“You could come,” he said. “If you want.”
A few months ago she would have heard only the invitation and the promise behind it.Come with me. Stay beside me. Stay where it’s safe. Stay where I can protect you.
Now she heard the other part.If you want.
She thought about it. A journey through the mountains with Njkall didn’t frighten her. The prospect of unfamiliar Hothiansdidn’t make her stomach twist. She might even enjoy seeing another part of Hothrest.
But Tess would be waiting for her. There were still hundreds of records to examine, and for the first time they had a real trail to follow.
“I think I’ll stay here.”
Something flickered across his face. Not disappointment exactly. Surprise, perhaps.
“All right.”
“Tess and I have work to do.”
“I gathered that.”
“We might find something else,” she said hopefully, and he smiled at her.
“I hope you do.”
She studied him. “You’re really all right with me staying here?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know.” She ran a teasing finger down his chest. “You like having me where you can see me.”
“Very much.”
The answer came without hesitation, and warmth filled her again.
“But you have something you want to do,” he continued. “So do I.”
It sounded so simple when he said it. Perhaps it was becoming simple. She stepped closer and put her arms around his waist.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“You will.”
“And you’ll be careful.”
One white brow rose.
“You’re telling me to be careful?”
“Yes.”
“I am the Clan Leader.”
“That doesn’t make you immune to falling off mountains.”
“I have managed not to so far.”
“Keep up the good work.”
His mouth twitched. Then he bent and kissed her, not the careful brush of lips he’d allowed only when she initiated it, but a real kiss. Warm and lingering and confident enough to send heat curling through her body.
