Page 68 of Redeeming the Dragon

“A little,” I admitted. He scooted over on the mattress, and I settled myself beside him. He wrapped an arm around my hips, and I pulled my feet up onto the bed, clasping my knees. “She seemed to lack any interest in you as a husband. In fact, she told me this morning she doesn’t wish to marry you.”

“I don’t think she does,” Kidron replied honestly. “However, she fears her mother. Nor do I blame her. Her rebellion against the Scraggen can only go so far.”

This made sense. I could not say I was in a forgiving mood towards her, for drugging Kidron and ruining my chances of rescuing him. But…I supposed I could find a measure of sympathy for her, deep in my heart.

“Well,” I said, “now that you are awake and we are together, we must plot your escape. I did not travel all the way to Moonswept to be defeated.”

Kidron flashed me an approving grin that had my insides quivering.

“My brave Sandlyn lass,” he said. “When I told you I was going east of the sun and west of the moon, I never dreamt that you would actually find me.”

“It was not easy,” I asserted. “But I had help.”

Swiftly, I recounted my journeys, starting with the mirror in the cave. To my surprise, at the end, Kidron chuckled.

“Why do you laugh?” I asked, perplexed. “You are the one who found me and dragged me into this mess.”

“I laugh,” he said, “because I cannot imagine any other woman in all of Aerisia who would do what you’ve done to free a dragon from a curse. You are most remarkable, Lorna of the Jeweled Isles. And I love you with the entirety of my heart and being.”

“Even though I disobeyed your directives and ruined your chance at freedom?” I replied, stalling him when he leaned down to kiss me. “You still love me?”

“Do you still love me even though I took you from your home to my cave?” he challenged right back.

I considered the question, replying finally, “Our method of meeting was certainly strange. But we have overcome too much to surrender. I love you too, Kidron. By all that is good and right, I swear we will find a way to break this curse and be together.”

This time, I did not wait for him to kiss me. Seized by a reckless impulse, I twisted towards him, reaching up to slide my arms around his neck. I drew him down until his mouth was pressed to mine.

This.

This was what I’d been waiting for. Longing for. The chance to express my heart and desire, my love and relief. His mouth moved over mine in a way that fully bound my soul to his. His arms snaked around my back and hips, and, in a sudden movement, he pulled me onto his lap. I half-giggled in surprise, but my laugh was smothered by him pressing his lips to mine again. The warmth of his mouth juxtaposed with the scratchiness of his beard was like nothing I’d experienced before, filling me with a strange desire for more. More of his scent. More of his warmth. More of his closeness. More of my skin against his. More of the feeling of his hands on me.

Not now.

Not only were we unmarried, but we had only one night to plan. My first kiss had nearly undone us. I would not allow our second to complete the work.

Reluctantly, I broke the kiss, snuggling myself into the hardness of his chest. He clasped me tightly, holding me as though he would never release me.

“I love you, Lorna,” he said again.

“And I you,” I whispered. “When this curse is broken, when we are properly wed, we will find a place to be alone and I will kiss you with kisses that never end.”

“I look forward to that,” he chuckled, and I felt his chest vibrate with the laugh. “There is nothing I desire more.”

There was nothing I desired more, either, save knowing we had accomplished our important work of defeating the Scraggen’s dark purposes.

“I suppose we’d best set to work,” I said, reluctantly pushing myself free of his embrace. “We could spend the night kissing or planning.”

“I prefer the former,” he replied, reaching for me.

Laughing, I dodged, scooting to the very edge of the bed. “You say that now,” I replied. “But what will you say when morning comes, the curse still enthralls you, and you never have the chance to kiss me again?”

“You are not wrong,” he reluctantly agreed.

“No, I am not. We have tonight to concoct a plan. I have no more magical artifacts to trade with Atora. I doubt she’ll permit me back to your room without them.”

This truth was sobering enough that both of us fell silent, thoughts of kissing and romance chased away by danger.

“What can we use?” I said. “What do we have that we can use to fight a Scraggen? Will normal weapons suffice?”

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