“Because there’s more to do.” I try to keep the defiance from my tone, but it’s there. I know, because he reacts, his face hardening as he crosses his arms.
“There willalwaysbe more. Don’t you see that? Someone will always need help. But we can’t keep foregoing our life together.”
“Wearetogether.” I take his hand, pulling it from where he’s stuffed it against his ribs, and grip it in mine. “You and me. We’ve done all this together, and we can still do more.”
“But when is it enough? When willIbe enough for you? No quests, no journeys, no one to save. Just you and me. I thought once we found Clotty, then it would be over. But I was wrong. Now there’s another set of goals you’ve created before we can be together. Wyverns and Silmaran. And what else after that? Will you have us fight against Queen Aurentia?”
“Why not?”
“Why not?” He pulls his hand away, and it hits me hard. He’s never done that, never taken away his warmth and left me cold. “Because you’remortal, Beth.” His voice rises, but he takes a breath. I can feel him struggling to keep his calm. “You can’t keep testing the limits and expect to come out in one piece. And on top of that, we had a deal.”
“You’re really going to throwthatin my face?”
“Like you’ve never done the same?” he shoots back.
“It’s not going to be more than this. Once Silmaran is safe, we’re done. Okay?” I tangle my fingers together, my nerves wrecked from the look on his face, the strain in his words.
“You’re certain?”
“Certain.” I nod.
“Once this is done, you come with me to the winter realm like you promised?”
“Yes.” I hope the magic of our agreement will stretch to cover this. I mean, I’m not breaking it. Not really. I’m going to go with him. Just … not right this second.
He stands there for a long while, staring at me through the darkness. I try to hold his gaze, to make him believe every word I said. Just thisonething, and then we can start our mated life in the winter realm. That’s all.
Finally, he reaches out and strokes my cheek.
I close my eyes and lean into him, but I can’t mistake his feelings that tremble down the bond in waves of sadness and worry.
He drops his hand and heads to the bathing room, silently closing the door as I’m left reeling from the depth of his emotions and questioning whether I’m making the right choice.
13
Gareth
The wine here is particularly good. I take a drink straight from the bottle and stare at the low flames that dance in the courtyard. The sky is dark, a chill wind blowing from the west, and everyone is either fucking or sleeping.
Not me, though.
I’m drinking.
It was easy to find the cellar and bust through the locked door. Endless racks of bottles awaited. So, as Beth slumbers, I drink. I can feel her, her easy breathing, the way she twitches just a little, as if she’s having a vivid dream. Her warmth is my paradise, her embrace all I’ve ever wanted. But she puts distance between us. Not physically. No. She’s never denied me affection in that area. But I’ve finally realized that she pushes me away in a deviously clever way. Her way. By always finding something else to keep us from being alone in a mating nest, feasting on each other for days. No, she doesn’t want that. She doesn’t want me to see to every one of her needs. To handfeed her, love her, dote on her, wreck her body in the best way. Nope, none of that. Instead, we’re out here in the Spires-damned mines planning a suicide mission that will end with us roasted and eaten by wyverns. I take another big drink, the red pairing nicely with the sour disappointment in my stomach.
Heavy footsteps approach, and I grab my bottle before it topples over as Parnon stomps through the courtyard and sits beside me.
Once he’s settled, I offer him the bottle.
He grabs a fresh one from the table in front of us where I’ve lined up a dozen or so vintages. Ripping the cork out with his teeth, he downs half a bottle in one go.
I tip my bottle toward him in salute, then drain it.
We sit in silence for a while, and my eye is continually drawn to the peak of the Brute Volcano. A faint red glow emanates from within it, a wispy tendril of smoke teasing the stars as it floats ever upward. Wyverns. I shake my head and grab another bottle. There are wyverns in the winter realm. They have their own mountain range. Leander and I visited there once and barely made it out with our lives. We tried to convince the great winged wyrms to join us in the fight against Shathinor, but they refused. The ones here are probably just as cruel and selfish as their winter cousins.
Spitting the cork of my most recent selection, I then take a large gulp, some of the red wine spilling onto my bare chest.
Parnon belches. So do I.
