The water was just beginning to warm when he lifted the soap from the small dish on the stones and began to lather his hands.
He didn’t speak, but spent long minutes ensuring every square inch of my skin was clean—even catching droplets of water with his tongue after he’d rinsed me.
Of course, it was only right that I return the favor.
It took far too long to clean, and I would chide myself later for the indulgence. But I couldn’t find it in myself to regret.
We couldn’t know what would come in the next hour, let alone the next day. My hunger for him was rabid. I’d pushed fear to the side and gave myself up to the inevitable, praying that I wouldn’t let him down.
Praying that we’d make it through this together.
Praying that we’d have more time. Always more time.
Please, God.
~ DONAVYN ~
My skin still thrummed an hour later when I finally left the apartment. Bren had run off twenty minutes earlier, sneaking down the back stairs. I prayed she made it without mishap as I reached for Kgosi.
‘Make sure Ronan’s Ekko knows that she was held up by duty. The queen kept her, then I had to… debrief.’
A low huff reached me through the link from my dragon.‘Practicing the double-speak of the Court, are we, Donavyn?’
I grimaced.‘Practicing guarding my mate’s dignity? Yes.’
Kgosi rumbled.‘I applaud the intention. And yet, it is one more deception.’
I frowned as I trotted down the stairs in my building, on my way to meet with the Captains to discuss orders for this mission, and finalize who would join us on the team—they needed to know about Benji—transport, and the thousand other details that a mission like this required in preparation.
Kgosi waited for my response and his attention weighed heavily. We’d been interrupted when he planned to talk to me about myhiding.I’d hoped he’d forgive me and we could move on without further discussion. But clearly I’d been wrong.
‘We’ll have plenty of time to talk when we’re flying to Fyrehold.’
‘Donavyn—’
‘Keg, I know. I heard you. I’m not resisting. It’s been taken out of my hands, and I trust that to the Creator’s good will. Perhaps He saved me from myself. Perhaps, not. But please, there are so many things that require my attention right now.’
There was a single, deep flare of disapproval in the bond—his indignation that I treated his wisdom like a scheduling requirement. But to my surprise, he didn’t push. Instead, he sent me an image of Akhane and Bren, flying overhead.
‘I find myself relieved we will not be asked to separate for this work. I am not ready to be apart from her.’
I was touched by the underlining emotion in his tone. I knew my dragon was deeply compassionate, but he rarely expressed his own moments of weakness.
‘I’m the same.Deeplygrateful. Even if I am terrified of it, too.’
‘The mission? Or remaining close to her before the eyes of others?’
I frowned.‘I have no desire to hide our bond, Kgosi. I do that for her—I understand what she fears. And I can’t deny that it’s a risk.’
‘That wasn’t what I asked, Donavyn.’
I frowned deeper.‘Then, what did you ask?’
Kgosi took a moment to respond, which was surprising in itself. He was rarely careful with his words to me. But I felt him, as if he’d taken a breath. A sigh.‘I only wonder where this path takes us. I am not immune to unease when the Creator has not given us foresight. I am not without my own fear.’
That made my eyebrows shoot up.
Kgosi was both the most faithful, and the most courageous heart and mind I knew. I’d rarely seen him hesitate, let aloneexpress outright fear. But as if he felt my surprise and question, he continued.
