“I said,” he interrupted again, quieter now, steadier, “no one has before.” Something soft settled in his expression. “But you can.”
I bit my lip, watching for any hint of discomfort. “Are you sure?”
A warm, boyish grin split his face, and gods, it made him look so much younger.
“Definitely.”
I laughed then, quick and startled, but real. “Okay. Good luck getting me to stop.”
He groaned, dragging a hand down his face in exaggerated despair. “I’ve just made a mistake, haven’t I?”
“Absolutely.” I grinned, sitting back with a smug little hum. “Monumental, really. You’ll never live this down.”
Linc shook his head, still smiling. “I can already hear Fenric’s voice in my nightmares.”
“Is that so?” I raised a brow, teasing.
“Yes. If he hears you call methat.” He glared at me, faux-serious. “I’ll never know peace again.”
“Oh, we’re definitely telling Fenric,” I said, unable to suppress the wicked glee in my voice. “In fact, I think I’ll make it a point to use your new nickname exclusively in his presence.”
“You’re evil,” Linc muttered, but his shoulders were shaking with suppressed laughter. “Pure evil.”
“I prefer ‘strategically vindictive,’” I corrected primly. “It sounds more sophisticated.”
“That’s not better.”
“Wait. What does your boyfriend call you?” I raised a brow. “Something romantic?”
Linc’s entire body went rigid. “Absolutely not.”
“Come on.” I leaned forward slightly, close enough that my whisper would carry over the wind. “What is it? Darling? Sweetheart?”
“I will throw myself off this dragon before I ever tell you that,” he said through gritted teeth, though I caught the way his ears had gone pink at the tips.
“You’re wounded, remember? You’d never survive the fall.” I was practically purring with amusement now. “Besides, Kaelen would just catch you and put you right back up here with me. Wouldn’t you, Kaelen?”
Lincatheron muttered what sounded distinctly like a prayer for divine intervention.
“Without hesitation,”Kaelen rumbled in response.“I’m rather invested in this conversation now.”
“Is it something embarrassingly sweet?” I pressed. “Something that makes you blush every time he says it? Oh gods, does he call you honey? Baby? My fierce little warrior?”
“I’m going to murder you both,” Linc said, but his voice cracked slightly on the words. “Slowly. Painfully. With great satisfaction.”
“You’re deflecting,” I pointed out. “Which means it’s definitely something mortifying. This is even better than I hoped.”
He twisted in the saddle again to glare at me properly, wincing as the movement pulled at his bandages. “You are a menace. An absolute plague upon my existence.”
“And you wouldn’t have it any other way,” I shot back with a grin.
“You know what?” he said, settling back in the saddle with a rueful shake of his head. “You’re absolutely right. Gods help me, but I actually enjoy having someone around who’s not afraid to give me shit.”
“Well, you’re in luck,” I said cheerfully. “I have an endless supply of shit to give.”
“Wonderful,” he muttered, but a smile tugged at his lips. “Just what my life was missing. A friend with no sense of self-preservation and a complete disregard for military hierarchy.”
“Best kind of friend to have,” I said. “The kind who’ll patch you up after battle and mock you relentlessly while doing it.”
