Page 120 of Of Masks and Fury

Packs on their backs, they strode toward the stream meandering along the edge of the open grassy area. Lakast and Kyreth soared over them, landing along the steam’s edge to their right, eager for fresh water after the long flight.

I gathered my magic and spun it outward, creating a ward that would tell me if anyone approached. The barrier settled into place with a soft pulse of power. Gavelle and Pherin followed the group toward the outcropping. I slid off the dragon’s back, careful to keep Isi secure in my arms.

She mumbled, pressing her face against my shoulder, but didn’t wake. Exhaustion still held her. She needed more rest. Needed care.

I would give her all of it.

Carrying her, I crossed the distance to the second set of hot springs beyond a large outcropping and made my way through a small bit of woods. Steam rose from multiple pools, but I knew which one I wanted. The smallest, tucked against the canyon wall where moss-covered rocks provided cushioning and night-blooming vines cascaded down in perfumed curtains.

Faelights drifted through the air, their soft glow adding to the bioluminescent plants. Stars spread overhead, visible through the gap in the canyon walls.

It was perfect. Warm. Safe. Ours.

I held her, letting the familiar mixture of strength and sweetness calm the predatory instincts that had been prowling beneath my skin since the moment her father put a blade to her throat. Soon, I would have the chance to erase every trace of fear and violence from her skin with my mouth. The thought made my body tighten with anticipation. I’d been restraining myself for so long, living on stolen kisses and careful touches, always mindful of guards and the need to keep her safe. But here, in this hidden sanctuary, I could finally let myself want her without fear.

I sat on the smooth rock edge with Isi still in my lap. She fit against me like she’d been made for this, her curves pressing into my chest, her weight a welcome burden I’d carry forever.

I kissed her cheek, breathing in her scent. Beneath the lingering smell of flight and fear, she smelled like sunshine. Like home.

“Isi,” I said softly. “Love. We’ve stopped.”

Her eyelids fluttered but didn’t open.

I kissed her forehead, trailing my lips over to her mouth. “We’re safe. You can wake up now.”

A soft sound escaped her. “Mmm?”

“That’s it.” I stroked her jaw. “Come back to me.”

Her lashes lifted slowly, revealing those pale blue eyes that had haunted my dreams since the moment we first met. Her hand reached for the pocket where she’d tucked a blade during the wedding, her fingers twitching before she recognized me and relaxed.

“Where…?” The word came out rough with sleep.

“Somewhere safe. A place that’s ours for tonight.”

She blinked, awareness returning in stages. I watched her remember the ceremony, the escape, and the flight. Her body tensed before she realized she was in my arms, truly safe.

“We made it,” she whispered. “But Eva… Addie…”

“We’ll make sure Eva is honored forever,” I said, stroking her back. “We’ll find Addie.”

Isi nodded, her tension easing. Gavelle flew overhead, and a faint ping hummed through the ward from distant Skathe movementbeyond the canyon. Would they always be a threat? I noted it, reinforced the barrier, and let it go. For tonight, they could wait.

“We made it.” I couldn’t stop touching her, sifting my fingers through her tangled hair, my other hand rubbing her lower back. “You were stunning today. Terrifying. Perfect.”

A sleepy smile curved her lips. “I trembled at the altar more than I would’ve liked, but I did hack off the skirt of my wretched wedding dress with a sword.”

“I noticed.” Heat bled into my voice. “When I watched you threaten those guards while holding only a blade, I’d never wanted anyone more.”

Her smile turned knowing, sleep fading as something warmer took its place.

“You interrupted my wedding with firecats and a dragon.” She shifted in my lap, straddling me, the new angle pressing her close. “The look on Lord Alfred’s face when Lakast landed was perfect. I’ll treasure that memory forever.”

“I’ll give you better memories.” My voice dropped, my gaze tracking to her lips. “Starting tonight. You’re worth a thousand dragon interruptions.”

Her expression shifted, the playful warmth giving way to heat. Her fingers tightened in my hair, and she pulled me down until our mouths were a breath apart. “I was terrified at the altar, afraid I’d fight but still not get away.”

“I was terrified I’d be too late,” I said, letting her see the vulnerability beneath my confidence. “That I’d arrive and you’d already be bound to him. That I’d have to watch you suffer because I wasn’t fast enough. That I’d lose you like I lost family before.”