“How would I know? You don’t tell me anything!! I’m not even allowed in the war room because I’m a woman, yet I am the one risking my life for your entire kingdom!!! I don’t even know what this war is about! You just order me around like a pawn in a game, my life means nothing to you!”
He winced, and I could tell I was getting through to him from the obvious pain in his eyes. He took a deep breath to calm himself then turned to me and… knelt.
The gesture shocked me completely. I never in a thousand years would have thought the High Lord of the Kingdom of Flame would kneel before me. He gazed at me longingly, melting me with his brightamber eyes. He took my hand and placed it on his heart and held it there as he said,
“You’re right, you should know more about what you are risking your life for, and ultimately it should be your choice. Don’t misunderstand, I am so grateful you chose me and chose to stay, but this isn’t your world Pickles, these aren’t your people or your problems, and I understand if you don’t want to be with me anymore, I can set you up somewhere safe outside the kingdom and you can live your life as you choose, but just know wherever you go, I will always hold a piece of you in here.”
He professed while tapping my hand on his heart.
“So, you will change? You will treat me as your equal?” I asked with a stern voice, clinging onto my composure with an iron grip.
"The Kingdom of Flame is deeply rooted in tradition, but yes, I will. Change is going to take time so please be patient and trust me."
Trusting him fully was going to be difficult. I crossed my arms and turned from him.
“Just to be clear, If I choose to be with you, I will not retrieve the dagger until I feel that I am ready and I am confident in your shield projecting abilities.” I demanded.
He pressed his lips together, obviously flustered. "That's…inconvenient, but fair. Now, let's go home," he said with a gentle smile and warmth in his voice.
Then he turned his back to me and said, “hop on.” Taken aback I asked, “what?”
“If my legs are aching from these stairs then yours have to be burning, hop on I’ll carry you the rest of the way.” He instructed.
I smiled because this was a side of Titus that I wasn’t sure existed. I eagerly jumped onto his muscled back, and he carried me piggyback all the way to the cave where we left Draxxinar.
CHAPTER 29
The Apples
DELILAH
There were no flying lessons or daring maneuvers on the ride home. Titus flew Draxxinar while I cuddled in closely to his chest, somehow managing a much-needed nap. Sometime while sleeping, Titus removed my Fire Fae glamour, and we landed on the main platform outside the castle doors in Embris soon after. As soon as we entered, a swarm of important-looking Fire Fae surrounded Titus, some of which I recognized from the SkyGuard Feast— undoubtedly needing his approval for many trivial things while he had been away. I waved goodbye to him as I slipped out down the hall. On the way, I stopped in the kitchen to greet the fire sprites, who insisted I take a platter of food to my room with me, but I wasn’t going to my room—not yet. Because talking to her always felt like breathing fresh air, and I’d had far too much of Titus’s smoke in my head.
I knocked lightly three times on her door. The door opened magically, and I could see Calpurnia having tea with Cercies.
“Lila!!!!” she squeaked. “How was your trip?” she asked.
Cercies set down his cup, picked up his sheathed sword, and strapped it onto his back.
“Oh, I can come back, I didn’t mean to—” I began to say.
“Not to worry. I was just headed out anyway. I have to return to Dragons Maw for a while, but I’ll be back in the morning for your training,” he informed. Then he kissed Calpurnia goodbye while giving her a firm, one-handed grip on her backside. She responded with a jolt and squeaked at the touch at first, then leaned in wholeheartedly to his kiss, but he was the first to pull back, leaving her feeling a bit off balance. As he departed, she gazed after him down the servant hall, wearing a dreamy expression and a smile.
“I brought food, but it’s mostly desserts,” I said.
She shook off her daze and said, “Oh yes, come in, come in—tell me everything! Did the lingerie work? Did he mark you?” She giggled in excitement.
I set the tray on her table and we sat. Shit, I couldn’t lie to her— and worse, Iwantedto tell her. She was my only friend. But could I trust her not to tell Cercies for fear it would get back to Aurelius?
“How about first you tell me everything! I have barely spoken to you since you found your fated mate. How is it going?” I asked while shoving a chocolate muffin into my mouth.
She let out a wistful sigh. “Nothing I’ve experienced compares to this feeling. He’s blunt and ill-mannered and wouldn’t recognize romance if it hit him square in the face. We can only be together in secret, plus he’s often away because he’s stationed at Dragon’s Maw. Still, despite all that, I’m absolutely smitten with him. I’m just unsure about the future.”
I replied with a sympathetic frown. “Sorry, Cal. Maybe Titus can figure out a way around the rules for Cercies to be able to take a mate, officially, so you can be stationed with him.”
She sighed. “I’m not going to hold my breath; besides, I like being here with you.”
I shifted my weight.
