Page 49 of The Dragon Queen

I'vespentthepastweekandchangemovinginsecretthroughthenewWaterKingdomanditssurroundingterritories,andallthesubterfugeleftanitchbeneathmyskin.Allthefamiliarsightsfeltforeign.Mymother'slikenessonofficialportraitsandbustsjustremindedmeofherbetrayal.

Beingbackhere?Whereshewasamotherfirstandaqueensecond?Wheremyfather'sandbrothers'spiritsstilllinger?

Itfeelsright.

AndthecloserIgettomymate,themorerightitfeels.

Asweracethroughthequiethalls,thetuginsidemychest,yankingmetowardEmber,growseverstronger.Icansmellherontheair.Myskinsizzleswiththepromiseofhertouch.

Andmyheartraces.Thepangsofdistressinourbondthatbroughtmehomearen'tasintenseastheywerelastnight,butthememoryisanachingbruiseonmyheart.

Ineedtoputmyhandsonher.Toreassuremyselfthatshe'sallright.

Ineedtofindoutwhat'swrong.

Finally,weburstthroughthedoorsmyoldrooms.Thecurtainsaredrawn,thespacedark.Ember'sscentpermeatestheair,butit's...different.

Mynostrilsflare,andIglanceatmycompanions.Storm'sbrowsdrawtogether,andJianyu'seyesarepinched.Rafecurlshishandsintofists,hisdragonbreathingsmokeintotheair.

Mystomachclenches.Weallsenseit.Something'soff.

Butwhat?

Tensiontighteningeverymuscleinmybody,Ithrowopenthebedroomdoor.Theplaceisamess,clothesandpillowsscatteredabout,andthat'sendearinginitsownway.Ipauseatthethreshold.Ember'sscentisstronghere,butsoistheunfamiliarwaveofenergy.

ThenIspother.

She'ssplayedoutonthehugebed,dwarfedbyitsemptiness.Eveninasoftsleepshirtandfrayedshorts,she'sstunning.Herbodycallstomewithaferocitythathasheatbloominginmyblood.Hersoul'scallisstrongerstill.

Shetwitchesviolently.

Allfourofusrushtoherside.She'sasleep,butnotsoundlyso.Hereyesmoveerraticallybehindherclosedlids,andshethrashes.Amoanescapesherlips.

I'veheardhermoanbefore.Manytimes--butneverlikethis.

"Beloved--"Iputmyhandonherbareleg.

Shejoltsupright,purpleshadowsglowinginhereyes,herbodyacoiledspring.Forhalfasecond,herhandslightupwithmagic,butthenshebreathesin,blinkinghard.

Allthefightgoesoutofheratonce.Hereyeswidenwithdisbelief.

"You--"shesputters. "AmI--?"

"You'reallright,"Ipromise.

Rafegrins,buthisuneasehasn'trecededabit. "Surprise."

"We'rehere,"Stormassuresher.

Shelooksfromoneofustothenext,herheadspinning. "But--buthow--"

Jianyutakesherhandinhis. "Howcouldwestayaway?"

Aglassysheenovertakeshereyes.

Andthenshe'slaunchingherselfatus.

I'mclosest,soI'mthefirst,andthemalepridewithinmeroars.Icatchherupinmyarms.Ourmouthscrashtogether,andshetasteslikesweetnessandlightandthatdeep,swirlingdarknessthatIloveinher.

---