Page 71 of When the Moon Met the Sun

A moment after introducing Laurence to Eden, she let out a sharp chirp and head-butted the guard’s shoulder, nearly knocking him over with the force of it. I barked out a laugh, and the tightness in my stomach eased. The two of them would get along just fine after all.

After reassuring Laurence once again that I was sure of this arrangement, I hugged Eden and said my farewells. With a few parting words, Laurence led Eden off into the night.

I waved until I couldn’t see the duo anymore, then loosened a breath. A small part of me felt guilty, asking Laurence to fight once again, but I knew he wouldn’t have it any other way. The male had said so himself.

I smelled Byn before he made contact—rain and magnolia blossoms—and smiled to myself a heartbeat before his arms twined around my waist.

I leaned against Byn’s firm chest behind me, still shocked that this was my reality. That I had come to trust him, somehow. Was even willing to go to war against my own people for his.

I was not the same female I was just a few months ago.

“I’m guessing that went as well as I told you it would?” Byn spoke quietly near my ear, intentionally getting close enough that when he spoke, his lips brushed my skin.

I had to suppress the shiver that ran along my skin at the contact.

I focused on my breathing as I nodded, then turned around in his arms to face him and laced my arms around his neck.

“It was… more emotional than I had expected,” I responded, our eyes meeting.

“Given what he’s been through, I’m not entirely surprised. He’s a good male.”

“So are you, you know,” I added.

Byn smiled softly, but didn’t respond. Instead, he dipped his head and softly pressed his lips to mine.

And it felt like coming home.

This kiss was gentle, tender, loving. Our feelings melted together in my chest until all I could feel was warmth as our lips danced together, perfectly in sync. My arms wrapped around his neck on instinct, pulling him closer to me.

Hidden by the dark of night, I lightly gasped as his lips left mine and found that sensitive spot below my ear.

“Ready to head to our tent for the night, my love?” Byn asked in between the trail of soft kisses that ran down my neck.

Intertwining my fingers in his hair, I fought all of the desires floating through my body in the moment as I responded, “I’m afraid I can’t. I still have things to do before the North arrives.”

It was with those words alone that I noticed the sudden weight on my chest—and that it wasn’t originating with me.

Byn pulled back to look into my eyes as he slowly reached out to stroke the inside of my wing. He moved calmly enough that if I wanted to, I could move out of the way.

I chose not to.

“Are you sure I couldn’t tempt you, wife?” he murmured, his voice carrying a teasing note to it.

I gritted my teeth together to hold back any embarrassing noises trying to surface as his fingers made contact. “You’re going to be the death of me, Thorntier,” I said through my teeth as the power in my body surged in response to him.

A soft, triumphant smile overcame his features, dimple popping, as he observed just how easily he could get to me.

Though, despite the welcome distraction, that heavy feeling hadn’t left.

I looked up into Byn’s face, trying to read him, when he leaned down and lightly planted a kiss on my lips.

Sparks raced inside my veins at the contact, and it took all of my self-control not to groan with disappointment when he pulled away just a heartbeat later.

“Be safe, alright? I’ll see you soon,” he said gently, voice full of emotion that I couldn’t seem to place in the moment.

***

Kicking up a plume of dirt and huffing in frustration, I dropped to the forest floor, wings dragging. This small clearing was still covered overhead by the trees, and most importantly, was vacant of any soldiers or trokavs.

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