Indeed, there must be a good deal of mage blood on the wrong side of the blanket floating around, and dragons cared nothing for the legalities of legitimacy.It is an exciting idea. I wish I could have met you sooner.
Yes. This small bit of freedom, from taking you as a companion and staying at Pemberley, has been a gift to me.
Of that there was no doubt. Quickthorn had been so prickly and irritable when they first met, and now that side of her did not appear so often. She knew how much Frederica adored her.
Quickthorn sent,Would you like to see the underground nursery? The ramp is suitable for human legs.
If her dragon was proud of it, Frederica definitely wanted a chance to admire it.
The nursery proved to be a large chamber with stone walls and a tessellated floor. Piles of enormous dragon eggs nestled in fabric, and some young hatchlings dozed by a large, glowing stone that gave off heat.
“I am impressed that you accomplished this so quickly,” Frederica said.
“It is not much,” Quickthorn said dismissively, her aura shifting into nervousness. “But in truth, I brought you here for a reason.”
“What is that?”
The dragon shifted from one foot to another in the enclosed space. “Rowan and I decided long ago not to interfere in anything between you and Companion Roderick.”
Damn, there it was, the stab of pain again, the ache in her stomach. She had actually managed to forget about him for a few minutes. “Sensible,” she said flatly. Not that there was anything to interfere in any longer.
“It is clear you prefer to keep your connection secret from the mortals at Pemberley. Resultingly, and to spare you possible embarrassment, we have made an exception today. Companion Roderick is just arriving. If you wish to see him privately, I will tell Rowan to send him down to you. If not, we will say nothing to him of your presence.”
A rush of joy stole her breath away. “He is here at Pemberley?”
“In the clearing above us. Rowan just landed with him.”
Every instinct screamed at her to run to him. She turned towards the ramp before her mind caught up with her. Why had he come? Did it even have anything to do with her? He might have been sent as an emissary to Elizabeth and Cerridwen. Her throat tightened.
The dragons were right. Best to have this meeting in private. “Yes. Pray send him to me.” Her mouth was so dry it was hard to get the words out. Since she could not thank her, instead she said, “I am glad you arranged it this way.” She did not want Quickthorn blaming herself if she spent the rest of the day collapsed and sobbing.
The dragon transformed into her bird form and flew out, leaving Frederica alone with her pounding heart and dozens of dragon eggs. And a deep sense of dread, mixed with her natural excitement. What if hehadcome to see her?
Hurried footsteps, human ones, rattled from the ramp. He must have raced here the moment Quickthorn told him. Was that a good sign or a bad one?
Then he emerged from the opening, his dark hair windblown and askew. Her heart swelled at the sight of the face she loved so well, his crooked nose only adding character, his lithe body twisting as he looked from side to side. Of course - she was in the darkest part of the structure, and his eyes had not yet adjusted from the sun. He could not see her.
“Frederica?” He said it softly, yet his voice reverberated through her body.
She ran forward and threw her arms around him. It did not matter why he was here. She had been aching for him for weeks, and now she needed his touch.
His arms closed around her, pulling her even closer, and his mouth sought out hers. Gently, always gently, because that was who he was.
But it was not enough for her. She deepened the kiss insistently until he groaned, and she could feel the passion in his body as it pressed against hers. An ache grew deep within her, but she could not give into it yet.
She had to know. “Why did you come here?” she breathed.
He laid his forehead against hers. “To the Nest, at the command of the Eldest. Here? Because I could not bear to stay away.”
Her body melted into his. “I could not stand it, either.”
“I do not know how we are to manage it, but we must find some way to be together. Even if it is only a few stolen days from time to time. I cannot live this way.”
Would that be better than nothing, or would it just mean suffering this heartbreak again and again every time he left? But she could not think of that now, not when he was here and in her arms, after she had given up all hope. “How long can you stay?”
“Perhaps a week. My father made it clear he will not tolerate another extended absence, but I can delay that long.”
Just long enough to rip the heart out of her again. If she had an ounce of sense, she would send him away right now, before she could fall even further in love. But she had never had any sense, nor could she ever resist him.
