Page 133 of Lake of Sorrow

But the brand had also helped keep her alive, and it had led her to seek out the taybarri elders. With trouble finding the city on a weekly basis, she might continue to need its assistance. And to lift Vlerion’s curse, she wagered she would need the magic of the druids. She would have to figure out a way to outsmart the plant and use its power to help Vlerion instead of hurting him.

“Should I investigate further?” Penderbrock asked.

“Doc, my leg’s about to fall off over here,” one of his patients called.

Kaylina shook her head and waved for him to attend those in more dire need of his attention. “I’ll keep it for now.”

“You might regret that decision.” His expression remained concerned, like he thought it was a bad idea to roam the world with the brand.

“It won’t be the first. Not by far.” Kaylina smiled.

“All right, then.” He turned toward the waiting men, though a medical assistant was already tending them. “You sniveling youths, I’ve seen rangers have entire mountains fall on them who bellyached less.”

“Only because it’s hard to complain with a mountain crushing you.”

As the men continued grousing, Frayvar eyed Kaylina’s hand. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to keep that? If there’s an option to get rid of it?”

“No.”

“But you’re going to do it anyway?”

“Yes.”

As dusk settled over Port Jirador, Kaylina and Vlerion stood holding hands on the arched bridge overlooking the Stillguard River downstream of the castle. They could see the courtyard walls and the towers, including the one where the glowing plant resided, its purple glow seeping out into the darkening night, but several buildings stood between them.

This was as close as Vlerion dared come to that plant, and Kaylina didn’t blame him for wariness. She was glad he understood the danger and wasn’t courting it. Though she’d been given the queen’s blessing to open the meadery and eating house—Frayvar was already in the kitchen with fresh groceries and his menu plan—Kaylina wouldn’t set aside her goal of lifting Vlerion’s curse. After all they’d been through together, after all the times Vlerion had saved her, she vowed to save him.

Maybe it wasn’t a selfless desire, since she was tired of wanting him so much that she ached and not being able to have him. Standing here now, with his calloused hand clasped around hers, his powerful body close enough that she could feel its heat, was as frustrating as it was comforting. She longed to invite him to join her in bed—or have him sweep her off into the woods for a passionate joining under the trees.

“Oh, Vlerion.” Kaylina slumped against his side.

“Are you dejected and depressed, despite our recent victory?” His smile had a sad tilt to it.

Many had died—the numbers in the city and out on the estates were still being tallied—so maybe they shouldn’t have called it a victory. But at least the fires were out and the bodies cleared from the streets. From what they’d been able to tell, the castle—the plant—had only killed Kar’ruk.

“I am a little dejected,” Kaylina said.

“Because of the knowledge that humans brought this all upon themselves? Making deals with a deadly enemy instead of working to find a solution that doesn’t involve bloodshed? My brother almost prophesied it in his song. Though, I suppose, as a student of history, he knew similar things had happened before and would happen again. It seems to be in our nature to destroy ourselves.” Vlerion gazed pensively out at the river.

“Would it be shallow to admit I was dejected because we can’t have sex, and I really want to?”

His gaze shifted to her.

“That other stuff bothers me too, but I’m kind of horny right now, and you’re…” She turned to press her face against his shoulder, wishing she could wrap her arms around him for a kiss, that he would lean her against the railing of the bridge and take her, not caring if pedestrians passed or not, caring only about their mutual satisfaction.

Vlerion rested his face against the top of her head. “I would also enjoy being with you, but enough time has passed…”

“That it would rouse the beast? I know. Hence the dejection.” She leaned back to look into his eyes. “I’m going to find a way to lift your curse.”

“So we can have sex?” His second smile was more amused than sad.

Good. They needed some amusement to lighten their moods.

“Yes.” Kaylina gripped his arm. “And you know the other reasons. I want you to be safe from yourself and from the beast sabotaging your future so you can fully be the man you want to be.”

Vlerion cupped the back of her head. “Thank you for wanting that.”

“The curse isn’t fair.”

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