Page 121 of Fate and Flame
“I’m sorry to hear about your father.”
“Don’t be. At least now I know.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Ara
Please, Fen? Don’t make me beg you.I wasn’t above pouting.
But you look so pretty on your knees.
I will cut you in your sleep, King. Or we can fist fight in the bailey. Up to you.
Fine. I’m almost finished and then we can go.
YES!
“He said yes,” I told Cal as I massaged his head, burying my fingers into the pure white mane around his face, as soft as a rabbit. He pushed into my hand and closed his amber eyes.
“You’ll spoil him rotten,” Loti said from behind me, carrying a bucket of meat across the rooftop.
“You’ve been up here as often as I have,” I answered defensively.
“Well, I always liked these beasts.” She plopped the bucket down.
I stepped aside so Cal could eat. “You should pet him.”
“Oh no, I prefer to just look at them. Are you going out again?”
“Fen’s on his way,” I answered.
She wiped her hands on the pressed apron she wore daily. “I would have made you a meal to take had I known.”
“We’ll be back for lunch, Loti. Thank you. Just a quick ride, nothing fancy.”
“That’s what you said last time,” she laughed.
I shrugged. I loved flying with the cetani. I wouldn’t apologize for that. She tucked her hands into her apron pockets, and we stood together in a comfortable silence as we waited for Fen to join us. He stepped out onto the roof and smiled at me. I felt that gaze all the way to the pit of my soul, his bedroom eyes glued to me as he crossed the roof, tousled hair and all.
“Ready?”
“Be safe, now,” Loti said as we mounted Cal. “I’ll see you for lunch.”
“See you later,” I squealed as Fen led Cal right off the edge of the castle, and he plummeted before spreading his wings and drifting just above the ground.
“That’s my favorite part.” Fen tightened his hand around my waist and nipped at my ear.
I leaned back against his broad chest, feeling it rise and fall as he held me. “This is mine.”
“I thought I’d take you to see the border of our lands today.”
“Take me wherever you want.” I closed my eyes.
The low growl sent a shiver down my spine and I laughed. Cal rose high into the sky and flapped his lengthy wings enough to gain a bit of momentum. Fen leaned forward and snuggled into me as we rode through the heat of the day. The wind just cool enough to protect us from the sun’s burning rays.
The ebb and flow of the beast below us lulled me into a deep, hypnotic state of mind as I cuddled into Fen and enjoyed the precious moments we had together. I wasn’t healed from the trauma of almost losing him. The nightmares were proof. But today, things were fine. He was here with me, and it was easier when he was. We rode for a long time in silence, enjoying the feel of our bodies pressed together until, finally, he spoke.
“See there?” He pointed to a spot where the sands began to fade to patchy grass. “That’s the border to our lands.”
