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“Remember the colorful blossoms of summer on the darkest days of winter. Remember the smells of lavender and citrus, and sweet smiles, for they will get you through that endless night,”
Hope? What was hope anymore?
All she wanted was to see him. To behold his beautiful face and cocky grin with her own eyes. To have his warm arms around her and whisper conceited, annoying things in her ear. She would laugh and tell him what an arrogant prick he was, and he would smile at that. Maker, how she longed to see his smile.
Thane hooked a thumb on the weapons belt around his hips. “Do I need to threaten to put you on the horse again, stubborn one?”
“You’re telling me you don’t have any clothes in your bag?” She continued, stubbornly and snatched whatever was inside the cloth. She unwrapped it and bit into the hardened piece of bread. “None that will fit you. But you can still take yours off. I won’t mind.”
He hugged her close. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you.” “I know.” They stood like that for what felt like a long time, basking in the heat and closeness. The embrace had its own kind of healing that no salves or magic could ever compare to. Her home.
He ran his hands down her sides and stopped on her hips and inhaled. “You do smell bad. No wonder you were worried.” She jerked back and shoved him in the chest. “You had to ruin the moment.” She grabbed hold of Phantom’s saddle. “Just for that comment, you can smell me the whole way. I won’t even bathe or change when we get a chance. We’ll see if you’re turned on by my grimy look then.”
“First of all, what sort of arrogant turd refers to himself in the third person,
“I’ve been besting you at this game since we met, my dear.” The timbre of his voice vibrated her skin.
“I like this plan, my dear betrothed.”
Thane offered his cloak, but she liked the feel of nature’s bath against her skin,
Tif stuck her head out of the bag for the first time all night. “Oh, can I too? Get rip-roaring drunk that is, not the lap dance. Although, I mean, I could…” With a cocked eyebrow, Thane looked down at her. Layala couldn’t stop herself from laughing. Tif cleared her throat. “Or not. That’s inappropriate for a number of reasons.” She giggled and wiped her sweaty brow. “Don’t take much for me to get tipsy. A couple thimbles and I’ll honor you with my yodeling instead of dancing, High King.”
“Have you lost your mind? I can’t very well walk this busy street. I’d be stepped on and squished like a grape.” She set her large puppy dog eyes on Thane and her smile turned into a pout. Looking between the two of them, Layala asked, “Has Thane been carrying you around?” He stooped down and grabbed her by the back of her dress and slid her into the hood of his cloak. “Unfortunately, I’ve become a pack mule for the wretched creature.”
“Promise me forever, Thane,” she said. “Forever and always,” he said against her lips. “I will never stop loving you. I will never stop craving you.”
“I love you, Laya.” He took hold of her hand and kissed the engagement ring he’d slid on her finger weeks before. “And one day soon, I will make it known to the world.”
She smiled and laughed quietly, wading her hand through the water to splash it across her chest and neck. “Did I tell you I love you? Because I do. Very much.” “You did but I don’t get tired of hearing it.”
“You’re like a deadly assassin who’s so beautiful your victim might happily lay down and die.”
“Did you know my sister’s name is Talon Fearsome? In a way it suits her. She may not be feared on the battlefield, but you bet your ass every single maiden in the kingdom is afraid of that girl.”
“I can’t help that I’m magnetic, my dear.” “Big head,” she murmured.
“I never got to dance with you in Doonafell that night.” “Well, maybe because you ignored me and danced with a host of other beautiful maidens. I was incredibly jealous. I’ll have you know.” His deep, midnight chuckle sent shivers down her body. “Oh, I certainly know. I felt your raging jealousy. Like a wild boar ready to spear me. I’m surprised I survived the night.” “Don’t act like you weren’t jealous I gave that boy a kiss on the cheek.” “You used him like a pawn, naughty girl.”
You are the fire that burns inside me and without it, I’d surely die.”
Layala groaned and hopped up on the stage, snatching Tif by the back of her dress and lifting her up. “What in the world are you doing? Are you blind and deaf?” A blush spilled across her cheeks, and she adjusted her little red hat. “I wanted to sing.” She pointed out at the fight still going on. “And I have an adoring crowd.”
“Yes, they look so adoring, don’t they? I told you to stay upstairs.” “I may have gotten a few thimbles full of this juice that turned out to be wine and suddenly I got real brave.” She pulled a tiny sword from under her skirts. “Let’s get ’em.”
“Males think they can rule over us because of physical strength, but guess who holds the power between me and you, pig?”
“Layala,” Aldrich said slowly. “Remember whose fate rests in your hands.” Without uttering a word, Layala thrust out her other arm and vine shot forth, coiling around Aldrich’s chest and neck like a boa constrictor. “Your fate by the looks of things.”
“What’s it to be, boys?” Thane’s smile couldn’t have been broader. “Your future queen commands respect.”
“No one ever learns, do they? I put the word out long ago that I would kill anyone who touched her.”
