Page 147 of The Infernal Battalion

“She and Winter...”

Marcus nodded. “From what I hear.”

“Then for her sake I hope you’re right, and this isn’t all some trick of Janus’.”

“Me too.” Marcus shook his head. “Cora really helped you beat the King of Borel?”

Raesinia snorted. “More like I helped her. And mostly just because I’ve got a nastier mind than she does.” She grinned. “She helped us track down Maurisk’s people, remember?”

“I knew she had a head for figures,” Marcus said. “But... you’d better make sure she never falls into the wrong hands.”

“Don’t worry. Cora’s a good person. If not for my bad influence, I think she’d be entirely virtuous.”

Marcus chuckled. “That’s reassuring.”

They sat quietly for a moment. There was something in the air, a hum of tension Raesinia could practically feel in her bones.

“Well,” Marcus said. “I should go get some sleep myself.”

“You could,” Raesinia said, swallowing. “Or you could stay.”

“Stay?” Marcus said. “In your cabin?”

“Stay,” Raesinia repeated, watching him carefully. He can’t be that dense. “In, as you say, my cabin.”

“Ah.” Marcus glanced at the door. “People will notice.”

“I don’t care anymore.” Raesinia took a deep breath. “With everything you and I have been through trying to save this country, I think we’re entitled to... some latitude, don’t you?”

“That’s one way of putting it.”

Raesinia got out of her chair and went over to him. Sitting, he was only a little taller than she was, which made it easy to lean in and kiss him. This time, Marcus didn’t pull away.

When they broke apart at last, Raesinia reached for the hem of her shirt. Thankfully, her shipboard wear was considerably less formal than the dresses she’d worn in the Keep, and she was able to pull it and her undershirt over her head in one smooth motion, without spending an hour undoing tiny buttons.

Marcus stared, his expression suddenly unreadable. Raesinia felt her skin pebble into goose bumps, and she fought a sudden urge to cover herself. Spending her whole life being dressed by servants had left her without a lot of body modesty, but here, now, she suddenly wished she was a little more... mature. Why couldn’t I have died a year or two later?

“Marcus?” Raesinia said.

“Sorry.” He shook his head gently. “It’s just...”

“Am I not...?” Raesinia swallowed hard. “Is it too strange? The way I look?”

“What?” He bounded out of the chair and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close with a surprised squeak. “No. Raes, no. You’re beautiful.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

Flushing under his beard, he looked down at her. “I just thought... You really want this? With me?” He gestured at himself with one hand. “I’m not...”

“Oh, for God’s sake.” Raesinia rolled her eyes, then went in for another kiss, standing on her toes. Marcus’ hands gripped her shoulders and slid down her arms, his thumbs brushing inward across the slim curve of her breasts. Raesinia shivered.

“I should warn you,” she said, her mouth near his ear. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“Really?” He stood up a little straighter. “I thought you spent a year slumming it at the University. You must have learned something.”

“I mean, I understand the... mechanics. But I never thought it really applied to me.”

“Well,” Marcus said, leaning toward her again, “I’m not an expert. But I can offer a little instruction.”