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She went still. 'Why?' He'd flinched earlier when she'd touched him … that was probably why. But he'd changed his mind somewhere along the way … when they'd sat atop the thrones. She'd learned long ago not to second guess the thoughts of others, for guesses were usually wrong, or at least, not the whole truth. But … was he regretting this already?
Fyia shivered, cold hitting her both inside and out. Cal wrapped his arms around her and kissed her gently before resting his forehead against hers. 'Do you want to?' he said.
She was suddenly unsure. Moments before, she'd been determined, had wanted nothing more in the world. She rarely thought too much about these things. Sex was pleasure, nothing more. But maybe he was right, because this did feel dangerously close to more. She needed Cal politically, for the good of her kingdoms, and he was going to help her find the dragons. He clearly had resources that would help—not least a room full of invaluable dragon scales—and she didn’t have jurisdiction over him … couldn't send him away if it got messy, like she'd done with Adigos.
She kissed him again, drawing strength and heat and comfort from his lips, but she didn’t press for more … didn't deepen the kiss, or tip her hips against him. She pulled back with resignation in her eyes, then stood, tearing herself away, almost every part of her wanting to remain in his embrace. 'You're right,' but most of her didn't believe those words, because the phantom feel of his lips still lingered, and she longed to feel them on every part of her.
Fyia crouched next to a hot spring, hovering her hand over the top. The heat was such that it would burn if she touched it. No bath in that one. She continued around the cavern, from pool to pool, but they were all the same—scorching.
She sighed as she turned back to Cal, then redressed. 'They're all too hot.' Her cruel mind played pictures of sinking into deliciously warm, bubbling water, and then she shuddered, the cave not freezing like upstairs, but not overly warm either, despite the hot pools.
'We can sleep here and return in the morning,' said Cal. He chewed on a slice of dried reindeer he'd retrieved from his cloak. She nodded, having no desire to return to the real world a tick before they had to.
Cal lay down, his back pressed against a large dragon scale that had tipped onto its side, and patted the ground beside him. 'We can share the cloak, and our body heat,' he said, no hint of innuendo in his tone. It must happen all the time in the north … needing to share body heat and no more.
Fyia's stomach flipped as she lay next to him, her back against his chest. He wrapped the cloak around them, cocooning her in his arms, and Fyia nearly purred from happiness. He was a furnace, and he smelled like winter celebrations. She wondered what he'd do if she tasted his skin. Flinch most likely, and maybe even move away. She couldn't bear the thought, so instead, she wrapped her arms over his. She listened to the sound of his breaths, felt the beats of his heart, and let the steady rise and fall of his chest lull her to sleep.
Chapter Fourteen
SENSIS SWIPED HER SWORDleft, then right, the streets of Medris—Moon's capital—no longer safe to walk at night … or during the day, if she was honest. Tonight, the rebels were particularly active … they were up to something, but Sensis didn't know what, and the Spider had sent no word.
She ran the hundred paces to the military academy, calling for the guards to open the pedestrian gate. The archers on the battlements rained a volley of arrows into the road behind her. Sensis heard bodies thudding to the ground, but couldn't afford a glance back to look at them.
She reached the safety of the academy's walls, glad to leave behind the stench and filth and danger of the streets. Until recently, every inch of Medris had sparkled in the midday sun, scores employed to make it so. Since Fyia had decreed women could become guild members, join the military, and attend the university, things had gone south. Not only had the street cleaners disappeared—presumably to join the rebels, or maybe because they feared them—but much of the food produced by the high houses of Moon was mysteriously going missing.
Officially, the houses blamed the rebels, but none seemed to be suffering financially from the so-called losses, and the Spider's spies reported increased export shipments to the Kraken Empire and the Scorpion Lands. Those who did suffer were the city's poor, who had little choice but to turn to the rebels for aid … rebels who didn’t seem to be going short themselves.
'Any update on the supplies?' Sensis asked her commander. She'd been trying to get aid into the city—aid from their Queen, so Fyia didn't lose all support here—but the glasshouses of Moon produced most of their surplus food.
Sensis had asked Starfall to either ban exports and seize supplies, or import more from their trading partners, but so far, she'd received no answer.
'This came for you.' He handed her a piece of parchment bearing Starfall's wax seal.
Sensis scanned the letter, and her stomach sank. So much for importing from the Empire.
'What is it?' asked the commander.
'The Emperor's attacked the Kingdom of Sea Serpents. Lady Starfall has put a ban on all trade with the Kraken Empire, and ordered troops to the front.' The bulk of Fyia's army camped near Selise, as Fyia's new capital city had been their best guess as to where the Emperor would attack. Every day the attack hadn't come, a kernel of hope had grown in her chest that the intelligence had been wrong, or that the Emperor had chased Fyia north instead.
Sensis had been wrong to hope. It would take many days for the army to get to the coast of Sea Serpent, by which time it would be too late. They would have to fight a long, protracted war to retake their lands, all while giving the rebels more ammunition against Fyia's rule.
On the upside, at least the high houses could no longer sell their "stolen" food shipments to the Empire. Maybe it would even hurt their pockets enough for some to consider lending Fyia support. Not to mention, Sea Serpent were the financiers and suppliers of wines, perfumes, and fine liquors to the world. The high houses of Moon wouldn't like it if they had to go without those things.
'I must go to the capital,' said Sensis. 'You're in charge while I'm gone. Intelligence continues to be our top priority, along with protecting the women joining the guilds and university, and winning hearts and minds. But most importantly, we must find the head of the rebel snake, so we can cut it clean from its body.'
'Yes, General,' said the commander. Unfortunately, Sensis had a good idea who sat at the head of the snake, and he rarely came out of his hole.
'The Emperor has set up shop in the Temple of the Sea Serpent, and has seized much of the surrounding land,' said the Spider. 'He's insisting on meeting with Fyia, and has agreed to hold off on further military advances until after that meeting.'
'At least that gives the army time to move closer,' said Starfall, looking at her hands.
Lord Venir scoffed, as did Lady Nara, the only other members of the small council currently in Selise. Starfall was apprehensive about pulling Sensis out of Moon, given the unrest there, but she had little choice; the Emperor was the greater threat.
'War in my home kingdom is not desirable,' said Lady Nara, barely containing her fury.
'War is not desirable anywhere, child,' said Starfall.
'We cannot afford fighting in the streets as we have seen here in our capital, and in Moon,' Nara continued. 'The costs are simply too great.'
