Page 19 of Luca

“I want to learn to fight,” I said resolutely, and Cair’s eyes widened. I raised my chin high to show I wasn’t taking no for an answer. “And I don’t wanna hear any protests. I’ve made up my mind. I don’t want to always have to depend on others for your safety, and I don’t think it’s particularly fair on you that you’re the only one defending this relationship. A mating is a two-way system, and I want to do my part. That’s all.”

For a beat, there was silence, and I geared myself up for a few rounds of dissuasion table tennis, but none came. In fact, Cair had a fond smile on his face, and he nodded in that graceful, princely way he had before saying, “If that is what you wish.”

I blinked. I’d expected at least a little resistance.

“Oh.” The tension in me loosened and my brows pinched. “You don’t mind?”

“Do you want me to mind?”

“No.”Maybe.“I just… Usually, you try to talk me out of shit like this.”

“And what good has that ever done me?” he said, amused. “I’ll never deny you anything, sweetling—if it’s reasonable and within my power to give—but there is also no point attempting to discourage your fancies. You would find a way to do it anyway.”

I sniffed derisively. “Rude, and very slightly accurate.”

He chuckled under his breath. “Once we return, I will arrange for weekly lessons with Teighan, if he is willing. I would not trust anyone else with the task.”

Nor would I, but… “I was kind of hoping to start sooner.”

“You wish to master the art of self-defense…at this very moment?” he said, and I shrugged in assent. “We can certainly try. We haven’t made it too far from the palace, and I’m sure the trip to your father’s homestead can wait several years.”

I balked at his airy insinuation.Fuck that.

“Ugh, fine, you’ve made your point.” Cair was radiating a little too much arrogance for my liking, but I let it slide. “I guess I’ll wait.”

This trip was already taking its toll on me anyway, so learning how to use a sword or whatever might be best left until I had all my energy again. Plus, I’d already started this journey, so I may as well see it through before taking on side quests.

“Very well,” he acknowledged as if it were my idea, then there was silence.

I glanced around dumbly, having thought that since the conversation was over we’d start walking again, but we both stood there, rooted to the spot. I met Cair’s gaze—deep and unrelenting as it was—and the smile that raked across his face made my belly swoop. It was a familiar smile, but one he typically reserved for the bedroom, so I was a little confused.

“What?”

Reaching out, he hooked his fingers into the waistband of my pants and tugged, dragging me against his chest. He leaned in to scent me, rumbling into the crook of my neck. “Well, my heart,” he purred. “It seems your determination to defend me is quite arousing.”

Ah.

“Glad to hear it.” I tilted my head to give him better access. “Now you know how I feel.”

He hummed, the sound vibrating against me. His hands trailed over my ass, his fingers grazing under the hem of my shirt, seeking skin. I wanted so badly to melt into it, to let him keep going and potentially end up with my pants around my ankles as he fucked me against a tree, but we had a schedule, and I wanted to stick to it.

If only to be a shit.

“Come on then, big guy.” I tapped his chest, slinking out of his arms before turning on my heel and carrying on walking, ignoring the insistent throb between my legs. “As you said—journey now, sword fighting later.”

The answering growl that came from behind me was totally worth it.

* * *

An hour and a half later, we’d finally breached the tree line, and we wandered the final stretch to the base of the mountain. We would have been quicker had I not missed my footing on a particularly obstructive patch of thin air and nearly face-planted. Thankfully, one of us—not me—was graced with the reflexes of a cat, but even though we’d avoided disaster, I’d needed a second or three to recover.

Being this much of a hazard was taxing business, but someone had to do it.

We stood at the edge of the path, staring up at the imposing summit we still had to overcome. Well,Cairwas staring up at the summit. I was too distracted by the wistful smile he wore. It was far more worthy of attention than any scenic backdrop.

“I’m glad we’re finally here,” he said, and I winced.

“Sorry.”

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