Page 81 of I Dream of Dragons

“It won’t last long,” I whisper. “Beautiful things, beautiful moments rarely do.”

It’s a bittersweet thought.

He turns to me, thick brows arching. “Why?”

I nod at the sea. “Watch.”

The sky is darkening. A black cloud is moving overhead. Then, with a sudden screech, peretrels and bladebills drop into the water, breaking the glowing lace. More and more of them plunge, surfacing with a squawk and a shake of their wings, taking wing once more, dripping phosphorescence.

A rain of light.

“Hells,” he mutters. “What thefuck?”

“They’re feasting. They wait all year for this moment. The eel eggs come at a perfect moment when the birds are feeding their chicks. They will feed them these eggs and watch them grow strong.”

“That’s fucking terrible,” he says, and I laugh at his indignation.

“It’s life. Life and death. And I may not have my magic back, but I know about the sea. I know its patterns, its seasons. For all the good it does me.”

“Because you’re finnfolk now.” He gazes down at me. “Oh,makhair…”

I flinch, the moment broken. “I don’t want your pity.”

“Pity? I failed you, and this is on me. But it’s not pity. I told you. You’re a miracle.”

More and more pieces are falling into place, but right now I’m shaky. The sight of him so close to shattering scared me, andat the same time grounded me in the here and now, tore me open and shoved my feelings for him into my face.

I need him. Need to feel him close. No matter what.

“Right now, I’m a woman,” I say, “of flesh and bone. I want…”

“What do you want?” His hands cup my face, thumbs smoothing over my cheeks, over my lips.

“You,” I whisper, my heart in my throat.

The king wants me to deny Jai but I have no control over this. I couldn’t deny him to save my life.

“Are you sure?” he asks softly. “You don’t know what you’re doing to me. I shouldn’t… I shouldn’t touch you, dammit.”

“I am sure,” I breathe, loving how he gives the power to me, the power to choose, to decide. “Just kiss me. Touch me. You want me, don’t you?”

“If I want you? I’d move mountains for you, don’t you know that? I fought the fae king for you and I’m ready to do it again.” He grunts. “Command me, my lady.”

The words once more hit me like a punch. “Jai…”

“And if it’s only lust you feel for me, only physical attraction, I’ll take it. Anything you can give me,makhair. Anything you’re willing to give right now. Until you’re ready.”

“Ready? For what?”

“To admit what you feel for me. To remember us.” But he doesn’t leave me time for a response. His head bows over me, but instead of kissing my mouth, he puts his warm lips on my neck. His mouth moves over my skin, latching on to my flesh, my pulse, moving upward, leaving burning kisses.

It reminds me of that betrothal oath, the exchange of blood, the link of thoughts and memories Mars and I had meant to take.

But my body is too wound up to hold onto that thought. I wind my arms around his neck, arching against him, dropping my brow to his solid shoulder. Giving him better access.

“The taste of your skin…” He groans, nuzzles the spot behind my ear that has me shuddering in his arms. “You give me this and nothing will ever be the same again.”

“Please…”