There was probably a potion she could brew for that. But I would never make that suggestion. I liked being her personal heat source.
When night eventually fell and the moons were high in the sky, we pulled aside to make camp. We set up a small tent we had purchased from a supply shop, along with a small mat to lay on. Our bodies barely fit inside, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hex was left in the carriage, tucked inside the cauldron with the dragon eggs. They spent a lot of time around the eggs—squishing around them, poking at them, simply sitting near them. It was strangely endearing.
Kizzi and I laid there, face to face, legs entwined. Our faces were close enough to share breaths, but neither of us moved.
Our eyes locked in the dark. I reached out a hand, brushing an errant lock of hair from her face. I allowed my fingers to linger there, tracing idly over the pointed shell of her ear.
I just wanted to touch her.
“Your eyes are so pretty,” I murmured. “Like fresh grass.”
She cracked a smile. “Are you flirting with me?”
“I’ve been flirting with you for years.”
“Really?” She looked perplexed. After a long moment, she snorted out a laugh. “You’re not very good at it. I thought you were just being nice.”
“I’m nice to everyone,” I agreed.
“Exactly!”
“But I’mextranice to you.”
“Are you?”
“You never noticed?” I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I hadn’t thought I was being subtle.
“Well… no I didn’t.”
I picked up another curl, rolling her soft hair between my fingers. “Would it have made a difference? If you had known?”
She considered this. “I don’t know. It’s hard to tell.”
I hummed in contemplation. “The fates have a way of pulling our strings,” I mused.
Her eyes dipped to my mouth, and then bounced back up to my eyes. “They do,” she agreed.
My blood warmed. “I’m glad you invited me on this trip with you.” I flexed my arm obnoxiously. “Thank the Old Gods you needed my muscles so badly.”
Her mouth spread in a wide, sweet grin. “I’m glad too,” she agreed. “It would’ve been a drag by myself.”
I slid my hand down to her waist, tugging her closer. “Admit it. You like having me around.”
Her smile became shy, her cheeks warming. “Fine. I like having you around.”
Warmth flooded my chest. “I knew it,” I joked.
“You like me more, though,” she insisted.
“I’m not going to argue with you there.”
And then I pulled her into a kiss, pressing my mouth to her impossibly soft lips.
Waves crashed against shore in a soothing rhythm, spraying a fine mist of salty water into the air.
My boots crunched against sand as I dropped from Nightmare’s back. Kizzi was already wandering to the shore, yanking off her boots and pulling up her trousers so she could dip her toes in the water.
