Chapter 9
RIA
Ria wakes in the pre-dawn chill with Nissa’s soft warmth tucked against her side under her arm. Her head rests against Ria’s shoulder, face pressed into the curve of her breast.
Ria draws a slow, deep breath, wondering at the contentment that fills her body. The yearning she has felt for so long has been alchemized—it’s still there, but transformed into a happiness so profound it feels like risk.
She turns her head, pressing her lips against those braids. She’d offered, and Nissa had accepted. She’d accepted this night, and goddess above, the night had been more than Ria had ever imagined it could be.
Whatever Nissa said when she woke, whether she accepted Ria’s offer of the year, they would have the memory of this night.
And it’s not enough.
Ria closes her eyes against the thought, trying to banish it.
No. She had offered in good faith, and she means to stick by it. What Nissa wants matters. Ria wants nothing more than she wants to offer.
But fuck.
Wanting her to want what you want is natural, Isiridion says quietly in her head.
It has ventured off into the night, curling into a warm nook of rocks in the mountains to avoid scaring the wandering pairings from the clan’s eventide flame leaps.
It cannot determine anything. But it’s not wrong to want it.
Ria swallows hard. Oh dragon, she says, and hope is paired with despair in the thought. If she says no, I will be leaning on you. Hard.
Lucky I’m significantly larger and more robust than you, child. The dragon’s tone is more affectionate than the words, and Ria has to blink against tears. I am here, Isiridion adds.
I know.
The sky is turning grey, pink just appearing on the horizon.
It will be dawn soon, and the encampment will be gathering by the fire.
Ria distracts herself wondering who might leap the daylight flames, and which eventide jumps might have repercussions beyond the night.
It was always the way—the promise that Longest Night was a night out of the regular rhythm was a fantasy, evidenced by the array of grumpy spouses.
She’s just about to rouse Nissa when something passes overhead. She stares up at it for a split second as fear spikes through her.
Red against the pale cloud.
Dragon, Isiridion says grimly. I’m on my way.
“Nissa!” Ria shakes her shoulder. “Dragon. We need to get to the encampment.”
Nissa wakes and is on her feet in a second, tugging her skirt on and shoving her arms into her shirt. “Where?”
Ria scans the sky, wincing as she thrusts her legs into pants. The twist of her hips as she pulls her shirt on yanks on the stitching. Pain sears her, but she banishes it.
No time for pain, not now.
“It was here a second ago. Might be amongst the clouds.”
“Concealing itself?”
“Maybe. It was only one, but who knows what’s going on up there.”
“We have to warn them.” Nissa gives her a quick glance, and they set off together towards the encampment.
Get your axe, Isiridion says grimly. I’m nearly there.