“Nothing.” She doesn’t meet my gaze, attention fixed firmly ahead.
My neck prickles, and I pinch her side lightly. “Did you forget I’m a truthwielder?” I murmur against the shell of her ear.
She shivers, then whispers back, “Mmm, not a very good one.” A playful smile tugs at her lips, soothing some of the unease needling beneath my ribs.
Still, a low warning growl rumbles in my chest.
“Careful, wife. Unless you want to be facedown, ass up in the middle of the hall.”
My wife only bats her lashes at me, lips curved in a wicked smirk.
“Who’s lying now? As if you’d ever let anyone catch sight of my naked ass.”
“Fair point.” I don’t press her about what’s on her mind, though the question lingers on my tongue.
I nod to Gregoran and Freynk as we enter our room, the door clicking shut behind us.
The words spill from my lips despite my best efforts to give her space. “Are you nervous about the trip to Volca?”
Mayah smiles at me, affection hugging the curve of her lips. “No, my love.” She takes my hand and guides me to sit on the sofa, but she doesn’t join me. My wife stares down at me, wringing her hands together. “Remember when we talked about having children? About a year ago? I told you I’d need to remove the block that prevents my cycle before we…” She swallows, averting her gaze. “I think … I think I’d like to—”
My heart warms at her admission, cool relief surging through me that this is all it was.
“Yes.”
She blinks in surprise. “Yes?”
I chuckle, grabbing her hand and tugging her into my lap. “This is what’s had you worked up all morning?”
She shrugs one shoulder, lips twisting. “When we discussed it last year, I wasn’t ready. It seemed like you weren’t in any rush either. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to wait longer.”
I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, nudging her nose with mine. “I love our life together. I loveyou. And I’m ready. You can remove the block today if you like.”
She beams at me, so bright and ethereal andperfect, my heart stutters. “Okay,” she whispers. “Today.”
“Do you need to go to the infirmary?”
Mayah glances over my head at the bed. “No. I can do it here.”
She climbs off my lap and heads into the washroom, leaving the door ajar. The sound of running water greets my ears—Sauzon has gotten Mayah in the habit of washing her hands every time she heals, though, for her, it’s not necessary. He—
My thoughts evaporate into smoke because, when my wife emerges from the washroom, she’s nearly naked. Her white, translucent shift conceals nothing from my gaze.
It’s suddenly difficult to swallow.
The cruel minx doesn’t spare me a glance as she lies down on the bed, though I don’t miss the satisfied smile she tries to hide. I scramble off the sofa and stride toward the bed.
“I didn’t realize you were so interested in healing procedures.” Her teasing smile sends desire spearing through me.
“I’m interested in anything you do. Especially anything that involves you naked.”
She rolls her eyes, but her energy signature jolts all the same.
My wife surveys me, her face open and unguarded. “Will you hold me while I perform the procedure?”
“Of course, baby.”
She sits up so I can recline on the bed, then lies back down, her head resting against my shoulder, body positioned between my legs. A soft sigh, and then she hitches her shift over her hips until her lower belly is bare.
