liam opened one eye.

"What about her?"

"First of all, I was surprised you had another one." Charlotte leaned forward slightly. "And not just any shadow beast. A raven and a jaguar? Together? Liam, darling, do you have any idea how interesting that is?"

"I have some understanding of the creature I summoned, yes."

"Don’t ruin this."

"You started it."

Charlotte waved his interruption away. "I mean, the wings, the build, the way she walks. That body is much closer to a jaguar than an ordinary bird, although the feathered parts make her look rather elegant."

She smiled to herself.

"Of course, I might be biased. Jaguars are exquisite creatures."

"Your humility continues to inspire."

"As it should."

Her eyes gleamed.

"But her appearance wasn’t even the most interesting part."

Liam watched her for a moment.

Something about that expression was concerning.

’Here comes the actual stupidity.’

Charlotte placed both hands against her chest and looked at him with exaggerated tenderness.

"Raven."

Liam blinked once.

"What?"

"Her name," Charlotte said, savoring every syllable. "Raven."

He stared at her.

Charlotte’s smile became positively radiant.

"Oh, Liam. I had absolutely no idea your feelings for me ran so deep."

Silence.

Then Liam looked toward the nearest watchtower, as though hoping someone had an emergency that required his immediate assistance.

Charlotte continued before he could speak.

"To think you’ve been carrying a beautiful little shadow beast around, and all this time she was named after me." She pressed a hand over her heart again. "I am genuinely touched. You could have simply told me you adored me, you know. There was no need for such a grand gesture."

"The creature’s name has absolutely nothing to do with you."

"Aw. He’s embarrassed."

"No. I’m correcting a misconception."

"Of course you are, sweetheart."

"I named her before I knew you existed."

Charlotte paused.

For one glorious second, Liam thought the lie might have ended the conversation.

Then her eyes widened in theatrical wonder.

"Oh, that’s even sweeter."

He stared at her.

"Charlotte."

"Destiny," she whispered.

Liam slowly exhaled.

"You’re a miscarriage of common sense."

"Think about it! You named your precious little birdie Raven before we ever met, and then fate brought Charlotte Raven into your life." She spread her hands. "It’s practically written in the stars."

"It was written in a very limited naming process."

"Love often begins in mysterious ways."

"Apparently so does brain damage."

Charlotte burst into laughter.

Liam regarded her with increasing suspicion.

’She knows perfectly well what she’s doing.’

That was arguably the most irritating part. Charlotte was not misunderstanding him. She was deliberately choosing an interpretation that allowed her to continue enjoying his annoyance, and no amount of evidence would persuade her to abandon it.

He might as well attempt to negotiate with a particularly flirtatious wall.

Charlotte wiped an imaginary tear from beneath one eye. "You must introduce us properly sometime. I would love to meet the beautiful little birdie you named in my honor."

"She would dislike you."

"Impossible. We have so much in common."

"That’s precisely why."

Charlotte tilted her head. "Are you suggesting she has excellent taste?"

"I’m suggesting the world has enough problems without two of you."

She laughed again, clearly unoffended.

Liam considered the matter settled.

Charlotte apparently did not.

"Do you think she’ll let me pet her?"

"No."

"You didn’t even consider it."

"I considered your survival."

"How thoughtful."

"If I ever find another shadow beast that is particularly irritating and refuses to shut up, perhaps I’ll name that one Charlotte."

Her expression brightened instantly.

"Oh, you would?"

Then she caught the insult.

For a moment, her lips parted in mock outrage before she dissolved into another round of laughter.

"You really are awful," she said.

"And yet you keep coming back."

"Well, someone has to make sure you develop a personality."

"I had one before you arrived."

"Yes, but it was terribly underused."

Liam shook his head and looked toward the landscape beyond the wall.

The exchange had lasted several minutes longer than it deserved, and his Myst recovery remained thoroughly interrupted.

Still, Charlotte’s laughter was not unpleasant.

It was merely excessive.

Eventually, she settled more comfortably against the parapet, her expression losing some of its exaggerated mischief.

"Anyway," she said, "I didn’t actually come all the way up here just to tease you."

Liam turned toward her.

"Astonishing."

"Oh, don’t sound so relieved. I can do both."

"That is what worries me."