Page 88 of The Dark Rises
He looks sad for a moment. “I hope so, but I doubt there’s a realm that will take them. Most of the other lands are trying to find solutions for their own people. Who wants to take in a massive number of Fae who aren’t afraid to start a war to get their independence?”
Sad but true. Every kingdom will worry that the Federation won’t be satisfied with what they’re given and will use the threat of war to gain more.
For the next twenty minutes, I soak up the sun while he works on my rune. It’s peaceful here with him. Any place, actually. He has a way of making it feel like it’s only the two of us.
“Done,” he says, lifting my hand. “What do you think?”
“I love it,” I reply with a smile. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to keep this one forever. Although, I’ll have to remember to stay away from places like Avalon, where the old magic resides.”
Rivan’s eyes widen, and he jumps up and gives me a kiss. “You’re so fucking brilliant. I love you. I’ve got to find Madoc.”
With a sigh, I lean back on the cushions to soak up some more sun.
My phone pings. Cormal has returned and wants to know where I’m at, so I give him directions to Rivan’s room.
“On the balcony,” I call out when I hear the door shut.
He stops when he sees me lying on a pile of blankets and pillows.
“Join me?”
Seconds later, he throws down more cushions and lies beside me with his face tilted toward the sun. “I’ve been in the office for two days straight, trying to tie everything up so I can concentrate on the war here. Damn, this feels good.” He pulls me in tight. “Mmm, you feel even better.”
His hand splays against my back, and he leans in for a long, hard kiss. Breathing heavily, he shifts until his leg is between mine, then continues his assault on my mouth.
“I missed you,” he grumbles. “Next time, you’re coming with me.”
“We should all go,” I reply breathlessly. “Rivan and Madoc need to get used to spending time there, too. The Underworld is my home as well.”
He tucks my head under his chin and runs his hand down my back. “We could have dinner with my sister and Oryn. Or just my sister.”
I tilt my head backward. “Did something happen between them?”
He chuckles. “I think my sister is becoming her independent, feisty self. Oryn will have to figure out if he wants this idea he has of her or the real her.”
“She wasn’t exactly herself when they met,” I drawl.
“Why are you out on Rivan’s balcony?” Cormal asks, lifting his head. “And where is he?”
I explain everything that’s happened in the last couple of days. “He took off to find Madoc.” I shift a pillow under the small of my back. “What’s your room like?”
His mouth twists. “Same as this one. Why?”
“When all this is over, I want to redo this entire floor and combine all these separate rooms into one large suite for the four of us. We can spend time together or alone, but we need comfortable furniture and an outdoor space,” I tell him ruefully. “The palace hasn’t been updated in forever.”
Cormal stands and holds his hands out to me. “My bed is much more comfortable than this balcony. Join me?”
I laugh and leap up into his arms, wrapping my legs around him. “If you carry me, I’m yours.”
“You’re always giving me something to do,” he laughingly protests. Then his hands cup my butt, and he presses into me. “Maybe I should carry you all the time.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
RIVAN
Bursting into his study, I stop and stare at Madoc’s serious face. An entire battlefield is spread out in front of him. Hundreds of tiny soldiers in the official blue colors of the dark Fae and in the colors of our allies dot the map. My aerial platoon is positioned at the front line to fight against the strongest of the enemy’s forces, the Phoenix and Fire Drakes, but our numbers are considerably fewer than our enemy. Hopefully, Valerian’s dragons will quickly cut that number down. The Phoenix don’t regenerate from a kill by dragon’s fire, which means his squadrons will have to be first into battle.
Deep grooves line his face, telling me how weary he is, and the battle hasn’t even started. I can’t imagine spending all those years in The Below dreaming of crown and kingdom, only to have to fight a war to keep it.
