Page 157 of The Blade in the Ashes
“We haven’t talked about your magic yet,” he noted, as if sensing my thoughts.
I took a deep breath, focusing on the quill sitting on the desk in front of me. With narrowed eyes, I sent all my concentration and effort towards it, groaning from the strain.
And it lifted half a centimeter off the wooden paneling before falling weakly back down.
“You might think that’s not very impressive,” I quipped sarcastically, leaning further into his touch. “But this is quite an improvement from last week.”
He bent down, nuzzling against my throat before pressing his lips affectionately to my cheek. “You don’t need any powers at all to impress me, love.”
Sweet words.
Words that didn’t change the fact that I didn’t stand a chance of fighting back against Hyrax without magic.
They needed me in this war. They were counting on me.
And yet, I had very little to offer them.
Sighing, I lay back on the bed, letting my too-long hair fan over the sheets. “Well, maybe now that Camilla has joined the divine ranks, she can fight this war and I can go find somewhere quiet to relax.”
Clay snorted, moving to crawl next to me and rest his head on my stomach. His arms on either side of me squeezed gently, as if he was reassuring himself that I was still here with him. I ran my fingers through his hair as I did the same. I think we were both still worried that this was all a dream and one day we’d wake up and I’d be back at that castle.
I wasn't sure when that feeling would go away.
“I’m not sure I even remember how to relax at this point,” he mused.
“We could find a cottage in the middle of nowhere.” My voice took on a soft, dream-like quality. “I could spend my days tending to a garden while you read those mystery books you like so much.”
He stared into the distance, picturing it all with a slight smile. “We could get a dog.”
I pictured a shaggy-haired beast bounding towards him, tongue lolling out of its mouth and tail swinging wildly from side to side.
“I’d like a dog,” I agreed, before pausing against a sudden wave of nervousness. “And maybe we could build a nursery in the cottage?”
Clay stilled, before lifting his head to stare at me with gold-flecked eyes. “Yeah?”
Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I found myself chewing on my bottom lip as my fingers in his hair stilled. “I mean, it’s just an idea. I don’t even know how their genealogy would work. I don’t know if they’d be Descendants of Zion or Hyrax or… well, of me but—”
He lurched forward, wrapping a hand around the back of my neck and pulling my lips to meet his. His kisses came rushed and happy, and I felt myself smiling against them.
“It’s a good idea,” he said, pulling back and resting his forehead against mine. “Maybe, one day, when this is all over, we consider making that particular fantasy come true.”
Warmth burst in my chest, my grin coming naturally as I ran a hand through his overgrown hair. His golden eyes fell over my face, leaving a tingling wake behind and for the first time in an eternity I felt the urge to pull him to me. A burning desire, yes, but more than that. I needed him. I needed to feel him closer to me than anyone else had ever been. On its own accord, my leg lifted, hooking around his hip and tugging him even more flush against me.
“Clay,” I breathed.
His eyes focused on mine, a burst of light flashing undeniably. “Yes?”
I moved to grasp his hand, and the movement sent a rush of icy cold as the metal of my iron bands pressed against my skin.
My movements halted.
Always the unwelcome reminders of reality.
I sighed, feeling the desire in my belly dry up as I pulled myself into a seated position. “I think we'll have lots of things to look forward to whenthis is over, but sadly, I don't think Camilla will be in fighting shape anytime soon.”
He remained reclined on the bed as I shifted away from him, confusion clear on his features at the change in subject and obvious rejection. But after a moment of consideration, he let it go, lifting his brows in an expression of agreement before rising.
“Yes, I suppose it's up to us.”
