Donavyn had told Akhane to have me come to the apartment after dinner, so I decided to eat with my brothers, then return to the stable for an hour before going to him. Though I was itchy to see him again, I wanted to be there if someone came looking.
Other than that, I just prayed the queen didn’t get any bright ideas about a night time training. Ineededto see Donavyn.
As night fell, and the cool twilight turned dark, I finally made it to the apartment, clutching the parcel as my excuse in case I was seen.
I marched up to his floor as I would if I’d been sent with a delivery, then made sure the hallway was clear, before opening the door and stepping inside.
I’d half expected Donavyn to be waiting for me in the bedchamber, but instead, lights blazed in the living room. He stood in the warm light of two lanterns, hunched over the dining table where two or three large maps had been spread out, the edges held down with brass weights to keep them from rolling back up.
His hair was down, which meant he’d already bathed. His great shoulders rolled forward as he leaned on the table, one leg braced, the other bent, frowning at the map in front of him.
I closed the door quickly and he heard the click, turning to look over his shoulder, his eyes lighting up when I dropped my bundle to the side and walked straight to his side.
“What’s going on?” I asked, a little disappointed that he hadn’t swept me straight into a kiss. But the expression on his face made it clear he focused on something important.
“I’m choosing our flight path into Fyrehold,” he rumbled, turning back to the map as I leaned against his shoulder and hugged his arm. “I want to make sure we’re not observed on our way.”
Nerves. Thrill.Terror.I frowned and tried to press all the emotions down, to focus like he was. “Can’t we just fly straight in? They know we’re coming.”
“We could. But it’s always smart to draw as little attention as possible. If Fyrehold is working with another nation against us and informs them of our coming—or if our mole becomes aware of our mission and its timing—other agents might lay in wait for us. I’m a target for political leverage. I think it’s only smart to be cautious. Besides, I want a chance to establish a base outside the palace—which we can’t do if they see us coming.”
“I’m getting instruction in that tomorrow,” I said softly, leaning into him. “So I should be able to help with that part.”I’m here. I’m going with you. I never want to leave you—
With a final glance at the map, and as if he’d heard my thoughts, though I hadn’t sent them through the bond, Donavyn straightened from his lean on the table and turned to pull me close, wrapping his arms around me.
For a moment we just held each other. The stress of the day eased out of me with every breath I was clasped against him. I felt the tension draining out of my muscles and let myself exhalefully, releasing some of the fear, planting my face at the center of his chest.
He rubbed hands up and down my back, his head resting on the top of mine.
Moments like that were precious—we had so few of them—but being in his arms and pressed against his raw strength never failed to make my stomach trill.
I lifted one hand to toy with his button just under my chin, rolling it under my finger, then popping it free before looking up to meet his eyes and smile.
“You need to rest,” he said gruffly, though I could see the light igniting behind his eyes.
“That’s exactly what I’m hoping we can dotogether,”I said, and popped another of his buttons.
He growled and his hands slid to my hips. At first I thought he’d push me away, but instead he just held me against him and stared into my eyes.
‘I wouldn’t call thatresting,’he sent, but even in the bond I could hear the smile in his voice.
“It might help you sleep?” I murmured, somehow unable to put into words the coil of emotion knotting in my chest. I popped another button so that the sides of his shirt fell open at the top, baring a triangle of his chest.
He grunted, but didn’t move.
With a sigh I stepped back and kept hold of only one of his hands to pull him towards the bedroom, but his grip tightened on my hand and he tugged me to a stop. When I turned to look a question at him, he gave one of those low rumbles of approval and pulled me back against him, cupping my face and descending on me with hunger.
My body flared with need and I arched into him, tilting my head to deepen the kiss, sighing happily when he began to undress me.
Then he dropped his chin to kiss my neck as he pushed my leathers down, and I leaned back in his arms and whispered. “Let’s go to bed.”
“I have a better idea,” he growled, his breath tickling my ear as his stubble abraded my jaw. Then, before I could answer, he gripped my ass in both hands and lifted me. Then, still standing next to the table, my legs wrapped around his waist, he pulled out of the kiss and muttered a curse as he turned. One of his hands shot out and he plucked one, then another of those weights off the side of the maps.
The heavy papers hissed as they rolled up, towards the still-weighted end, neatly clearing the table.
I laughed when he frowned, as if he considered the best spot to place me, and took his face, pulling him into another kiss as he plonked me on the tabletop.
I was surprised when he gripped my legs, urging me to unwind them from his hips, but of course, he was still dressed.
