CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX #2
Several choice swear words ripped free from Fraser’s throat.
“What in all the gods—” Gordon pressed his advantage when Taenya’s call distracted Fraser, and the men again battled with deadly earnest; both ignored Taenya’s command.
In moments though, it was clear who was tiring, and who would be the victor.
Gordon’s swings were nearly as wild as they’d been when he was under the elf’s control, and from the hardened glint in Fraser’s eye, he was about the end the fight, fatally.
++I will make this easy for all. ++ Cassyrra’s mental voice boomed, silent but forceful enough that we all winced. Gordon collapsed in a heap, then levitated, and floated out the door, encased in a cocoon of amethyst numin.
Fraser stopped as soon as the glittering mage energies wrapped around his former friend’s body, his chest heaving with his exertion.
“That’s cheating!” he shouted to the room, and the dragon outside.
++ You were going to kill him. He can be a valuable source of information. This is more important than your ego, Fraser. ++ Cassyrra’s tone was firm.
“You probably shouldn’t argue with her.” Taenya advised. “Besides, he’s already out the door.”
“Really hate it when you make sense.” His words were harsh but his tone wasn’t. It was soft as his eyes that were locked on mine, even though his words were for her.
Taenya’s voice faded as I drowned in the deep blue waters of Fraser’s gaze but I still heard her chuckle, faintly. “I can see you two have some catching up to do,” she added, “meet you outside,” and followed the sleeping Gordon through the door and down the hall.
The sound of dripping water was the loudest thing in the wake of their absence, until Fraser turned, his leather squeaking in protest. I blinked to clear the water from my eyes as it ran down my braids, and in the space of those moments, he’d crossed the intervening space between us.
There I stood, staring up at his handsome face, still grim and flushed from combat, tongue-tied like a schoolgirl, unable to say anything. I hadn’t expected to live through the night once I woke up bound.
What to say to him? After all I’d done, all I’d learned, what I knew might have crushed me except he was there, looking at me with a hunger that came from his soul.
“I’m so sorry, Fraser!” The words tumbled from me, rolling like awkward toddlers. It wasn’t enough. What would be?
I hadn’t budged from where I stood next to the table, clutching my belt pouch with both hands. Could only look up at him and hope that he forgave me, for everything. The hunger faded from his eyes, replaced by something both tender and fierce. Somehow, he understood what my simple apology meant.
It was for all of it; for sinking his ship and our relationship, hating him all those years, and being so horrible to him during the first weeks of training.
“I know,” he whispered as he leaned in.
My belt pouch dropped to my feet and I slid my hands around his neck. His lips were gentle and soft, a promise that we could do better this time. One I believed to the core of my heart.
In the end, Cassyrra cast a teleportal to the dock.
Fraser’s crew took Gordon and the rest into custody, loaded them aboard Mayhem and locked them in the brig.
The sun was coming up by the time we returned to the keep, and breakfast was already set out for us.
I silently blessed Grace and her family.
“What do we do with them?” I asked, sipping my sparkling water and juice. None of us had yet sought our beds, and lingered over the remains of our meal.
++ That is a question for another time. They are all bespelled.
Those implanted sigils are still linked to the Cilirian mage, but the shielding spell I’ve cast around Mayhem will hide them.
++ Cassyrra’s deep, motherly voice was stern.
++ Now that we know how this city has been attacked and who did it, we can look at how to counter them. ++
“We must erase all those sigils around Hastrior,” Taenya said. “The question is how.”
++ Indeed, beloved. We must tread carefully. ++ The dragon’s tone was solemn. ++ I have books and artifacts hidden away that we will need for our school. I will make retrieving them a priority. ++
My curiosity begged to know what sort of shiny magic toys a dragon might have hoarded, but I had one, more pressing, question.
“Cleobah,” I said, diverting the conversation, “where were you while I was getting knocked out?” That ruffle of feathers across her leonine shoulders was Cleobah brushing off my concern.
“I went and got the muscle.” She pointed one wing in Cassyrra’s direction. The cool light in her eyes silenced my complaint and deflated my indignation.
“You can all keep talking, but I’m for bed.
” Taenya rose and stretched. “I don’t expect I’ll be awake ‘till well after noon. We’ll regroup once we’re all rested.
” She turned and headed for her tent but shouted over her shoulder.
“Rest! I mean it! Don’t wear each other out.
” She barely got through her words without laughing, and walked off.
Fraser had been sitting a few feet away on the couch next to me but, when Taenya left he slid over and eased his arm around my shoulder. “Beat it, Cleobah.”
“Did you not hear her?” the sphinx shot back, but she was laughing, too. “Take it back to your tent, this is where I sleep.”
Eyes like a tropical sea lit when he looked deep into mine.
“Mine’s closer.” I threaded my fingers through turquoise and cobalt locks that had dried into stiff curls; they softened under my touch.
His expression shifted instantly to mischievous, and laughter bubbled free when he swept me into his arms. He crossed the short distance to my tent in no time and ducked under the flap I’d left tied open.
I had no trouble remembering the last time I’d felt that carefree and happy. It was when I was with him, five years ago, before it all went wrong. We’d come full circle, and I couldn’t help but feel I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
“Not letting you get away again.” His arms tightened as he stooped, then straightened, and ducked through the entrance. “You’re stuck with me. Whether that’s here, learning magic, or ferrying you on your journeys. You’d best get used to it.”
He barely fit and had to bend his head to avoid brushing the top of the tent, even that close to the center pole.
With my hand around the back of his head, I pulled him to me.
I needed the long, slow strokes of his tongue dancing with mine.
He took his time, like he had all day to taste and explore.
It was not enough. Not nearly.
I pulled back long enough to say, “Put me down.” His growl cut me off, but I laid my hand over his mouth and added, “Just trust me.”
I was on my feet in the next second.
“No one better interrupt—”
“Don’t worry.” I tied the tent door closed, and triggered the privacy spell woven into it. “No one will.”
His touch on my skin as he skimmed away my silky dress was so familiar, as was his body under my seeking hands, it was as if no time had passed between us. It was like coming home.
One I never wanted to leave.
THE END