Page 101 of Shadow Queen
Norah dipped her head to one side, then the other. She couldn’t argue with that. Caspian shifted again, to her amusement. Her Northmen would have to accept the more liberal ideals of other peoples, eventually. There were much worse things than a child out of wedlock.
Coca Otay pointed at the lord commander as he approached. “At least be wise enough to choose a powerful father for a child. Soren perhaps.”
The commander stopped midstep, realizing he’d entered a conversation he had no interest taking part in. He backed away and slipped into the night. Norah couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her.
Caspian rose abruptly, and Norah looked up at him. “I think I’ll go check everything before you turn in for the evening,” he said, giving her a small bow of his head.
“Of course. Thank you, Caspian.” She watched him curiously as he disappeared into the darkness.
But her attention was pulled back to Tahla, who stood and took her father’s hand. “I know that you mean well, Father, but these decisions are ones I must make for myself.” Norah felt her words all too deeply.
Tahla leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. “Sleep well.” She turned to Norah. “Goodnight, Salara.”
“See you in the morning,” she replied.
Coca Otay gave Norah a respectful nod goodnight and followed after his daughter.
Alexander took Tahla’s place on the rock next to her. She was hoping she’d get the chance to talk to him.
“How do you feel?” she asked.
He nodded. “Better. Almost normal.”
“But you’re not normal, are you?” She watched him for a moment. “Are we going to talk about what happened in the Wild?”
He shook his head. “Norah, there’s nothing to talk about. I don’t have the gift of sight.”
“Why couldn’t Naavi control your mind?” she asked. “Why couldn’t she see you?”
“I don’t know. But I can be seen. You’ve seen the paintings. The seershaveseen me.”
Norah’s stomach knotted as the vision of Mikael’s end came to her mind.
Yes, they had.
Caspian sat at a small table in the one-room home he’d been given. He cursed himself. He couldn’t think of Tahla as his. She’d been very clear with him, and he’d agreed. At least in his mind.
He cursed again. Of course there would be expectations of her. She was the daughter of the chief. What had he hoped for? That she would marryhim? He was a simple captain of the Kharavian Crest and Mercian Royal Guard. He had no true wealth, nothing to offer her. In fact, their marriage would dishonor her. He hung his head; he had already dishonored her.
There was a knock on the door, and Tahla stepped inside. Caspian rose to his feet. He hadn’t expected she would come to him. She hadn’t so much as cast him a gaze since they had returned, and after the conversation around the fire…
They stood, their gazes locked on one another. Then she moved to him. Still, he waited. The silence between them ate at his strength.
Tahla reached up and clasped the side of his neck at the base of his jaw. Not hard, but not gently. “I worried for you, Northman.” She pushed herself up on her toes as she pulled him to her. “More than I should have.” And she kissed him.
It was a move he hadn’t anticipated, like many things with Tahla.
Caspian’s body responded, as only she could make it, and he caved to his need. He pushed her back against the wall with their mouths together, and cupped the bare skin of her buttocks underneath her leather sarong. Tahla pulled at the ties of his breeches and freed him, and he lifted her as she wrapped her legs around him. They both shuddered as he sank inside her.
They paused for a moment, and then she shifted to take him deeper. The warmth of her body called to him, and he pulsed with a growing fire, giving in to his want. He moved more fervently.
Suddenly, her thighs tightened around him, almost crushing him. He let out a painful growl as he stopped and strained against her hold.
Tahla smiled and drew her lip between her teeth. “Slow, Northman.”
He stilled as he waited for his panting breaths to calm. She was right. He was losing himself.
Caspian carried her to the bed and laid her down on it, without breaking their bond. They peeled off their clothes, somewhat awkwardly, and she laughed as he twisted to shake off his breeches. Then they lay still, looking at one another. Gods, he loved this woman.
