“ButIknow those weren’t bandits, sir.Theleader—they called himCommanderLuxos.Itwas a military operation, no doubt about it.Atthe manor, they were after her.Shewas the goal all along.”
Ihad suspected as much, but who was behind it all?Iknew most ofHadeon’smen, andCommanderLuxoswasn’t one of them.Itwasn’t impossible, but why be so underhanded when he could just come here straight to her?
“Didthey want something from her specifically?”
“Yes, he asked to see her magic.That’swhy they stabbed me, to try to elicit a reaction.”
“And?”
Hepaused then, for far longer than was appropriate for an officer, but said, “No.Shewas strong, no doubt about it, butIdon’t think it was magic.”
Istood, butKaleosspoke again, “Howdid they know she would be there,YourMajesty?”
“Idon’t know, butIwill not rest untilIfind out.”Istrode out of the room.
Toriwaited for me a few hallways down.Sheleaned against the wall, arms crossed, her steely eyes narrowed.
“Noneed to scowl,Princess.IleftKaleosjust asIfound him.Now, let’s go to my room for your debrief.”
Sheraised her eyebrows at me, “AndhereIthought you actually wanted to talk.”
“Trustme,Princess, we have plenty to talk about.”
* * *
Torisatacross from me on my couch.Sheheld her hands clasped together.Ihanded her a small glass of malt ambrosia, and she made a face when she took a sip.
“Thisis disgusting.”
Ilaughed, “Anacquired taste, certainly.Now, tell me what happened.”
Sheswirled the liquid in the glass, then took another tiny sip, her face still shifting into that puckered look.Shetold me of her capture, of the demand to display her magic, of ripping the iron from the walls.Shetold me about killing the guards and making her way upstairs withKaleos.
Shesighed, “Idon’t know how many more timesIcan say this, butIdon’t possess magic.I’vealways been the fighter;Junwas the artist.Iwas the body, he was the mind, and we worked together.”Sheswirled her drink again and looked at me.Ireadied myself to answer her questions, but they didn’t come.
“Whatdo you remember after that?”
“Notmuch, whatever had been driving me was wearing off.Iwas in a state of delirium.IthoughtIsaw a battlefield, and flames… but that couldn’t have been right.”Shepaused, andIdid not correct her. “Butyou were there, weren’t you?Youcame for me?”Shekept staring at her drink, unwilling to meet my eye.
“Itold you; you are mine to protect, little bird.”Shescrewed up her face then, as she always did when she was uncomfortable.Iwanted to tell her then, what she meant to me.Butwe walked the knife’s edge, andIwas selfish.Iwas afraid of driving her away.
Shefinally looked up at me and set her drink down.Shestood and approached me before she knelt, so our faces were level.Sheran her hand over my cheek, the touch so gentle, so unlike our usual encounters.
“Iheard there were no witnesses.Youkilled them all to get to me?”
Dangerous, this was so dangerous. “Thereis no force in this world that would keep me from you.”
Shesaid nothing but brought her lips to mine with unbearable gentleness.Itwasn’t like any of our other forays.Shepressed herself into me as if she wished to melt into me and never be separated again.Sheran her hands down my back softly, no nails or desperate touches.Shetraced her long fingers through my hair and opened her kiss to me gently like a dance, not a fight.
Onthe bed, she rocked our hips together slowly, building agonizing tension thatInever wanted to be free of.Ilaced my fingers through hers, and held her tight to the bed, never releasing our kiss.Iwanted to touch every single piece of her as that golden light threaded between our souls.Itwasn’t connected,Icould still feel her resisting.ButIhad waited a lifetime for her, and if this was allIwas to have,Iwould be grateful for the rest of my days.
“Abraxas,” she looked deep into my eyes, worry on her face, “stay with me?”
“Untilthe sky burns,Tori.”
Chapter47
Tori
