Calrain shook his head. “We would have been dead had you not come along,” he said, pulling her closer to him. He wrapped his arms around her, and she snuggled against him, wanting to soothe the rush of anxiety she felt from him. “The way you collapsed that bridge…it was truly incredible,Tariel.”
His praise filled Tariel’s chest with warmth. She’d had so little of it in her life—being a quick study had not endeared her to her teachers or her classmates, and they had either accused her of showing off or ignored her completely. Calrain and Riann were the first people to openly praise her, and not for her looks, but for an ability they had been brought up to loathe and fear. It was a dream come true forher.
Lifting her head, Tariel brushed her lips against Calrain’s. “Make love to me,” she murmured against his mouth. “Fill me with your strength andpassion.”
Calrain was more than happy to oblige. He kissed her deeply, his hands sliding down her back to cup her bottom through her skirt. His impressive length hardened against her belly, and the space between her legs grew damp at the thought of having him inside her again. Dipping her hand beneath the waistband of his leggings, she drew him out, wrapping her fingers around his hot, silkylength.
“Riann will hear us,” Calrain said on a soft groan as she massaged him. “He can probably see us,too.”
“So what?” She laughed softly as she continued to stroke him. “He has seen us before, and if he is jealous that he cannot join in, he will just have to deal with it. He is on watch, and I want you.Now.”
Calrain’s gaze fired with lust, and he kissed her again. His tongue tangled with hers as he pulled her leg around his waist and slid deep inside her. Tariel clung to him tightly, and with each thrust, she felt them growing closer together. He smelled so good, like parchment and incense and freshly mixed ink, though the scents were somewhat muted by the smell of horse and sweat and campfire smoke. It reminded her of their reading lessons in the storage room back when they wereyoung.
But they were no longer children. As they moved together, Tariel slid her hands beneath his shirt. She loved the way his lean muscles felt beneath her hands as they flexed, and especially the feel of his bottom when she slid her hand lower. He started a little as she curled her fingers around the firm muscle, thenlaughed.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” he murmured, cupping her bottom in return. He pushed even deeper inside her, and Tariel’s head fell back, his name on her lips as she finally came. The orgasm rippled through her like a river of light, filling her to the brim with power, and Calrain shuddered in her arms as he joinedher.
“I love you,” he murmured into her hair afterward, stroking herback.
“And I, you,” she said, and she meant it. Her affection for both of her men had grown stronger these past few days, as the two of them had run from Castle Tyrook and the witch hunters. Trusting each other with their lives had deepened the intimacy between them, and Tariel couldn’t imagine not having them both in herlife.
They lay still for a long moment, enjoying the glow of pleasure that lingered in their limbs. But eventually Tariel grew restless, and she rose, adjusting her dress around her body oncemore.
“Where are you going?” Calrain asked sleepily as she stepped toward thetrees.
“To talk to Riann.” She turned back to Calrain with a smile. “Would you like tocome?”
He shook his head, already lying back down. “I’ll be here,” he said, closing his eyes again. Tariel knew that despite the boost of strength he’d gotten from sex, he was still tired, so she let him rest and climbed thetree.
She found Riann about three quarters of the way up, sitting on a wide, sturdy branch with his feet stretched out in front of him. “I heard you were awake,” he said with a teasing smile as she joinedhim.
“Did you?” she said, settling atop his legs. Riann sat up a little straighter, wrapping his arms around her, and she leaned in for a kiss. “You’re exhausted,” she murmured, gently touching the dark circles beneath hiseyelids.
“I’m fine,” Riann said, brushing her hand aside. He pressed his lips against hers, and Tariel sighed, allowing herself to be lost to themoment.
Riann’s kiss was slow and languorous, his lips molding over hers as he explored the dips and swells of her mouth. It was a long time before he slid his tongue between Tariel’s lips. She sighed, reveling in the smoky, earthen taste of him. His manhood swelled beneath her skirt, and her body responded, but through the bond she could also sense his exhaustion, and their position was quiteprecarious.
“Go back down to bed,” she said, pulling away. “I will take the nextwatch.”
Riann frowned. “I don’t want to leave you alone uphere.”
“I will be fine.” Tariel smiled, summoning a ball of magic into her hand. The lavender glow washed across Riann’s face, illuminating his strong jawline and aquiline nose. “I have slept for nearly two days, and making love has strengthened me. You and Calrain both need a good night’s sleep if we are to make it to the capitaltomorrow.”
“Very well,” Riann said. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her once more. “But if you see someone coming, don’t be a hero, Tariel. Call forus.”
“I will,” shepromised.
Riann climbed down the tree, then she settled her back against the bark and waited for a new dawn to rise. Tomorrow, they would finally arrive at the capital. And maybe, just maybe, she would find out who her parentswere.
21
“I’ve never seena city so large,” Tariel said as she stared at the view before them. They sat atop a hill in a horse-drawn cart they had commandeered, gazing at the sprawling city. It was surrounded by wooden and stone palisade walls that protected from intruders on three sides, and within, the houses and buildings were simple, sturdy structures, also crafted from wood and stone. Even the castle that rose from the center was austere, the only colors coming from the blue and white pennants flapping from the tops of itsspires.
The fourth side of the city, the only one not protected by walls, was a bit more colorful. There, the Virian Sea sparkled, its waves catching and reflecting the light of the sun as it hung high above them, marking the middle point of the day. The ships docked at the harbor flew colorful flags from their masts, and Tariel could already imagine the hustle and bustle of passengers and cargo coming and going from thedocks.
“Neither have I,” Riann said, his eyes glittering in the sunshine. “I can’t believe we’ve finally madeit.”
“I wonder if I might find a way to sneak into the university library,” Calrain said. His face shone with excitement at the prospect. “I’ve heard it is the greatest inFjordland.”
