I lifted the note, but I was crying too hard to see what he’dwritten. Sniffing, I used the corner of my nightgown to wipe my face, my eyes.
And then I could see. I read it aloud because he was here with me. Or he had been. He’d reached out and touched me one last time before slipping away to a place I had to believe was better.
“Love you.” My whisper echoed around me before it dissipated into the chill morning air.
With the note held aloft, I read his final words.
In a dragon’s wings, I see your courage.
In its fiery scales, your strength.
And in its heart, your infinite grace.
Stars wink out and new ones shine.
There’s nothing more certain in life than that.
When the wind whispers through your hair, know it’s me, Reyla.
And smile.
“He knew,”I sobbed. “He knew.” I didn’t know how, but he’d suspected something horrible would happen. He left this for me, maybe right before we climbed onto our dragons for that last raid. “I wish you’d told me so I could’ve held you one last time.”
I laid the note on the bed and scooted to Farris, burying my face in his soft, warm fur.
And I cried.
Something thudded on my window,and I whipped my head up, turning to look in that direction.
Merrick was pressing his face against the glass. “Let me in?”
“What are you—” I leaped off the bed and lifted the sash, latching onto his tunic. Leaning backward, I hauled while he scrambled his feet against the stones, using his strong hands to tug himself up and in through the opening.
I fell backward with him landing on top of me.
He braced himself on his palms and looked down at me, studying my face. “You were crying. I had to come to you. Let me kill someone to make you feel better.”
“You didn’t walk down the hall to get here.” Why was I still crying? Maybe because he was looking at me as if he’d burn the world around us as long as I’d give him a smile.
He eased back onto his knees and ran his knuckles from my jawline to my nape. “Tell me why you’re sad. I’ll do anything to help you feel better.”
“I was going through some keepsakes from Kinart.”
He glanced toward the pack sitting on the bed, the treasures from my lost love scattered beside it. “Show me?”
He wanted to see things another man gave me? Merrick truly was special.
“I will.”
Rising, he tugged me up off the floor and urged me over to the bed. He sat first and patted his lap. “Come on. Show me. Tell me about him and what you two shared together.”
“Some men would find it odd to talk about a woman’s past lover with her.” I climbed onto the bed and settled on his lap, his arms going around me, holding me as if I was precious while his chin dropped onto my shoulder.
His chest rumbled when he spoke. “I’m not jealous. I’m grateful you had someone who loved you before you found me.”
“He died. He was murdered, and I think he knew it was going to happen.” Lifting the note, I read it out loud, my voice croakyyet hushed. It hurt to speak Kinart’s last words, but it also felt good.
“That’s beautiful,” Merrick said. “He’s right. You’re as fierce as a dragon. Also as sly as a nyxin and as conniving as…”
