9. A Quiet Place to Lay Your Head
~ GRACE ~
We flew for hours. South and west, closer to the mountains and the sea. And I loved it—loved flying with Koa, especially in the early hours when we flew just above the tree canopy to make ourselves less likely to be noticed by Furyknights flying patrols.
But the air grew colder as we moved south, and when we could finally climb in the sky, with nothing but a crescent moon and most of the cloud-cover having passed, I could see little but the dark smudge of trees below, and the tall mountains ahead.
‘Kham knows his way,’ Koa assured me.
I patted her neck. ‘Yes, he does. And Voski, as well. I’m glad we’ll have some time alone.’
‘It is needy,’ Koa said solemnly, but with a trill of happiness underlining the words. She sent me a flash of an image—her and Kham, pressed together, necks and tails entwined.
I blushed and bit my lip. ‘I don’t need to see that, Koa.’
‘What is the word you use?’
I opened my mouth and then hesitated. What was the word the dragons would use? ‘Mating?’
‘Ah, yes. That is the best.’
I looked aside and slightly ahead, where Kham flew, his golden scales looking like dull metal in the dark night. And the black shadow of Voski clinging to this back. My belly tingled, and Koa whistled.
The best? Yes, I supposed it was. Sex had turned out to be not only pleasurable, but connecting. I had felt Voski soften toward me from the first time. And now…
He turned in my direction, as if he knew I was thinking about him. I smiled and waved, wishing we could have flown together. But I needed the practice, and he’d said he might not keep his hands off me if we were pressed together for hours on end.
I bit my lip remembering.
I wouldn’t have complained.
Those thoughts turned my head to the herbs he’d given me. I had very mixed feelings about those.
It was good that I could conduct my training without worrying about pregnancy.
But Voski’s reluctance, the thought that he might not want children at all, was shocking to me.
I hadn’t known it was possible to prevent pregnancy.
Though, I now wondered if many of the married women in the Fyrehold Court knew of it.
They seemed to lack caution when it came to adventures that didn’t include their husbands.
Perhaps I would have been told about this after my marriage?
But if a woman was married and loved her husband, why would she want such a thing?
I could feel Koa, sense her delight at the thought of offspring. She would be pleased if she became pregnant.
And the truth was, I would be also. If it was Voski’s. And if we were married…
I frowned. Were we married?
‘The mate is… closest. The closest,’ Koa sent.
‘You only have one mate, so of course—’
‘No. No. The words… your marriage… the mate is closest. Closer?’
Realizing what she meant, I nodded. ‘You mean, a mate is closer than a husband?’
‘Yes.’
‘I think they might be the same.’
But Koa gave a little call and shook her head. ‘Mate is soul. Mate is heart. Mate is One. Made for you. Husband is Chosen. Husband might become mate.’
Then I understood. ‘Well, in that case, I’m very glad I have a mate, instead of a husband.’ Especially the husband I would have had.
‘Yes,’ Koa purred. ‘Mate is best. And will remain.’
I smiled and patted her neck. ‘I hope so,’ I sent.
She whistled again. ‘No. Not hope. You know.’
I nodded and didn’t respond. Because I hoped she was right. But as I watched Voski fly, I had to question.
I could sense him. Feel his need for me. His desire. Even something I deeply suspected was love. He would protect me. He would guide me, I had no doubt. But remain?
For now, I could only hope.
Koa nudged my mind, startling me out of a dream in which Voski kept wanting me, then pushing me away, leaving me weeping. I was so confused, it was disorienting to come awake.
‘We will land.’
Blinking away the dread from the dream, I looked to Voski. I couldn’t see his face because Kham had flown ahead to put space between us. But his broad shoulders made me smile with relief. He wasn’t pushing me away. It was only a dream.
By the time we landed, my body ached, but my sleepiness was well and truly gone.
It was colder here than it had been at the treehouse. I was glad to be wearing dragon leathers.
When I dismounted, Voski was already at Koa’s foreleg, and the moment I got Koa’s harness off, he grabbed me, pulled my chin up and kissed me soundly.
“I missed you,” he growled.
My stomach trilled and I clung to him, my breath already coming faster. But then, he released me, though he took my hand and drew me around Koa, who turned toward the trees, and Kham.
“There’s a hut here. It’s pretty rustic, but it will keep us warm. And it’s hidden from eyes over the trees.”
“Won’t patrols find us because of the dragons?” I asked breathlessly, trotting in his wake.
“We’re outside the borders now,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at me as he drew me forward.
“They won’t come this far unless they’re following someone that might be a threat.
And Kham kept our route well away from other dragons.
Not that our dragons would follow, but it’s just better if Furyknight dragons don’t know we’re out here. We don’t want to be interrupted.”
Fizzing need coiled in my belly, but I kept trotting as Voski led me into the blackness between the trees.
The hut was rustic, as he said. A wide, box-frame bed at the end opposite the door, under a shuttered window.
A long, narrow table against one wall that appeared to be used for both cooking, and eating, along with a few shelves on the wall that held boxes and candles and flint.
Rafters full of dust and cobwebs overhead.
A fireplace on the other side. There was also a bolt on the door.
As I helped unpack the things from the bags Gil had brought, Voski unrolled an awning, stretching it from over the small door that was short enough he had to duck his head to step inside, out to a tree well outside the door.
He said it would keep the ground outside the door dry, to give us space to put on boots and jackets.
Soon, candles burned merrily in the corners, and our few things were unpacked. Voski drew water from a nearby stream, arranged everything from clothing to the little herb packets on the shelves. Then began to unwrap the food Gil had sent, and swore happily when he discovered meat?
“My brother knows me well,” he said, grinning at me over a wrinkled paper packet of something red and bloody.
I grimaced. “We don’t need that for tonight,” I said nervously. “I’m happy with the cheese and bread, and—”
Voski arched one brow. “Grace, can you cook?”
I went still, watching him—relieved to find his expression more amused than irritated.
I swallowed hard. “No,” I mumbled finally.
His lips pulled up on one side in a half smile that made my heart flutter and he crossed the few feet between us slowly.
“You don’t have to pretend. Every Furyknight starts their journey from a different place.
You can tell me if there’s things you need to learn,” he said.
Then he reached my toes and his hands slipped to my hips. “There’s a lot I can teach you.”
“I’m happy to work, only I was never taught to cook. I didn’t want you to think—”
He caught my chin in one hand and his smile grew wider. “Grace, are you listening?”
I frowned. “To what?”
He leaned down, and his lips brushed my ear, sending a spray of goosebumps down my neck and arm. “I said, there’s a lot I can teach you. If you’re willing to learn?”
He straightened, and his eyes met mine. He still smiled, but there was something slow and a little wicked about it now.
I cleared my throat, fighting a smile. “I’m always willing to learn,” I said breathlessly. “Especially if you’re the teacher.”
He nodded and his smile turned smug. “You are good at taking orders, I’ll give you that.”
“I like receiving orders. It makes things very clear and—” I cut off because his smile broadened, and I felt something pulse in the bond. A thrill? “You like that?” I asked quietly.
He nodded again. “I do.”
Something crackled through the bond, an electric snap that started at his heart, and ended in my belly.
He leaned closer, tipping his chin until his nose almost brushed mine. I gripped his arms to keep myself upright. “Why are you smiling like that?” I asked.
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear that had fallen out of my braid, and his eyes grew darker. “I’m looking forward to these days alone,” he purred. “Looking forward to teaching you.”
I bit my lip. I wasn’t good at flirting—but he was. He could flirt without words. Eyes that glinted. An expression that hinted. Tone that slid down my spine like trailing fingers.
As he leaned closer and let his lips brush mine, my breath grew shallow. I closed my eyes to enjoy the kiss, but though it was soft and sweet, he quickly tilted his head and began to kiss along my jaw, then nibbled at my ear. “Do you have energy? Or do you want to sleep?” he whispered.
I shivered when his breath thundered in my ear.
“I’m definitely not ready for sleep.” Goosebumps raised the hair on my arms and heated my cheeks.
Voski hummed his approval. “Would you like to learn something right now?” His hands trailed down from my hair, to my shoulders, down my body, sliding alongside my breasts, to my waist.
My breath came faster. I nodded quickly.
Voski’s smile turned dark and he leaned in to kiss me again. This time I threw my arms around his neck, so when his arms circled my waist, I felt the warmth of him.
“Are you ready for your first lesson?” he breathed, then nipped my ear.
I nodded quickly. “Yes, please.”
Smiling, he kissed me again and I sagged into his grip, delighted, my skin humming—especially when he kissed his way down my neck and popped the button of my jacket. I sighed happily, arching when his hands slid inside my jacket, then down to my hips.
“No matter what, Grace…” he breathed against my throat.
I tipped my head back, giving him better access, but closed my eyes, listening intently for his instruction.
“…always remain aware of your body…”
I sucked in as he pressed his nose into my hair and inhaled, his breath rushing out to tickle my ear.
“…and your assets,” he murmured. I had a blip of confusion—then he straightened, letting go so suddenly that I almost fell backward.
I caught my weight, opening my eyes, frowning and confused…
to find him dangling my harness knife in front of my face. Smirking.
I clapped a hand to the now-empty sheath at my hip, and exhaled in a rush.
“That is not the kind of lesson I thought you were talking about!” I spluttered.
His smile grew and he flipped the knife, catching the flashing blade, to offer me the hilt.
I snatched it with a scowl, but his grin only widened.
Shoving the knife back into the sheath and leaving my hand on the hilt, I met his twinkling eyes. His grin was boyish and adorable. But I deflated.
“I thought you intended to teach me something else,” I grumbled.
“Oh, I did.” He pulled me against him once more, and kissed me. I went willingly, smiling into the kiss, but just as quickly as it started, he stopped again, leaving me standing there, a little bit trembly, while he strolled to the other side of the room.
“But, food first,” he announced. “We’ve been flying for hours, and need to keep up our strength.”
I gaped at his back as he began to carve off slices of bread, and cheese.
“Strength for what?” I asked, uncertain whether to be disappointed, or to anticipate more.
He looked at me over his shoulder, and his smoldering gaze went straight to my belly.
Then I smiled.