He crouched beside the basin and tilted his head at her, smiling.
“Is Mama enjoying her moment of peace away from her little dragons?”
“I’mbathing,” she corrected with a smirk.
His gaze dropped, sweeping over her exposed legs, the curve of her shoulder. “Then I’ve come to assist.”
“The boys–”
“Are finishing their chores before I take them out flying again.”
Elowen understood. This moment was for them, and there would be no interruptions. Midas reached forward, cupped his hands into the water, and poured it gently down her shoulder. She shivered beneath the warmth, watching the rivulets trail down her skin.
“You’re good at learning,” she whispered. “And teaching too, as we’ve discovered.”
His hands trailed through the water again, then over her arms, gently. Her fingers found his jaw, traced the faint lines of his face.
“It’s been a long time since it was just you and I.”
His eyes softened. “I know.”
She leaned into his hand. “We’ve been so focused on healing…on the boys…”
“And I would do it all again,” he said. “Every second.”
“I would too.” She reached up and brushed a wet strand of hair from her face. “But I’ve missed you.”
He kissed her then. The kind of kiss that didn’t demand anything except to befelt.
“I’m right here, my heart,” he whispered against her lips.
Her hands curled around his neck, pulling him closer, and he slid into the basin with her, shifting their bodies so she was resting in his lap as the water sloshed around their thighs. His forehead pressed to hers. His breath was slow and steady against her lips.
“I want more,” she whispered.
He opened his eyes and cocked his head to the side in that curious way he did in his dragon form, following him in this state.
“I want to do it again. To build something new.”
Midas stared at her. Not confused. Just stunned by the hope in her voice.
“You…wish for more children?” he asked, voice low.
“I do.” She cupped his cheek. “I loved carrying them. Raising them. Watching them become themselves. And I see how you look at them, Midas. How proud you are. And it would be my honor to fill our pride with so many more of our perfect children.”
His throat moved in a slow swallow. “I would love to have more,” he said. “But you…are you sure, Elowen? The birth…”
He shuddered at the memory. Elowen leaned in, kissed him again—deeper this time. The wet fabric of her dress turned hot between them. She pressed her palm to his chest, right over his heart.
“I would go through it all again without a second thought, Midas.”
They stayed like that in the water for a long time—trading kisses and touches, breath warming breath. Their moment winded down just as the twins came looking for them, and Midas left his mate with a loving kiss before taking to the skies with his sons once more.
The cave was dimly litby the dying fire, its golden light flickering along the walls. The boys had long since fallen asleep, curled into each other like twin seeds tucked into the same earth. Their soft breaths rose and fell in perfect rhythm, wrapped in furs and dreams.
Midas lay behind Elowen on their shared nest of blankets, his arm draped loosely over her waist, his bare chest warm against her back. Elowen shifted slightly, pressing her hand to his where it rested against her stomach.
“Did you mean it?” she whispered.
