“Oh, what am I doing, making you worry like this?” Rona shook her head. “Of course the elves won’t harm you. They aren’t known for their cruelty, and from what I’ve heard of the elven kingdom, it’s quite beautiful. I’m sure it will all seem like a grand vacation,” she said with a waterylaugh.
Dareena smiled, more to ease Rona’s nerves than anything else. “You’re right,” she said, taking a dress from her closet and handing it to her maid to fold. “I’ll think of it as a great adventure. It isn’t every day one gets to travel to a new kingdom,” she added with awink.
“I only wish I could come with you,” Rona said ruefully. “I imagine they’ve assigned you a maid, so I’ve tucked a list of instructions for her into the bag so she knows how hot to run your bath and what kind of tea you take in themorning.”
Dareena laughed. “You are too kind, Rona,” she said, kissing her on the cheek. “You have been welcoming since the moment I arrived and have taken such good care of me. I will miss youdearly.”
They were nearly finished packing when a knock came at thedoor.
“Dareena,” Drystan said when she opened it. His eyes glimmered with some undefined emotion, his face unreadable. “Could I have a moment alone withyou?”
Dareena glanced over her shoulder. “Go on,” she said quietly to her maid. “I can finish withoutyou.”
Rona nodded. “Please write to us often,” she said, hugging Dareena tightly. “I will go mad if I don’t hear fromyou.”
Dareena hugged her back, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. “I will,” she promised, and sent Rona on herway.
“All right,” Dareena said as she closed the door behind Drystan. “What—”
Drystan didn’t give her the chance to finish. He pushed her against the wall and kissed her hard, his hands tearing at her dress. Dareena gasped as the gold and white silk fluttered to the ground, and he slid his tongue into her mouth, deepening the kiss as his hands roamed over her naked flesh. They slid beneath her bottom and gripped her tightly, hauling her up against him so that his hardness pressed directly against her already pulsingcore.
“Drystan,” she moaned as he blazed a path from her mouth to her ear with hislips.
“This is the last time we’ll be alone together,” he panted. Dareena whimpered as he sank his teeth into her earlobe, then sucked on it. A bolt of need went through her, and she clawed at the buttons of his deep blue tunic, sending them flying every which way. His skin was hot and smooth beneath her fingers as she pushed the fabric back, his muscles flexing as he carried her to thebed.
“Yes,” she hissed as he entered her in one long, firm stroke. Hooking her legs around his hips, she clung tight as he rocked into her, shaking the bedframe with the force of his thrusts. Running her fingers through his thick, dark hair, she kissed his face, his neck, his collarbone, each press of her lips against his skin a benediction, a prayer that the dragon god would keep him safe while she wasgone.
Somehow, they would figure this out. And when she returned, she would have all three of them in her bed so they could renew their bondtogether.
“I love you,” Drystan said hoarsely as his thrusts grew harder. Power hummed in the air around him as he drew strength from her, his skin glowing faintly. Dareena arched her hips, pulling him in deeper, urging him to take more, to take it all. This was the last time she would be able to offer this to him, and she gave herself fearlessly, selflessly, digging her nails into his broad back as the orgasm ripped through her. The sound of her name on Drystan’s lips shook the walls as he came, his hot seed rushing into her, and afterward, she cradled him, stroking his sweaty back and murmuring sweet nothings as their heartbeats gradually returned tonormal.
A knock on the door interrupted the bittersweet moment of bliss. “Dareena?” Alistair called through thedoor.
“Come in,” she called back, tightening her arms around Drystan as he began to move. What did it matter if Alistair saw themtogether?
Alistair opened the door, and his eyes flew wide. “I wasn’t quite expecting to be greeted by the sight of your arse, brother,” he said dryly as he nudged the door shut behindhim.
“I tried to spare you, but the lady is refusing to let go of me.” Smirking, Drystan slid his arms beneath Dareena, then rolled over so that she was on top of him. “Is thatbetter?”
Alistair sucked in a sharp breath, and Dareena hid a smile. She knew exactly how she looked, naked and glistening, her legs open as she straddled Drystan. The space between her thighs warmed, and for a moment, she was tempted to invite Alistair to jointhem.
“As much as I’m enjoying the view, I’m afraid you’ll have to get dressed,” Alistair said ruefully. “The duchess is impatient to get back to Elvenhame with herprizes.”
“Of course she is,” Drystan groused, sitting up. He gently pushed Dareena off, then went to retrieve hisclothing.
Dareena gave him a wistful look, then went to clean up and fetch a simple traveling cloak and dress from herwardrobe.
“Here,” Alistair said as she began to unbutton the back of the dress. “Let me helpyou.”
Dareena nodded, wordlessly handing him the dress. She could tell by the way Alistair’s fingers twitched that he was itching to touch her bare skin, but he merely slipped the dress over her head, then smoothed it over her ample curves. Quickly, he buttoned up the back of her dress, then secured the cloak around her shoulders with a simple gold pin. He was dressed similarly in a brown tunic and cloak, and sturdy boots not unlike the ones he helped her pull onto herfeet.
“There,” he said, smoothing her hair. “You’re ready for anadventure.”
Dareena laughed. “That’s what I told Rona to console her,” she said. “That we should think of this as an excitingadventure.”
“Try not to make it too exciting,” Drystan said. He slid his arms around Dareena’s waist and pulled her in for one last kiss. “You have to come back to us in one piece, afterall.”
“I will,” she said against his mouth, “so long as you and Lucyan can make nice with theelves.”
