“That's a good point,” Councilman Teagan nodded. “Alright, we need to be at the site in a few hours; that's when Chepaney says he'll be ready. I'll go and choose a team to accompany us and set another to guard the Council House.”
“Wait,” I stopped him before he could leave. “You're coming with us?”
“Yes.”
“Councilman, I don't think that's a good idea,” I said gently.
“I know how to defend myself, Ambassador,” he smiled and flexed his bicep. “I'm in shape, remember?”
“Yes you are and I'm sure you can defend yourself but when was the last time you had to?” I shot back.
“It's been awhile,” he shrugged. “But it's just like the old saying of riding a bike,” he turned and left.
“Yeah, except if you fall off this bike, it's definitely fatal,” I grumbled.
“We'll watch over him,” Tiernan offered.
“I'd rather not have my attention divided,” I grumbled.
“It's mainly going to be a chase,” he went to the closet and pulled out his bag.
“I don't think so, honey,” I went to grab my things as well. “You heard him; this is an act of revenge.”
“Which means it's probably also a trap,” he shot me a look of sudden comprehension. “Ugh, why didn't that occur to me?”
“Because you're attention is already divided,” I grimaced.
“Damn Raza,” Tiernan snarled. “He's got me on edge. I can barely think straight. All that talk about challenging our commitment and then those damn creepy twins!”
“They are creepy, aren't they?” I agreed.
“Like a bunch of bogles,” he huffed.
“Hey,” I took his bag from him and laid it on the floor before grabbing his hands. “We got this, okay? We can handle Raza, there's nothing to worry about.”
“Really?” He lifted a brow. “Because I saw him pull you into the rose garden earlier today.”
“You saw that?” My face fell and heated.
“Seren,” Tiernan groaned.
“Sorry,” I sighed. “But if you saw that, then you also saw how I jerked away from him and bitch slapped him for his efforts.”
“Yeah, I did see that,” Tiernan smiled. “It was the only thing that stopped me from attacking him.”
“Raza is harmless as far as you and I are concerned,” I pulled Tiernan's head down to mine and kissed him. “This is real, this is what's important to me, not some make-believe fantasy that he's selling.”
“I love you,” Tiernan whispered. “I'm sorry if it makes me act irrationally sometimes.”
“I love you too,” I slid my hands up beneath his shirt and smiled wickedly “And if I have to prove it to you every day, I will.”
“Every day,” he scoffed and yanked me against his chest. “Try every few hours.”
My hands slid up his bare back as his mouth descended. I was overwhelmed by the physical sensations that came with loving Tiernan. Coffee and chocolate on his lips, the smooth marble of his muscles, warm flesh radiating the scent of amber and sandalwood into the air, the stunning shift of platinum hair deepening to midnight black like shadows turning into sunlight, and the flash of his silver eyes. Then the delicate tracery of his beautiful silver scar, running just beneath his right eye and across his cheek. Beauty and strength, honor and kindness, loyalty and love. That was Tiernan and he was mine. I wouldn't risk losing him for a thousand dragon-djinn.
He pulled away, his full lower lip pouting just a little and glistening from my kiss. I stared up at him and lifted my hand to the scar he'd learned to love through my eyes. He'd earned it while saving his mother from my grandmother and I thought it was a badge of his honor and bravery. He'd once thought it was a mark of shame but now he wore it with pride. And I was proud that my love had done that for him; changed something ugly into something beautiful.
“What are you thinking?” He asked softly.
