“Loneliness,” Lesva said.
Oh, please. Her ambition kept her company.
“Excuse my presumption, but I think I sense that in you too, General.” Lesva rested her hand on his chest. “Do you want company?”
“I do not.” Jhiton shifted to the side and stepped away from her.
Vorik silently cheered until Jhiton walked into the cave. The shadows might have hidden Vorik, especially since he stood by the wall, but too many embers burned orange in fires. Or maybe Jhiton simply sensed him with his magic, for he gave Vorik along look as he walked past. He didn’tsayanything, but he wouldn’t have appreciated being spied upon.
When Vorik looked toward the cave entrance, Lesva was also regarding him. Wonderful.
You can fly down here any time, Agrevlari. Wise is almost ready. And I’m… more than ready.
I will arrive shortly. There are semiloni eggs in nests up here.
Those can’t be a sufficient meal for a dragon.
They taste wondrous though. Far better than the fruits you spoke of with your lieutenant.
I’m sure. Shall I ask Syla to bake a cobbler using them?
Dragons do not crave sweets.
Maybe gardeners can make savory cobblers.
It’s possible I’m intrigued.
Though he didn’t want to speak with Lesva, Vorik resisted the urge to pretend he’d forgotten something and retreat into the cave. Instead, he continued to the entrance ledge. He was, after all, a grown-up and an officer in the Sixteen Talons.
“He’s a challenging one, isn’t he?” Lesva asked, as if they were still on friendly terms. “So aloof. Doesn’t he have any needs?”
Since Lesva was from another tribe, she might not know all the details of Jhiton's ex-mate and lost son, but Vorik had no interest in filling her in.
“He’s busy doing what’s best for our people.” Once on the ledge, Vorik faced outward instead of looking at Lesva.
“Is that stillyourprimary concern?”
“Despite what you think of me and my cock, of course.” Vorik hadn’t intended to let her know he’d heard that, but irritation made his tongue unwise.
Lesva chuckled and adjusted the blanket draped around her body—hernakedbody. Instead of more fully covering herself up,she let it shift aside, the starlight gleaming on the slight swell of her breasts and taut abdomen. “It’s a shameithas little loyalty to our people. I quite enjoyed my time with it.”
“But not the rest of my body?” Vorik looked over his shoulder, hoping Wise was on the way.
“It has some appealing features, and youknowI enjoyed your agility and athleticism under the furs. On that rock. In that tree. And, oh, halfway up a cliff. We’re lucky a wyvern didn’t come along and pluck us up that time since we didn’t appoint a sky watcher.”
Vorik eyed her, suspicious of what was, for her, good-natured ribbing. Considering the battle they’d engaged in before, he had a hard time believing she wasn’t holding a grudge.
“I do enjoy new partners,” Lesva said, “new experiences, if you will, but if you want me to remind you how much a stormer woman can make you holler, do let me know.”
“The last time we hollered, it was because we were in battle.”
“I found it stimulating.”
“Even when lightning struck the cliff, and you fell?”
“That was terrifying but exhilarating. And I survived. Few would have.”
“I agree. You’ve always been impressive, Lesva.”
