“That, too. Let’s not do that again. No, I meant if you’re gravely wounded in the heartlanding, you just wake up. No dying. Though that hurt something fierce.” He shudders at the memory.
She’s still in his arms, but her weeping seems to be slowing. “I can’t believe you got killed by a dragon, and we can’t even tell anyone.”
Laughter bursts from him at her words. “I did it while being heroic, too, and no one but you will ever know.”
“Just don’t do anything heroic like that in real life, all right?” She looks up at him, and her gray eyes glisten with her tears as she hurries to wipe them away.
“Don’t approach dragons, and I won’t have to.”
That elicits a smile, and his own mouth ticks up to match.
“I hope Cerian and Arisanna are faring better than we are,” she says softly in the dim light from her magic. It’s not as blinding as it was earlier.
“Well, we’re still alive, so we seem to be surviving. Do you think you can sleep more after that? It’s still a few hours until morning.”
Hopefully, they won’t find themselves back in a dragon’s hedge again tonight.
“I can try.” For a moment, she sits beside him on his bed, looking around as if just now realizing she practically flung herself at him. Heat spreads up his bare shoulders and neck to his face, and she climbs off the bed.
“Right. Sorry about...that. Goodnight, Rominy.”
He watches her go, and it’s a while until sleep comes for him again.
A Good Reason to Be Late
Episode 17
Theairischillyagainst Arisanna’s cheeks as she burrows deeper under the covers, gravitating to the warmth beside her.
Then her eyes flash open. Cerian.
Asleep. Beside her. Close enough to touch. Her knee actually seems to be pressed against his leg. Granted, they’re both wrapped up in their own blankets, but still.
They must have fallen asleep while looking at the stars. Hopefully, he doesn’t panic when he wakes.
Not that it matters where they’re sleeping or that they’re touching.
They’re married.
Forever.
This is just the first of many mornings waking to his pointed ears and long, dark hair, though she didn’t think it would happen so soon, especially after he suggested waiting to...bond.
For a moment, she studies his face in the morning light. The way his dark lashes rest against his smooth cheeks. The pale rosiness of his lips. The line of his jaw all the way to his pointy ear.
What does his ear feel like? Is it firm but flexible, like a human ear?
She’s sure not going to find out without his permission.
What time is it, anyway? Judging by the height of the sun on the horizon, it’s not exactly dawn. They must have stayed awake later than she realized to sleep for so long.
Movement catches her eye, and she turns her face back to Cerian as his eyelids flutter open. For a few moments, neither of them says anything.
“Good morning,” Arisanna eventually whispers. “I think we fell asleep gazing at the stars.”
He still says nothing, but at least he hasn’t panicked or run away, either.
“Are you warm enough?” she asks, unsure what else to say to fill the awkward silence.
