“Calm,” he whispered again.
“Calm,” I echoed, my voice cracking.
The warmth of the fire.
The sound of waves crashing on the shore.
I took a deep breath, peeking over my knees at him. His face was downcast, giving me privacy.
His chest rose and fell slowly, so I matched my breaths to his.
This. You.
“I’m alright,” I managed. At the same moment, the clouds parted and allowed the moonlight to shine through the window once again, lighting the room in its pale glow.
He lifted his eyes to mine, the moonlight illuminating his silhouette. Rising to his feet, he pressed his forehead to mine and warmth blossomed in my chest, chasing away the panic.
We wereverydifferent now than we were just hours ago.
It felt as though the air around us had cleared while simultaneously igniting some unseen ember that grew hotter with each passing minute, casting him in an entirely new light.
Taking a deep breath, the scent of evergreen spice and smoke filled my lungs. His scent. I embraced it, settled with it, as my heart rate slowed back to normal.
He pulled back slowly, glancing out the window.
“It’s getting late and we have to be up early,” he said, extending a hand to me. “Ready for bed?”
I nodded, sliding my hand into his. He stared at it for a moment, running his thumb along the back of my hand before pulling me up into his chest and wrapping an arm around me.
“I have to be honest,” he whispered, a light smile dancing along his lips. “This is not how I saw this trip going.”
I laughed, pushing against his chest until he released me.
“I promise you, I didn’t see this”—I gestured a hand between us— “happening either.”
He smirked and grabbed my wrist, yanking me back to him.
“Oh, I sawthiscoming,” he said as he lowered his face to my neck, running his tongue along my ear. “Just not this soon.”
I shivered at his words and he chuckled, running a fingertip along my spine, still bare.
“Although, I am certainly not complaining,” he purred, walking me back to the bed. Once my knees hit the mattress, he kissed me lightly on the lips before scooping me up and tossing me on the bed. “Now go to sleep. We have an early morning.”
I couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped me. He beamed as he climbed in behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist to pull me against him. He draped a wing over us and I relaxed into him, the feeling of warmth and safety lulling me to sleep.
Chapter Twenty Eight
Rogue
The skies were clear as we neared Draig Hearth with every able-bodied man from Nautia, and I couldn’t contain my smile.
I was happy. For the first time in my life. Amid everything that was happening and everything that was to come, I was unapologetically happy. The feeling was ridiculous and foreign, but incredible and entirely due to the woman who rode beside me.
I glanced at Ara for what seemed like the thousandth time. She was holding her face to the sun, swaying as she rode her dapple gray horse with her eyes closed. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth and I turned my face to the sun with her, reveling in the warmth and smell of wildflowers.
We entered through the gates and stopped just inside the bailey. I swung off my horse and offered a hand to her, the same hand she had denied so many times, but this time, she smiled down at me—a soft, breathtaking smile—and took my hand.
Just as her feet hit the ground, Doran and his men entered the bailey with what looked like every man and woman from Blackburn. I took a deep breath as relief and pride flooded me.