Page 105 of Gilded Curses

“There’s been no word of Kaylia and Brokk?” Sahira asked.

“No,” Cole said as he stared at Orin with a furrowed brow. “Some of the rescue parties who went into Doomed Valley to search for them haven’t returned either, but their bodies were all retrieved. All the dragons who entered the Valley have returned.

“There’s been no sign of Kaylia, Brokk, or their party. I’d search for them, but I can’t leave Dragonia. The realms still aren’t completely stable, and if word got out that I was gone, some idiot might decide they could try to take over.”

Lexi squeezed his arm. “And they’d be wrong.”

“I’ve gone a couple of times,” Varo said, “and found nothing.”

Orin rubbed his freshly shaven chin. “After some rest, I’ll go search for him.”

Sahira almost protested his words. They were finally home, they’d just gotten free, and she so badly wanted to enjoy that freedom, but she couldn’t stop him from going after his brother. She would do the same if Del was missing. So she wouldn’t let Orin go alone.

“How have things been here?” Orin asked.

“Mostly quiet,” Cole answered. “We’ve allied with the merfolk and are working on the berserkers and warlocks, but they’re being stubborn. There are rumors of another growing rebellion.”

“Nothing substantiated… yet,” Del said.

“That’s good,” Orin said.

Cole’s uncle, Maverick, pointed between Orin and Sahira. “And you two are…?”

Sahira was curious about who would ask first; she wasn’t surprised it was Maverick. The lycan wasn’t known for subtlety, but no lycans were.

She didn’t answer as she waited for Orin’s response. She knew what he’d said to her in Epoch, but they were free now, and things could change. He might decide he’d prefer to be single.

And even if he didn’t, she had no idea what exactly they were to each other. Boyfriend and girlfriend sounded too casual after everything they’d endured, but they weren’t engaged; marriage had never been mentioned, so she didn’t know what to say.

Orin squeezed her hand as he stared at everyone around the table. “Are together.” His gaze held a challenge when it settled on Del. “And it’s going to stay that way.”

Every eyebrow in the room shot up as their jaws dropped again. Relief filled Sahira as she smiled at him. Together, that’s what they were to each other, and it was perfect.

“Holy shit,” Lexi whispered.

“That sums up how we feel about it, too,” Orin quipped.

The others laughed uneasily while they continued to stare incredulously between them. Eventually, they relaxed and settled into the situation, but their astonishment lingered in the room.

After a couple more hours passed in a blur of food, laughter, and love, Sahira was too exhausted to continue sitting with the others. Stifling a yawn, she lifted Shade as she rose from her chair. The promise of a big, inviting bed and sleep without fear of something trying to kill her was too alluring to resist anymore. The cat rubbed her chin before jumping from her arms.

“I need some sleep,” Sahira said.

Del also rose from his chair. “I’ll walk up with you.”

“So will I,” Orin said.

Sahira rested her hand on Orin’s shoulder. She wanted some time alone with Del. “No, stay with your brothers. I’ll see you soon.”

CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT

Still half in and half out of his chair, Orin hesitated. He didn’t like having her out of his view and was afraid Del might say something to upset her, but he nodded his agreement.

The siblings would have to be alone eventually and needed to work this out between them. Besides, he should learn as much as he could about Doomed Valley before entering it, and if Del upset her, he’d make the vamp pay for it.

He rested his hand over hers before shooting Del a look that promised death if he fucked this up. Then he kissed Sahira’s hand. “I’ll see you soon.”

She released his shoulder and took the arm Del offered her.