He growled, low in his chest, the sound rumbling through her. It shouldn’t be arousing, but it was. She couldn’t help thinking about his mouth on hers, how she’d felt in his arms, just like this, but…
“I refuse to accept defeat,” Han told her in a harsh whisper.
“That will only lead to future unhappiness,” she predicted glumly.
“We have now,” he countered. “I’m happy tonight. And you were happier for a while. I’m sorry I ruined it.”
“You didn’t ruin it,” she told him softly. He’d been right to talk her into staying. The party, the races, the dancing, the treats—it had all been the perfect antidote to her crushing mood. “You made tonight perfect.”
“It could be more perfect,” he suggested, gaze focusing on her lips. He was only a whisper away, his mouth tantalizingly close, warm with whiskey and sugared nuts. The music swept low and long around them, the elemental lights coloring his pale hair in a rainbow and, oh, how she wanted him. He lowered his lips and—
“We can’t!” she blurted, jerking back.
“No one is watching,” he coaxed. “The proctors are all drunk by now. Just a kiss.”
“Someone isalwayswatching,” she corrected. “And we’ve already attracted attention with our relationship.”
“Have we?” he asked warmly, snugging her closer, his hips moving in time with hers. “Then we can hardly attract more.”
There was a flaw to that logic, but her thoughts refused to align into any sense.
As if sensing her weakening resolve, Han leaned closer. “Come to my room with me.”
“Han…” Her heart thrummed, warm desire overwhelming her at the idea. “We can’t.” But her protest sounded weak even to her own ears. She wanted him, she realized, with reckless desperation. And this might be her last opportunity. As soon as tomorrow, he could manifest and be swept into the wizard-exclusive courses, hanging with the wizard crowd, perhaps barely acknowledging her existence. The prospect made her heart ache. But would it hurt any less if she didn’t have him now, while she could?
“If you’re right,” he whispered against her cheek, brushing her temple with his lips, the caress making her shiver, “and we’re soon separated, we won’t have another chance to be together. Iliana, I want you to be my first. If we can’t be each other’s forever, let us at least have this.”
Yes.Yes, she wanted him to be her first. If she ended up in the Betrothal Trials or was simply assigned to a wizard, she’d be expected to breed. Han would be gentle and caring as possibly no one else would. “I’m not sure two virgins fumbling their way through this is a good idea,” she replied with a smile.
His face went tight, intent. “If that kiss was any measure, we’ll figure it out just fine. If that’s a yes.”
“Yes,” she whispered, her heart feeling raw and sensitive, as if she’d opened her breast to the cold night air.
Abruptly, he grinned. Taking her by the hand, he pulled her through the dwindling crowd of dancers, so fast she had to trot to keep up, laughing giddily. He stopped to retrieve her cloak, settling it over her shoulders and tripping the magical clasp to fasten it at her throat, then pulling her furred hood up to frame her face. Gazing intently at her, he smiled softly. “I love you, Iliana. And very soon I’m going to take this off of you. And everything else too.”
The fierce desire in his gaze took her breath away. “Then why are we standing here?”
“An excellent point.” He tipped his head back and laughed, full of music, carefree in a way he rarely ever was anymore, especially in these last months. Grabbing his coat, he pulled her along again, breaking into a run this time. “Hurry,” he urged, grinning like a madman, and she ran, too, her hood falling back as it had in the sleigh, and she felt as if they were racing still.
Racing, yes—against time, against their looming futures, and against the weight of the Convocation and all it expected of them. They couldn’t win this race, but they could snatch a bit of sweet for themselves.
~ 7 ~
Han’s room wasbigger and much nicer than hers, partly because he’d been an uncat for so long, which let him move into the better rooms in the uncat wing as they were vacated by newly minted wizards and familiars, and partly because of his wealthy merchant parents. They were a second-tier house aspiring to more and they indulged their high potential son. Though Han often bitterly observed that if he proved to be a familiar, he’d no doubt end up with a single bed in the cellar, until they sold him to the highest bidder.
With a wave of very real fear for him, Iliana realized that highest bidder could be Sabrina Hanneil.
“Let me light a fire,” he said as they entered the room. “The fire elemental hates me.”
“I don’t know what you do to them.” He’d had the elemental heating his room replaced a number of times, and they always sullenly faded over time.
“I only kicked it a few times.”
“Han!”
“Kidding!” He held up his hands, smiling innocently.
“You should see if Alise Elal would come talk to it for you.”
