Page 82 of Shadow Queen
Norah did the same, and they embraced warmly. “Hello, Tahla.”
“This is a happy surprise.” The chief’s daughter laughed. “What brings you?”
Norah looked back at Mikael.
“We travel to the Wild,” he said.
“Sol!” Tahla exclaimed. She stared at Mikael for a moment before looking at Soren, then to Alexander, then back to Norah. “All of you?” she asked. “Together?”
Norah pursed her lips and nodded. “Yep,” she said stiffly. She held back the jest of whether they’d even make it there.
“Why would you go there?” Tahla asked.
“We think it holds answers to questions I have,” Norah told her. “Answers that I desperately need.” Tahla didn’t know about her memory loss, or the assassins, and neither were something Norah wanted to explain, at least not right now. Luckily, Tahla didn’t push her for more.
Tahla’s brow furrowed as she clutched Norah’s hand and looked at Mikael and Soren with a concerned eye. “But the Wild isn’t a welcoming place.”
Soren grunted. “We don’t like to be welcomed.”
Tahla rolled her eyes. “Come,” she told them. “Come get something to eat, and rest before you’re off again.”
They made their way to the settlement on the river that glowed against the evening’s setting sun. Mikael broke off to give his respects to Chief Coca Otay, and Tahla showed Norah to her room.
“I can see you’re worried,” Norah said as they stepped inside, and she put her pack on a chair.
Tahla nodded. “The Wild is a dangerous place, Salara. You hold Savan’s favor, but Salar and Soren don’t. I fear even for your Northmen. Promise me you’ll take care of them. That you won’t let them be harmed.”
“I promise,” Norah whispered.
Tahla gave a warm smile. “It’s good to see you, sister.”
“And you. Maybe on our return, we can spend more time.”
“I’d like that.” The chief’s daughter gave another smile with her hand on the door. “Salar should be along soon. I’ll let you rest now.”
Caspian smiled as he pulled off his jacket. He wasn’t facing the door, but he knew she was there. He laid his jacket on the chair and turned. By the gods, she was beautiful. But she wasn’t smiling.
Tahla stepped inside, closing the door behind her. “How did you do it?” she asked him. Her tone was almost angry.
His brows drew together. “Do what?”
“Make me think about you every day, every moment that you were gone? It’s a cruel thing.”
He almost smiled again, but he couldn’t tell if she was truly angry. “I would never be cruel to you.”
Tahla crossed the space between them, and his pulse quickened. Her nearness both freed his spirit and captured him at the same time. She reached up and grazed her fingertips against his chest before spreading her palm flat. Even through his shirt, her touch ignited a fire across his skin. His body came alive. As much as he tried to conceal it, he knew she felt his energy when the corners of her mouth turned up.
“Have you suffered this cruelty too?” she asked.
The cruelty of wanting—he knew it well. But he didn’t answer.
“I’ll be taking that kiss now,” she said as she lifted herself onto her toes.
Instinctively, he dropped his head to hers so that their lips were almost touching, but his mind screamed restraint. He had known temptation would come with seeing her again, but he hadn’t expected it so quickly. He’d almost forgotten the power she had over him, and how strong it was. It took every ounce of self-control.
“Tahla,” he breathed.
She clutched his shirt in her fist and pulled him closer. “Kiss me, Northman.”
