Page 95 of A Blightress of Wrath
Hebent down slightly to reach my lips with his, andIclosed my eyes, fueling the shield around us with more than the power ofFelgren, orBaron, orBlightress.
Ifueled it with my love for him.
Andit grew.
Itgrew as he lifted my chin, as he ran his hands along my cheeks, slowly sliding them down to my neck, never breaking our kiss, never letting go.
Tearsstreamed down my face becauseIcould not hold them back.Ididn’t want to.
Icried for loving him.Icried for what we would have and what we’d already missed together, what fight we still had left to endure, but that we would endure together.
Mypower shifted from the soft haze of soul-bound love into something burning.Somethinghot and destructive, insistent and raging in an endless flame that consumed us both there in that forest.Ourclothes were soon discarded, our bodies soon joined as the crackling shield of green flame lit in a cage of my making, enclosing twoBarons, two lovers, two lives bound as one.
Chapter43
Rev
“Justa little higher.Likethis.”ItookKarus’shand, raising it far above her head, stealing a quick kiss on her nose to make her laugh.
Shedid.Itwas beautiful.
Shechewed on some fermented cabbage she had found in a jar tucked in the cellar of theFortress.Hercravings the last few weeks had been…surprising.
“Thishigh?” she asked, pulling her right hand up in a cupped shape.
“Rightthere,”Iconfirmed. “Nowthis one down in a quick movement, like this.”
Ishowed her the movement again, a portal of my making sparkling under a birch tree inViridis.Shepressed her hand to its surface, staying put.
“Justchecking,” she chuckled.
Istepped through instead, catching her around the waist whenIappeared behind her instantly.
Shelaughed in a cough, turning in my arms. “Revich!”Shepushed herself out of my grasp halfheartedly, and returned to her jar, scooping another spoonful of the wet cabbage.
Wewere only a few weeks away from whenClairanniapredictedSaelynwould arrive into the world.Karushad blossomed into this gorgeous creature.She’dalways been so beautiful, but motherhood gave her a rosy glow in her cheeks, a sparkle in her eyesIhad never seen before.Herbody had adjusted well to growing another human, andIadmitted to myself thatIhad very much enjoyed her new curves.
“So,Ijust think of a place?” she asked, covering her mouth in her chewing.
“Aspecific place.Thebetter you know where you want to be, the more accurate you are.Ifit’s just a quick thought, you might end up smacking into something.”
“ButIcan go to a placeI’venever been?”
“Yes, but again, the more you know about it the better.Forexample,”—Ispread my hands again, another portal forming—“this will take me toRadyx, right toMadameZoreyah’scourtyard.I’vebeen before, soIknow the layout of the gold columns and the pattern of mountains and streams on the tiled floor.Iknow exactly where to land.Butthis,”—Icreated another one, glowing next to the first—“will take me to a peak in theAttatokMountains.I’venever been to the top of a mountain, butIcan guess at what it’s like.Imight land on aHornedVintras, for allIknow.”Imade a step for the second portal, and she shot out a hand, pulling me back by my vest.
Laughingwith me, she said, “Youwouldn’t leave me for a mountain top, would you?”
“Mmm,”Ihummed, winking. “Convinceme to stay.”
Shewrapped her arms around my waist. “AllIhave to offer is a cabbage kiss.”
Itilted my head back and laughed, closing both portals behind me asIreached down to pull her face to mine, taking my reward for staying.
Shebroke our kiss, going back to her coveted jar of the fermented vegetable. “I’dlike to try to send you somewhere.Thenyou come back here and tell me ifIgot it right.”
“I’mhappy to be your test subject anytime,BaronKarus.”
Shefinished chewing and straightened her back, pulling her hands apart in the motionI’dshown her a dozen times.Theportal, emerald and buzzing, flickered to life under the tree.
