Page 20 of Fire and Fate
She nods slowly, then gestures to two large men near the bar. "Get these idiots out of here. And tell them that if they come back, they will be dealing with me." She turns back to us. "Drinks are on the house. Anyone who can handle themselves like that deserves respect."
We sit back down, though I remain alert for any other threats. My heart is still pounding in my chest, and I realize that fighting alongside Kaia has awakened something in me. Watching her move with such deadly grace, seeing her hold her own against men twice her size, has stirred feelings that are both protective and possessive and distinctly physical. I want to pull her into my arms. I want to kiss her until we are both breathless. I want to claim her in every way possible.
From the flush creeping up her neck and the way her breathing has quickened, I suspect she is feeling something similar. The adrenaline from the fight has translated into a different kind of energy, and we are both acutely aware of each other in this moment.
Later,I send through our bond, and I feel her shiver with anticipation.
The exhaustion in the lines of her body despite the recent surge of adrenaline are starting to show. She has been pushing herself hard, refusing to acknowledge her own limits because she is so focused on her goal. As her protector and her lover, it is my responsibility to ensure she takes care of herself.
"We are staying here tonight," I announce, my tone leaving no room for argument.
Kaia's head snaps toward me and I already know she’s going to argue anyway. "What? No, we need to keep going. We are so close, I can feel it."
"You are exhausted, princess. You need real rest, a proper meal, and a chance to recover before we continue." I soften my voice, reaching out to take her hand. "I know you want to push forward, but you will be no good to anyone if you collapse from fatigue. One night in a real bed will not make that much difference in the long run, but it could make all the difference in your ability to face what comes next."
She wants to argue further; I can see it in her eyes. But she also knows I am right. Finally, she sighs and nods reluctantly. "Fine. One night. But we leave at first light."
"Agreed."
I approach the barkeep and arrange for a room, paying with some of the monies Kaia packed. The woman gives us a key and directions to the second floor, along with a knowing look that suggests she has deduced more about our relationship than we might like. But she says nothing, and I appreciate her discretion.
The room is small but clean, with a proper bed large enough for two and a window overlooking the main street. It is more luxury than we have had in days of sleeping on the ground. Kaia removes the fabric covering her face and lets out a long breath. "I feel like I have been holding myself tense for hours."
"Sit," I command gently, guiding her to the chair. "Let me see your arms from that fight."
She obeys, and I check her over carefully. There are a few minor bruises forming where one of the bandits grabbed her, but nothing serious. I massage her shoulders and neck, working out the knots that have built up from days of riding and sleeping on hard ground. She melts beneath my touch, soft sounds of pleasure escaping her throat as her scent sweetens.
"That feels amazing," she murmurs.
"Good. You carry all your stress in your shoulders." I continue working, feeling the tension slowly drain from her body. "You did well today. Both in the fight and in how you handled yourself around the townspeople. I am proud of you."
"I am proud of us," she corrects. "We were incredible together. I have never felt so in sync with anyone."
"Neither have I." I press a kiss to the top of her head. "We make a good team."
She turns in the chair to look up at me, heat in her eyes that makes my breath catch in my throat. "We do. In every way."
The air between us thickens with her scent and my desire, but before either of us can act on it, my stomach growls loudly enough to make Kaia laugh.
"Food first," she says with a grin. "Then we can explore other appetites because,” she says softly. "I believe you promised me 'later.'"
Heat floods through me at the reminder. "I did."
She pushes off the door, crossing to me, her hands coming up to frame my face. "Then show me after dinner, Sol. Show me what it's like when we don't have to hide or rush or worry about being discovered. Show me what it's like when we can just be us."
I capture her lips in a kiss that's both answer and promise, the world narrowing to just the two of us, alone together in this small room at the edge of everything we know. “As you wish, princess.”
Kaia
My body feels like it is heating up from the inside out. After Solace headed back downstairs and returned with a full spread of meats and cheeses, I was ready to pass out. But now, I can’t seem to stop fidgeting. I have felt this kind of warmth before, back in the castle when the physicians would check my temperature and declare that my heat was approaching. The herbs they gave me always put the heat at bay but this feels different somehow.
The heat is there, radiating from my core and spreading outward until my skin feels flushed and sensitive. I am clammy, my clothes sticking to my oversensitive body as I twist, warring with the idea of stripping down until I’m completely naked. It’snot just that, though. I’m irritable, small whines falling from my lips as I try to find a comfortable position.
But there is no slick. If my heat were truly here, my panties would be soaked through, my body preparing itself for an Alpha's knot. Instead, I'm just hot and uncomfortable and increasingly frustrated with everything.
"Are you all right?" Solace asks from where she sits on the edge of the bed, watching me pace back and forth across the small room.
"I'm fine," I snap, then immediately regret it. "Sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me."
