Isera’s voice drifts through my mind, echoing the words she spoke to Alistair after he told us about the fae who hurt him.If you point them out, I could always just shove an ice shard through their throats.
“So yeah, he’s a better man than I am,” Alistair finishes. Then he cuts me a sharp look. “But don’t tell him I said that.” He draws his pale brows down in a scowl. “Or the bossy bastard might start to think that I actually like him.”
I suppress a knowing chuckle. “Which you obviously don’t.”
“Obviously.”
“Uh-huh.”
As if he could hear us talking about him, Draven detaches himself from the crowd and strides over to us. When Lyra realizes that, she jogs after him as well. Galen, however, is still deep in conversation with Finlay. No doubt getting updates on the state of their forces.
Alistair and I straighten from the wall when Draven reaches us. I expect him to just say something, but instead, he slides hishand along my jaw, tilts my head back and kisses me. Right there in front of everyone.
My heart skips several beats, and I forget to breathe completely, which leaves me gasping when Draven at last breaks the kiss and pulls back.
“I’ve got to take care of a few clan business things that apparently can’t wait,” he simply says, as if kissing me like that in front of his entire clan is the most natural thing in the world. “Are you okay here for a little while? I’ll be back in like fifteen minutes.”
I’m still trying to recover from the incredible feeling of being kissed like that, so I have to draw in another breath while nodding before I manage to reply, “Yes, of course. Take all the time you need.”
“Good.” A mischievous smile tugs at his lips, and his eyes gleam. “Tonight, we’ll celebrate.”
I raise my eyebrows, a devilish smile on my own lips. “Celebrate? You? I thought the only thing you knew how to do was stare broodily at the horizon.”
He chuckles. Grabbing my jaw, he steals a possessive kiss from my lips. “Smartass.” Another dark laugh rumbles from his chest. “Well, I guess it’s already too late for you to watch your mouth now, little rebel. Because tonight, Iwillfind another use for it.”
A thrill ripples through my body.
“Ugh,” Alistair groans. “Seriously? I’m right here, guys.”
Draven claims one last kiss and then pulls back. However, before he can reply to Alistair’s comment, Lyra reaches us as well.
Her hair sways, brushing her shoulders, as she skids to a halt after the brisk jog and draws in a breath. “Alistair! You’ve gotta come meet my grandma. You’ll love her. She’s like me. But older. And, well, a little crazier.”
“Lyra,” Draven says before he can reply. He points towards a building on the left. “First, we have to handle?—”
“I know, I know,” she hurriedly says. There is still a wide smile on her lips and a bright sparkle in her eyes as she looks between Draven and Alistair. “Just give me a minute.”
Draven lets out a huff of amusement and then gives Alistair a look that seems to say,good luck. Then he flashes me a quick smile and starts walking towards the building he pointed at.
“Oh, and you have to meet my brothers too!” Lyra exclaims before Alistair has even had time to reply to her comments about her grandmother. “Did I mention that I have five older brothers?”
Next to me, Alistair’s face pales visibly.
“They’re not soldiers, though, so you don’t have to worry,” Lyra continues cheerfully. “They’re farmers.” She scrunches up her eyebrows. “Though generally, farmers are actually stronger than soldiers. So maybe worry a little. Anyway—” Cutting herself off, she grimaces as she glances towards where both Draven and Galen are already disappearing. “Shit, we’re already leaving.” She turns back to Alistair. “Okay, we’ll talk more about this later. Okay? Okay!”
Then she starts jogging off again.
Alistair, who still hasn’t been given the opportunity to get a single word out before now, just blurts out, “Wait!”
Turning around, she continues walking backwards while looking at Alistair and raising her eyebrows in silent question.
“Draven said that they would be celebrating tonight or something,” Alistair calls after her. “What willyoube doing tonight?”
“With any luck, you.” She winks at him.
Alistair practically catches fire. His entire face is a red so bright that it puts the setting sun to shame. Lyra just laughs and twirls around before jogging after Draven and Galen.
I try, and fail, to suppress a smile.
