It’s a terrible prospect.
It would be like I never met Tage. The story of him would be lost to me. I would never remember the delicious flush that suffuses my body at his nearness—his voice, his touch, his kiss, the lovely weight of him bearing me down on luxurious furs.
I quickly assure myself that won’t happen. There is no witch (or even harpy) around to break my spell. It’s all supposition that they even could. I’m safe with my memories.
It’s a strange thing. For the first time in my life, I wish to keepmy curse so that when I’m gone from here and among humans again, I can cling to the memory of the time I spent with a dragon, and the impossible, decadent way he makes me feel. The reality of him, of us, so much like a dream...except it’s not.
It’s a truth I want to keep with me forever.
I have a decided lack of sweet memories. My time with Tage will be one of the precious few I keep, pulling out and dusting off for reflection in my coming years.
I’m quiet with my thoughts as we finish supper. I collect my plate. I’ll not have it said I expected anyone to wait upon me. The others do the same. We carry the dirty dishes into the kitchen and stack our plates on the table beside the wash bowl. From there Viggo takes over the washing. Danhy and Merik beat a hasty retreat and leave as though afraid they’ll be strong-armed into chores.
“Go on,” Viggo directs me with an encouraging jut of his chin. “I have this.”
I leave the kitchen. Entering the central room, I glance around for Tage. I’d assumed we would retire together. Maybe presumptuous of me, but if tonight is my last night, I want it to be with him. I want to collect one final memory.
He’s nowhere around, but I hear the familiar rumble of his voice on the air coming from one of the tunnels. The words are indecipherable. I inch in that direction. It’s the tunnel that leads to Arvos’s chamber. I slowly advance down the narrow passageway, listening, following along its path, stopping when it turns sharply. The hushed voices are louder now.
I peek around the corner, peering into the corridor. One of the sconces on the wall flickers with amber light, revealing the two shadowy figures. Incredibly, I see that one of them is Arvos. He’s awake. Standing straight as a pillar, hale and hearty, talking with no evidence of injury. A little more ashen and hollow-cheeked, but a huge improvement since the last time I saw him.
They look earnest and intense as they converse, energy vibrating from their big bodies in a way that makes the tiny hairs on my armsprickle. My ears burn, catching snatches of words. I hear Cyphus’s name, then mine. Tage is undoubtedly apprising Arvos on all he missed.
There is no doubt in my mind of this from the way Arvos shakes his head side to side, as though he cannot believe what Tage is telling him. His world is not the same one he left since succumbing to his svefn.
I must make a sound or movement to give away my presence.
Arvos looks over his shoulder at me with flashing frost eyes, and my mouth dries at the coldness reflected there. His gaze snaps back to Tage and whatever he says next has Tage looking at me, too, a crease forming between his brows at finding me there lurking, eavesdropping so shamelessly. “Arden, go on to bed.”
Arvos looks at me in smug satisfaction, and I know intuitively that whatever he told Tage prompted his harsh dismissal.
I nod as though it’s a natural suggestion and not a stinging rejection. I’d only known Tage for a short time, after all. What can I expect of him? That I hold a place in his life, a place above others he’s known for years? He’s not aguesthere. That designation is mine alone. Apparently, what he and I do in the privacy of his furs does not translate into anything outside of the den. That should make leaving easier...as long as I remember that.
Before he can read the insensible hurt in my expression, I whirl around.
I make it only a few steps, however. Turning the corner of the tunnel, I hesitate. The last thing I want is to spill out into the main room for Danhy or Merik or Viggo to observe the stupidly wounded expression on my face.
I stop, collapsing back against the cold stone wall, taking a few moments to gain my composure. I draw a deep breath, filling my lungs, willing away my discomfort.
I can still hear the low rumble of their voices where I stand out of sight. Now that I’m gone, they make no effort to speak discreetly.
“What are you doing, Tage?” Arvos demands. “I wake up tothis? Cyphus dead?”
“He challenged me to profa. I had no choice.”
“And why did it come to that?” Tage does not answer. A long beat of significant silence follows. “It’s because of her, isn’t it? The woman.” He grunts out a sound that might have been an expletive. “She is not one of us, Tage.” There was a directive, a definite call to action in those words.
“I told you I will not kill her for simply being human. That is not crime enough for her to deserve death. I am not Kaldr. If I wanted to be like him, I never would have set out on my own. If you object to the way I’m leading this pride, perhaps you need to decide if you want to remain.”
“This pride is yours. I take no issue with that.” Exasperation tinges his voice.
“No? Then why are we having this conversation about her? It’s beginning to feel redundant.”
“Tage, what are your intentions? She walks freely within the cave like she is one of us. She eats with us. What’s next? Will she be taking a watch? A patrol? Will you be bonding with her...thishuman?”
My heart beats loud in my ears. I press my fingers into the damp wall of the tunnel, the nail on my right index finger bending, cracking under the pressure.
Tage finally speaks. “I told you—”
