Page 125 of The City of Zirdai
“All right. Be careful.”
Mojag scoffed. “It was easy before, but now that I can wield magic, it’s—”
“Don’t boast,” Rendor said. “You’ll tempt the Sun Goddess to teach you a lesson.”
Shyla waited for Mojag to make a snarky comment. Instead, he nodded thoughtfully before dashing away.
Shyla lumbered to her feet. Rendor grabbed her elbow to steady her. How did the big man move so fast?
“Perhaps you should—”
“Introduce myself to the guards and staff? Good idea,” she said. Shyla wanted to ensure everyone was loyal so there wouldn’t be any traitors surprising them later.
A grumpy rumble rolled from his throat.
“When’s the last timeyouslept?” she asked.
No answer.
“That’s what I thought. How about we make a deal? I won’t exhaust myself if you don’t. We can meet back in your office to rest together.”
“Rest?”
“Eventually.”
He laughed.
Shyla walked around the prince’s complex, stopping everyone she encountered to say hello and to thank them. Only a small amount of her energy was needed to assess their intentions. A few remained anxious about the prince’s capture, but she sensed it was more fear of the unknown than any hostility toward her and the Invisible Swords. Two of the guards tried to hide their anger, which stirred suspicion. For them, she used extra power to dig for the reason. Both were loyal to Yates and hoped for an opportunity to rescue him. Shyla noted their names to give to Rendor.
When the air around her seemed to thicken and drag on her body, she figured she’d reached her limit. She returned to Rendor’s office. Disappointed that the sleeping cushion was empty, she kicked off her boots and crawled under the fur.
Sometime later, warmth invaded her uneasy dreams and a solid presence pulled her close. She sighed and melted against him. Her worries soothed.
She woke wrapped in his arms with her head on his bare chest. Taking a moment to breathe in his scent and listen to the steady rhythm of his heart, she kept still. Then she ran a hand over the muscles of his stomach. His heartbeat increased its pace. So did hers as she explored the hard planes, her fingers dipping toward his waist.
Shyla lifted her head and met his gaze.
“I hope we never stop meeting likethis,” he said, then he kissed her.
Heat spread throughout her body as she deepened it, drinking in the taste of him. He groaned and his hands snaked underneath her tunic, resting on her back. His touch burned her skin. They kissed until breathless.
When they broke apart, Shyla sat up and plucked at her tunic. It chafed on her overly sensitive skin. She wanted it off.
Rendor took her hands in his, stilling them. His expression was a combination of desire and concern. “We can take it slow.”
“Remember when you said I didn’t know everything? Before you kissed me that first time?”
Confusion flashed on his face, but he nodded.
“Then afterwards you said that kiss was just the beginning.”
“You have a very good memory.”
“I do.”
“Do you also have a point?” he teased.
“I do.” She smiled. “You were right. I don’t know everything and I want to learn what comes after a kiss like that.”
