Can't Spell Treason Without Tea (Tomes & Tea, #1)

by Rebecca Thorne

“You like tea. I like books. Let’s open a shop somewhere remote and forget the world exists.”

All she wanted was a nice, hot cup of tea. It was treason to think that. She thought it anyway.

“Run away with me. You like tea. I like books. Care to open a shop and forget the world exists?”

A bookstore that served tea, perched in the most remote corner of the world.

Once one of them asked that question, they stayed quiet until the other was absolutely finished. Sometimes, a person just needed to verbally work through their feelings. Sometimes, the first thing out of their mouth wasn’t really the problem.

The mage pulled her into a careful hug, minding her healing wound. It felt like coming home, and Reyna basked in her affection. “You’re the most incredible person I’ve ever met.” Reyna pressed a kiss to her lips.

A person could work and work and work, and still never “earn” their dues. Sometimes success meant determination … and sometimes, it was just luck.

“So, I guess we’re in it together.” “Tonight and always, for as long as you’ll have me, queens and dragons be damned.”

Never, in all her life, would Reyna have believed it was possible to love someone this much. The intensity made tears well in her eyes, and she turned away fast, too fast, blinking hard to clear her vision.

There was something pleasing about having productive conversations, rather than burning bridges with fiery emotion. When they first started dating, Kianthe had never considered the little tactics Reyna often employed: separating from impulse, practicing empathy, repeating another’s sentence to prove she’d been listening.

“You want to know what I think?” “No. Because you’re going to spout logic, and I’d rather ruminate, thank you.”

“Tawney is proof that prejudice can be overcome. It’s proof that your home country, your hometown, your home values … they don’t have to define you.”

“You’re welcome to a cup of tea. I’ll try not to poison the leaves.”

“Reyna, the Stars to my Stone, the roots of my tree, the clouds of my sky—” “Oh Gods,” Reyna said, but she was smiling wide. “That too. Will you marry me?” Reyna bounced like a kid in a bakery. Her eyes were alight as she threw her arms around Kianthe’s neck, kissed her passionately. “Of course I’ll marry you, you ridiculous mage. It took you long enough to ask.” “You told me to wait!” “Well, I got impatient.”

“Pirates are people too! Just because I pillage doesn’t mean I’m breaking the law.”

A lifetime flashed between them. Kianthe saw it all, with such vivid clarity that the Stone of Seeing itself must have placed her in this woman’s path.

“Maybe we all deserve to be selfish once in a while.” Reyna felt bold saying the words, but she didn’t regret them.

“I’ll have you know, Reyna like rain, that you’re pretty special. And I’ve been alone long enough to seize special when I find it.” A pause, a wry smile. “If you like me after tonight, you may never get rid of me.”

“It was such a comfort to me as a kid. The thought that someone could leave a preordained life to find happiness elsewhere.”

“Mmm. They say the stories we love share a bit about ourselves,”