Page 116 of Deadly Maiden

“And we’d better pray this works.” I turn the key.

A series of precise clicks sounds, and within the structure something shakes, then the gate grinds open.

This ten-story-high gate moves at the turning of a small key, each wing creaking inward.

My footing seems to quiver, my balance shifts, and I take a tiny step to the side, having to concentrate to restore my sight to normal. Rorsyd eyes me, and I shrug. Raising the undead took energy despite the overabundance of gheist.

I crane my neck to watch the entire clifflike height of this monstrous gate swing open.

“I am impressed beyond words.” It clunks to a halt when the wings are at right angles to the wall.

Rorsyd stomps in. “Hurry. You look better without arrows in your back.”

When we are clear of the arc of each section, the gate slowly closes behind us. I barely notice the clang. Luckily, there is room for a dragon in here, but barely that. The space behind the walls is shadowed by an overhead lattice that connects the wall to the mountain. The dark lattice reminds me a ribcage, for it is fashioned from curved pieces connected by sinuous struts.

A slim silver door, etched with markings, leads further into the fortress.

“You are not going to fit in there.”

Rorsyd scratches at the stony ground then snorts like a disgruntled stallion. “No. I will not. You’re not going in there without me.”

“Which leaves only one possibility. You’ll have to shift back.”

“Yes. I’ll not leave to visit Orish until I’m certain you’ll be safe.”

I close my eyes, assessing my strength. “Okay. But after raising those guys.” I thumb backward in the direction of the undead. “I won’t be able to heal you without some rest.”

“Fine.”

“That’s the dirtiestfineI’ve ever heard you say.”

He grins with a side-display of teeth and gives an embarrassed dragon-shrug. “I’m tired. You’re tired. Maybe we both need rest.”

Except I really want to explore Slaedorth. If I’m dead on my feet, so be it. Better than undead on my feet. “We go in there. And when you say stop, we will. Best if we eat and drink sometime soon too?”

Kyvin is toting the bag with provisions in one hand, and slung over his other shoulder are the rucksacks Rorsyd droppedwhen we landed. His strength shocked me when he picked those up.

“Wait.” Rorsyd stares into space. “Shifting in one, two?—”

Watching him do this in reverse is as impressive as when he turns from fae into a dragon. He becomes an impossible, slip-sliding confusion of shapes that seem to fit together like a hazy, shrinking jigsaw, until they lock into the finality that is Rorsyd, the man-fae.

One knee on the ground, fist planted beside it, his head down a shiver runs over his sweat-shiny, bare-assed naked skin. Those shoulders. That ass…

I grab my lip between my teeth.

I should not be thinking of how sexy he is, shut it down, and wait for him to get up and find some clothes. He dresses quickly, shoves his feet into his boots, straps on belt, sword, dagger, then straightens to his almost seven-feet height and stares down at me.

“Are you ready?” I’m echoing what he said recently, before we flew here, when my father was lying in the dirt nearby. I haul a shaky breath.Not now.

Maybe I am the one who is not ready?

Rorsyd sighs and rolls his head in a circle, moves his shoulders making audible cracks, grimaces. “I am. Just one last question. Can we trust those undead to stay out there and to hold off the Aos Sin?”

“The last part, yes. Will they stay out there? Also yes. Like I said, they are mine.”

“Good. Though it is taking me a moment to get used to you making them climb out of the earth like that, after they waited, like, fifteen years?” He frowns, rubs a hand over his sword hilt. “Okay. Let’s go find all the scary monsters in there.”

I go to him, raise myself on tiptoe, and cradle my hands on either side of his neck. We exchange a soft, slow kiss, and whenour lips part, I sigh. “You feel so wonderful, so nice.” I press my face into his chest. “I needed this. My worries melt away when I’m with you.”

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