"This is why you call him protector," Eva said.
Amusement danced in Sebastian's eyes.He does seem to fit the role.
Eva glanced at Caden, catching a glimpse of something that made her pause. There was a focused look on his face, as if he was listening to something.
"You can hear them?" Eva said, sounding sure.
Caden grabbed the hand she had raised to his, pulling her up in front of him. "A little."
Eva craned her head to look up at his face. "For how long?"
Caden's arms closed around Eva as Sebastian raced toward the sky.
"Not long. Their voices weren't clear before I arrived here. Just a buzzing I could almost hear."
The ancestral lands must have boosted his ability. It would be interesting to see if that effect lasted even when they left this place.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Eva asked, trying not to feel hurt.
"The same way you told me I died?"
Eva's mouth closed as guilt spread across her face. She looked away. "How did you know?"
He dropped his chin on her head. "Eva,alea na,death isn't exactly something you miss."
There was an edge of laughter in his voice that made Eva struggle to extract herself from his embrace.
"It would have been nice if you’d told me,” he chided gently, not letting her go. "I thought I was imagining things for a while."
Eva slumped against him. "I couldn't. They swore me to secrecy."
Which she was guessing no longer applied since he'd already figured it out.
Eva turned to face him. "They said they'd kill whoever I told. I wouldn't have kept it from you otherwise."
He framed her face with his hands, dropping a kiss onto her lips. "I understand."
Eva let herself sink into him, the kiss deepening until they were both breathless. When it was over, she hid her face in his neck as she leaned against him.
"How do you feel about this title they gave you?" she asked.
His chest rumbled under her ear. "I think it's quite appropriate since that's exactly what I am. Your protector."
His gaze was gentle as Sebastian aimed for the mist forming in the sky above.
"I will always protect you—and everything you love."
Their journey was short, the mist only lasting a short time before Sebastian broke through it. He flew until he found the valley where the Trateri had fought their battle.
Several warriors moved back and forth as they collected the dead and injured.
A glad cry went up as people caught sight of Eva and Caden on Sebastian's back.
Several people stood and waved. As they flew closer, Eva caught sight of Jason, Brisa trailing behind him slightly, as they raced for where Sebastian planned to land.
She had barely dismounted before both threw themselves into her arms. Eva stumbled, Sebastian's body behind her preventing her from falling.
I can't believe I left for such a short while and you managed to get yourself kidnapped,Sebastian grumbled.
