It’s hard to imagine Queen Nestraya like that, but Rominy doesn’t question Elowyn. The elven queen was rumored to be a fierce warrior once, after all.
“I love you,” he says softly instead. “Do you...want to talk about it?”
It takes her a few moments to respond. “It’s hard being so far from my family right now. My parents tried to prepare me for everything, but...” Looking away, she sighs and shrugs.
She seems so lost standing there. He just wants to wrap his arms around her and somehow make everything all right. “I won’t burn myself if I touch you, will I?”
With a soft smile, she shakes her head. “I’m better now.”
He pulls her to his chest, and she leans into him. She’s still warm but not fiery like she was. They haven’t done this much—the comforting touch of companionship. It feels right.
Everything about Elowyn feels right.
“I probably shocked you with that kiss,” she whispers against him. “I think I got carried away.”
He laughs at her understatement. “It was a little shocking. But I’m not complaining. At all. I didn’t want to stop you, so don’t you dare apologize.” After a moment, he adds, “I feel ridiculous in leather.”
She looks up at him and shakes her head. “You set me on fire. I like you in leather.”
The way she looks at him now threatens to ignite his own burning heat again as the memory of her hands sliding against his flesh fills his head.
Slowly, he breathes out, and she rests her hand over his heart and takes a deep breath of her own.
“I think you promised to paint my eyes,” he whispers once his racing pulse has slowed. “Because we’re chasing dragons, love. And tonight, I’m a Prince of Lostariel.”
Her face lights up in that gorgeous smile of hers and sets his heart racing all over again as she tugs him back to the mirror to finish turning him into a prince of the elves.
LetRominythinkwhateverhe wants. He wears ayervadi leather as well as any elf Elowyn has seen. And when she finishes lining his eyes with korathite, which is such an intimate act all on its own, it takes all her willpower not to throw herself at him again.
Her fire magic is quieter now after she let off some heat during that diatribe of hers. Hopefully, Rominy didn’t understand most of what she said as she berated her fire magic. Still, the heat simmers just beneath the surface, and she doesn’t dare let it out again right now.
Besides, their dragon is waiting.
“That...is a startling transformation,” Rominy says as he studies his reflection. “My mother would faint if she saw me right now.” He turns toward Elowyn. If he’s noticed her racing heart, he hasn’t said anything. “What do you think? Will I pass as an elf?”
As she steps closer, a smile turns up the corner of his mouth, and something deep within her belly tightens. “You don’t need to be an elf to be a prince among my people, Rominy. Who you are is enough.”
How many times she heard that as an elfling.Who you are is enough.It warms her heart to say it to Rominy now. Will she say it to their own younglings someday?
“I appreciate your vote of confidence,” he says. “Would it be forward of this prince to ask for a fortifying kiss before he faces near-certain death?”
There’s a teasing glint in his eyes, but it doesn’t mask the longing he keeps trying to hide.
She shoves back her fire magic and lifts her lips to his in a soft kiss, though she doesn’t linger, and he doesn’t ask her to.
Instead, he smiles and offers her his hand. “Lead the way, love.”
Every time he calls her that, her pulse quickens. He must feel it, too. But he says nothing, and together they make their way outside.
It’s dark beyond their magic-lit cottage, and the garden is quiet, save for the croaking of frogs in the small pond at the edge of the hedge. Rominy’s hand tightens around hers, and she creates an orb of yellow light in front of them to illuminate their path.
“Now remember, I have magic,” she says. “While I appreciate your valor, I never wish to watch you die again.” She glances up in time to see him gulp as he nods.
“You’d better not die either.”
Something dark crosses his eyes, and she stops walking, tugging him closer. “Rominy, I am fine. I am not dying. You promised not to dwell on it.”
“I’m trying not to. Let’s keep going. Give me something else to focus on.”
