Page 102 of Iron Hearts and Dragon Magic

Naia did kiss him back, but then pushed him. “River, we need to decide what to do. We need to plan. And you still didn’t answer my question.”

He ran the back of a finger over her beautiful face. “We need to kiss, Naia. Kiss and forget everything. It’s a matter of strategy: decisions shouldn’t be made over troubled minds. It’s been too much. Too much for you. Too much for me. I say we take a break before we break.”

In truth he just wanted to hold her and forget everything about that horrific morning, everything about the events in the last few days, everything, everything—just for a moment.

She rested a hand on his face and he kissed it, as he noticed that she looked at him with her usual softness, that look that was so soothing, calming, that could put his heart at ease even when the world outside was falling apart.

“Let’s rest at the fort,” she said. “If anything happens, I’m there to make decisions, to talk to other kings.” Her voice then got strained. “And if my father returns, I’ll see him.”

River tried to be playful and cheer her up, and grimaced. “Oh no, all my work glamouring this house is for nothing, then.”

She smiled. “I didn’t ask you to do that.” Her tone was playful, but then, all of a sudden she got serious, thoughtful. “Let’s stay. A little. A couple of hours.”

What did she want to do in two hours? The only theory that came to his mind didn’t sound that plausible at that moment, but it reminded him…“You spoke to my sister, right?”

“Uh?” She frowned, confused, then slapped his arm. “Oh, you’re talking aboutthat.You can’t seriously be thinking… River, really?”

“No. I wasn’t. I wasn’t. I was just curious about something, but now I do realize it sounded awful. I just want to make sure you know what can happen between a man and a woman—when they’re alone. Because we are alone, and then it reminded me. I do realize you have no intention of benefiting from that fact, though. But I’m glad you know… things… now.”

He wasn’t sure if she remembered that he had given his word to wait until they were married—in human terms, but he didn’t want to mention it and risk making her even angrier, thinking his mind was going there.

She looked away. “It’s all complicated and not at all romantic, River. But I’m glad I spoke to her, even if now… She probably hates, me, right?”

Anelise was a mystery to River himself. He raised an eyebrow. “She hatesme. Not sure she hates you.”

“And yet she agreed to rule the Ancient City for you?”

He shrugged. “It was an order, not a request. But she wouldn’t have lied to you. I just wanted to make sure you knew, you knew everything, otherwise you can’t sayyes, you can’t sayno,you don’t know what you’re getting into.”

Naia sat on the bed. “I don’t want to get into anything—for now, at least.”

He sat by her and caressed her hair. “It’s fine. Fine, Naia, and I shouldn’t have brought any of that up. I just wanted to know. Come here.” He hugged her and held her close, holding her tight. “I wish we could stay this close forever, you know?”

“We can.”

“You do realize Ancients go to the chamber pot, just like you humans. How can I go there holding you? I mean, I can, but—”

Her laughter was like music. “Don’t be silly. I mean from time to time.”

River held her tight, feeling her heartbeats so close to his. She probably hadn’t realized what she had said and what it meant. Humans were careless with their words. And yet it meant so much being able to hold each other from time to time—for eternity. That, if they survived.

* * *

Naia’s eyes were closed,basking in that moment of silence, peace, quiet, still with that odd feeling that she shouldn’t leave the cabin—at least not yet. A long embrace, as if it could last forever. Naia and River just sat like that, matching each other’s breaths to a slow, calming, steady rhythm. River was now leaning his head on the space between her shoulder and neck, the rough texture of his horns on her neck strangely pleasant.

She realized that he needed this moment more than she did, he needed the comfort.

He kissed her neck, sending shivers down her spine, then said, “You make me sane again, Naia.”

She closed her eyes as she considered his words. “Were you crazy before?” She wasn’t sure about her own opinion on this, but wanted to hear his.

He still had his head buried on her neck, but chuckled. “Every second away from you is a soft, subtle agony, perhaps not enough to make me realize it, but I see it now.”

Naia almost reminded that she had been there, right there, almost beside him, when he’d become unrecognizable, a cold-hearted murderer, but she didn’t think he’d want to be reminded of that. Not right now. Instead, she chuckled.

“I think all you can see right now is my hair.”

“One of the most beautiful things in the universe. How could I complain?” His chest moved up and down, in an even slower, deep breath. “Naia, I understand you were scared earlier, I do.”

---