“You did the right thing. He was lying.”
“But what if he wasn’t? She’ll think I picked you over her, because I did.”
“Listen—”
“And your warriors.” I pulled away, my lip quivering. “Did I kill them trying to help you?”
He cupped my face. “Stop.”
“I can’t. Adragontalked to me. It felt like a dream, but now I’m not sure.”
“A dragon?”
“Yeah, he was crazy. He wanted me to kneel and burned me when I didn’t do it?—”
His forehead pressed against mine. “Slow. Down.”
I breathed too fast, black spots dancing at the edges of my vision.
“Breathe with me.”
His chest expanded slowly. I tried to match it and gasped.
“Again.”
I finally took a full breath, my lungs expanding without the sharp edge of panic. I sank into his arms and started shaking. Silent, violent tremors that I couldn’t control.
His hand moved through my hair. Down my spine. Back up. Over and over. Eventually, the trembling stopped, and I was hollow and exhausted, curled against him. He leaned down and kissed my temple.
“Show me,” he whispered.
I blinked, dazed.
“The bargain. I need to see it.”
I nodded, but when I shifted, my breast brushed against his arm. I froze as heat exploded across my face.
I wasn’t cold anymore. Everywhere we touched was like fire and gods, I felt every single place our bodies connected. His hard thighs under mine and his breath fluttering my hair.
My heart pounded.
“Where is it?” he asked roughly.
“Just below my ribs.”
I had to move back to show him, which meant exposing myself. Gritting my teeth, I eased from his chest.
Warm light flared as he conjured a glowing orb, baring my curves to him. I crossed my arms over my breasts, forcing myself stay still.
His eyes dipped to the rune on my abdomen. He stared at it, and his throat bobbed.
“Fuck,” he breathed.
Then he stroked my stomach, tracing the rune’s pattern. I flinched at the heat of his rough fingers.
I bit my lip.
He was tense, too. He wouldn’t look anywhere but the rune.
