"Now I'm bonded to the most badass dragon in Elucia, training to become a full-fledged rider and eventually a shaman, and lying naked with a prince." She tilted her head up to look at me. "I don't think I could have imagined this if I'd tried."
"Do you miss the life from before? The life you strived for and didn't get to choose?"
She was quiet for a long moment. "I miss Chicha. I miss Gran. I miss the simplicity of knowing exactly what each day would bring." Her fingers stilled on my chest. "But I wouldn't trade this for anything."
"Not even for a peaceful life with no assassins and no prophecies and no dragons who snap their jaws at your face? Just quiet mornings at your grandmother's apothecary, peaceful evenings drawing and coming up with new fashion designs, and perhaps a nice, uncomplicated, Elucian guy who worships the ground you walk on?"
"Not a chance." She pressed her lips to my chest. "Especially not the part about the Elucian guy. I've got my prince, who I'm not trading for anyone, and my fearsome dragon, who is my personal reservoir of power."
I tightened my arm around her, pulling her closer as I was hit with the sting of jealousy whenever she spoke about Morgateth, that particular warmth in her voice.
It was irrational.
Being jealous of her dragon bond was absurd. But the bond between rider and dragon was the most intimate relationship a person could have, more intimate even than the bond between lovers, and I was still adjusting to the reality that someone else now occupied a space in Kailin's heart that I could never reach.
If Veynathei could read my thoughts right now, she would tell me I was a fool, and she would be right.
"What about you?" Kailin asked. "Do you miss Catonia?"
"No." The answer came without hesitation. "I miss my grandmother. She would have loved you. She would have loved Veynathei too. She had a weakness for beautiful, opinionated females."
"I'm opinionated?"
"Devastatingly so. It's one of your finest qualities."
She pursed her lips. "I'm not. I'm a very reasonable, accommodating person."
"With strong opinions."
She smiled and settled her head back on my chest. Her breathing was slowing, the wine and the lovemaking and the long, extraordinary day finally catching up to her despite the infusion of Morgateth's energy.
"I'm just resting for a minute," she murmured. "So don't fall asleep yet. I want to keep making love to you until we are both so exhausted neither of us can move a limb."
I chuckled. "I'm right with you, my love. To the limit and beyond." I knew she wanted to test her limits to see how much strength Morgateth had really given her. "We have all night."
"Yes, we do," she said. "We have a lot of catching up to do."
I caressed her back. "It's not a contest. We have many more nights ahead of us to test your new limits."
Once again I'd spoken with my heart instead of my mind. We might not have many nights ahead of us, but I wanted us to have them, and if my will was strong enough, Elurion might listen and grant me my wish.
12
KAILIN
"Prophecy is not a gift. It is a debt that the future collects from the present."
—From the writings of Shaman Kethris, Second Era
We made love twice more before exhaustion finally claimed us.
The second time was slower, lazier, both of us pleasantly worn out and content to let the pleasure build without urgency. The third time surprised us both. I'd been drifting toward sleep with my back against Alar's chest and his arm draped over my waist when his hand started moving, tracing the curve of my hip with a touch that shifted from absent to deliberate, and the next thing I knew we were tangled together again, breathless and laughing at our own insatiability.
Now, I lay in the dark, listening to Alar's breathing deepen into sleep, feeling his heartbeat slow against my back, and I was so thoroughly satisfied and depleted that even Morgateth's reservoir couldn't keep my eyes open.
The best part was that I didn't fear falling asleep for a change.
I hadn't drunk the tea that amplified my visions, and I hadn't worn Saphir's medallion for the last two days. There was no reason for the prophetic channels to activate tonight. I was safe in Alar's arms, warm and loved.
