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“I know who you are,” he heard himself say. She went stone-still. “I know why the queen is hunting you.” She tensed as though bracing for the words to come. “Your scar. I was with you when you got it, Eisa.”
Rey had known Silla was worthy of protection. He’d thought her one of the last good things in this cursed kingdom.
Some of the flíta’s wings caught fire before burning up in tiny infernos and yielding to darkness. And somewhere in those ashes, a caterpillar would emerge.
“I won’t tell a soul that the fearsome Axe Eyes has a soft side.” And as blackness had pulled her into sleep, she could have sworn she’d heard him say, “Only for you, Sunshine.”
“You are not knowing the magic of this mouth.”
“Before Cohesion, a Reader can read the thoughts. But after Cohesion, a Reader can”—she hesitated—“write the thoughts.”
“Krasavitsa,[*1]” he said, tilting her jaw up with gentle pressure. “Dolgo ya zhdal.[*2]”
“Your fire,” he breathed as their lips broke apart and came back together. “It drives me mad.”
I see the way you look at her. You can deny it if you want. Or you can have her.
“You like it when I tell you what to do, Sunshine?” His voice rumbled through her, and she felt it in all the places they touched. “Well guess what?” With a ruthless burst of speed, he flipped her onto her back, pinning her to the ground with his hips. “I like telling you what to do.”
“I thought perhaps I cared for him. But now…now I understand I was lonely and sad, and he made me feel good for a time.” Silla closed her eyes and inhaled shakily. “He was like the skjöld leaves. A thing to drown my sorrows. A tonic for my grief. A distraction that went very, very wrong.”
Remember, Moonflower, it is always darkest just before dawn.
“Just tell her you want her to stroke your axe.”
“Tell her you want to raid her shores.”
“That you wish to plunder her womanly cavern with your manly serpent.”
The man has pond sludge for brains, came a strange voice. Burning his own boat. What was he thinking?
“Valiant,” repeated Vig with a broad grin. “I think I like that. Valiant Vig of the mountains, protector of goats and curly-haired women.”
“I want you every minute of the day.”
“If you knew the sordid thoughts I’ve had, Silla, you’d run the other way.”
“Let me make this clear to you, Silla. There is nothing uncertain in how I want you.”
“I wanted you on Longest Day when you came out in that dress,” he said, voice ragged. “I wanted you when you pushed me across the field on the way to Kraki’s. I wanted you when you killed the vampire deer, when you blackmailed me, even when you tried to steal my gods damned horse. I’ve wanted you since the night you stormed up to me and told me I couldn’t frighten you away. That was it for me, Sunshine.”
“And now that I’ve had you, it’s only worsened. I cannot stop thinking about this morning. How glad I am you were brave enough for the both of us. The disbelief that you might possibly want me as I want you.”
Transferring her to one arm, he swept the dishes onto the floor with the other.
“When we’re done sparring, I must douse myself in the stream’s icy waters.” Releasing her hair, Rey kissed her roughly. “When you lean over to stir the porridge, I have to count the beams in the wall.” He rocked his hips against her. “And when your hair falls into your face”—he dragged his mouth down her neck—“it takes every ounce of my will not to bury my hands in it.”
I won’t be rushed, Silla.”
“Lie back. Hold on to the table.”
