Page 60 of Aubade Rising
I bang loudly on Eskar’s door, not caring who hears me.
“Sage, what are you doing here?” Once he sees its me, he pulls the door wide. It’s late and I’ve dragged him from sleep. His chest is bare, hair dishevelled. The urge to run my hands through those soft strands almost distracts me.
“I came to find you. I’ve…” I’m suddenly ashamed that I negotiated something so critical without his permission or consent.
“I spoke with Dervla and with the King. They have a plan.”
He pulls me into his room. “I know,” he interrupts. “The King came by earlier; he wanted my opinion on infiltrating Tanwen.”
I can’t read his face, the political mask is in place. “Oh. What did you say?”
“That the town is impenetrable. The town gates are too high and well-manned. The mists mean you’d lose yourself rather than sneak in through that side.
Then he suggested the old aqueduct channels…
” He stops and pins me in place with those caramel eyes.
“That was your idea, wasn’t it? There’s no way he could have come up with that on his own. ”
“Haelyn’s, actually.”
He scoffs, “So, we’re going to take the advice of a prisoner?” He paces back and forth.
“She’s innocent. I know it. The King believes her too.” He’s not convinced, a crack slipping through his normal facade.
“What was so important that you had to tell me now? That you couldn’t wait until morning?”
“Dervla has given her word on behalf of the King. They have agreed to free you from using your attitude on condition you complete the mission in Tanwen and assassinate Kitto.”
He stills and the temperature in the room drops. I wonder if I’ve crossed some line, using his attitude as a bargaining chip.
“You made this agreement?”
“They’re determined you’ll go. You’re the best fighter we have. I negotiated something in return.” His eyes are wide, focussed on every word, as if struggling to comprehend.
“As soon as you return, you have your freedom.”
Something flickers deep in his caramel eyes and he turns sharply. “You could have asked for anything.”
“I know.” I shrug, then gasp as he closes the distance between us, all pretence of hiding behind his political mask gone.
His tall height and broad frame block my vision; he is all I can see.
His presence demands my full attention. I’m lost for words.
His hands stroke the sides of my face and travel over my shoulders before he leans in to kiss me.
It’s not the passionate kiss of earlier.
This is more. His lips caress mine, worshipping my face, my neck, my shoulders, thanking me in ways he couldn’t possibly explain.
Relief courses through me and I return the exploration, fingernails digging into his broad shoulders as he pulls me to the large bed behind him.
We tumble onto it, limbs tangling as I press myself against him. Letting our bodies speak for us, we pick up where we left off this afternoon, entangled in each other.
He breaks the kiss, breathing heavily. “I am forever grateful. They would never consider it before.”
“You don’t know that: you never asked. Either way, they’ve agreed now. They’re desperate.” I swallow the pit in my stomach at the thought of him in servitude for so long.
“Regardless, I have you to thank.” He tugs me towards him, lying my body along his side so he’s free to kiss me, his hands trailing up and down my skin.
The gentle caresses across my ribs and back have me squirming.
Heat pools in my stomach. I can’t think when he’s touching me like this.
His hands slide round my waistband and dip below but I pull back.
“So, when will you leave? Who will you take with you?”
He chuckles, “Not so easily distracted then.” He resumes kissing down my neck. “Tomorrow morning. The sooner the better. I need to finish this.”
I pull his face away and silence the groan building in my stomach. “You’ll go alone?”
“I work better alone.” A careless shrug, he pulls away from my hands and from the bed as the tension cools between us.
His eyes are the warm caramel I remember from the greenhouse but edged with something darker now. The weight of what he’s been asked to attempt has shuttered the light in them.
“You don’t have to do this alone.”
“I do. I’m not risking anyone else being caught in the crossfire.”
I follow him to the window where he stares into the inky blackness. When he doesn’t move, I reach to stroke his face. How he can still be so compassionate for others after how the King and the Mordros have treated him is beyond me.
“Let me at least try and return your magic; you can’t fight the Kevren Gwir, and Kitto when you’re not at full strength.”
“No.” He pulls me close, pressing me tightly against his warm chest. “I can live without it but I don’t trust anyone else. I’ll sleep better knowing you have some of my protection, even when I’m gone.”
My throat tightens and I struggle to form the words to tell him I understand what he’s saying, that again he’s putting my life before his.
I pull his face towards mine, capturing his lips softly.
“I understand. I’ll be there as soon as it’s done.
The King will need my help to retrieve the serpentine. ”
He kisses me back, wrapping me tightly in his arms. “Then we have tonight.”