Xenia rubbed at the bandage on her neck, staring at the peak of Typhon Mountain through the window of the cottage.
A radiant peace stole through her as the setting sun dipped beneath the summit, nearly a hundred miles away.
Behind her in the small but cozy living area, Cael spoke to an old Beastrunner with tanned skin and bushy white eyebrows.
Leonard.
“Thank you for letting us stay here.” Cael’s voice was drenched in the same relief Xenia herself felt. “The Teles Chrysos have promised protection for your assistance.”
Leonard chuckled, a time-worn rasp. “I’ve been dreaming of this for centuries. To release her from her shackles. Hard to believe it’s actually happening.”
“Not happening yet,” Cael said, a hint of his familiar pessimism sneaking into his tone. “Lots of things need to go right for us to have even a slim chance of freeing her.”
Leonard smiled, tugging at his long beard. “A little optimism never hurt anyone.”
Xenia liked Leonard.
Cael nodded. “I’ll send you a message once I’ve gotten the name, and you can release her. Hopefully for the final time. You’ve still got that cuff I gave you, right?”
Leonard nodded, then creaked open the cottage door.
Xenia called after him, “We don’t mean to put you out!”
“Nonsense,” he said. “I barely use this cottage. Got a little cot in my office at the mountain so I can stay close to her.”
Xenia’s eyes stung. Leonard had cared for the dragon for centuries. She was his family. And if this worked out, he would lose her.
Leonard curled his fingers around the door. “She deserves her freedom, lass. Not to mention the opportunity to rain down some fiery vengeance upon the Empire that used her. No old male’s sentimental feelings should get in the way of that.”
Cael clapped Leonard on the shoulder. “You’re doing the right thing.”
“I know it.” Leonard blew out a resigned sigh. “There’s not much in the pantry, but whatever’s in there is yours. Help yourselves. I’ll wait to hear from you.” He saluted Xenia, then slipped out into the impending dusk.
Xenia joined Cael at the window, then swiped away a tear as she watched the old Beastrunner hobble away from the cottage. Toward his final days with his friend.
Cael glanced down at her. “Sap,” he teased, thumbing her remaining tears away. “He’ll be okay.” He draped an arm around her shoulder and led her back toward the kitchen. “How are you feeling? Are you hungry? How is your neck?”
She chuckled at his fussing as she took a seat at the rickety table. “It’s still a bit sore. But I’m fine, Cael. Really.”
He crept up behind her, then peeled back the bandage. “It looks much better than it did earlier.”
She grabbed his hand, kissed his knuckles. “I had a good healer.”
His wing rustled at the compliment as he began opening cabinets. “There’s not much in here. Crackers. Couple tins of canned meat.” He pulled out a jar with a bit of sticky red…somethingtopped by puffs of green fuzz. “Whatever the fuck this used to be.” He tossed it into the waste bin in the corner. “Might make sense for me to portal down to the village and grab some supplies.”
“Not tonight. Crackers and canned meat will do. I’m not that hungry anyway. And I’d rather have you stay here where I can see you.”
Cael chuckled low, amused. “Possessive.”
Xenia stood and threw her arms around his neck, tilting her face up. “If you dared leave me again, I’d just hunt you down. Managed it once, remember?”
Cael ran his fingers through her curls. “My little predator.” He leaned down to kiss her, a gentle brush of his lips, and she arched against him, sliding her tongue into his mouth. He indulged her for a moment, his arms tightening around her, before pulling back and whispering, “You’re injured.”
“Not too injured for this,” Xenia breathed out, desperate, refusing to let him pull away. “Cael, wemadeit. For who knows how long. Don’t you think we deserve a night to celebrate? Just one night.”
He let out a rumbling purr as his hands traced up her body, scintillating heat following in their wake. “And how, exactly, would you like to celebrate, sweetheart?”
She ran the heel of her palm up the hard length straining against his pants. “With this. Inside me. As soon as humanly possible.”
