Talon let out a low sound, his movements becoming heavy and uncontrolled as he drove forward roughly.
He buried his face in the crook of my neck, his entire body rigid as he hit his own release. I felt the warmth of him flood me, and sighed in contentment as I came down from my high.
I tightened my arms around his neck as he held me pinned against the wall.
“I love you, little flame,” he whispered.
I withdrew from his neck and gazed into his darkened eyes. “I love you, Talon.”
I pressed a soft kiss to his cheek and relished in his quiet sight. “Thank you for saving me.”
“In every lifetime you will have me by your side,” he said. “Whether you need me or not.”
I swallowed and averted my gaze. “I am fiercely independent, but I have come to realize that even the toughest people need their person.” I looked back to him and smiled. “And I found mine.”
His eyes flared with appreciation. He hoisted me up his body, his length popping out of me. I tightened my hold on him with a squeal as he strode toward the mossy bank.
He lowered us onto the smooth rock near the river’s edge. I settled comfortably on his chest, resting my chin on my folded hands. His fingers traced patterns along my spine that had my skin rising in goose flesh.
I tilted my head to look at him. “You brought me back to where it began.”
“I brought you to where you chose to stay,” he corrected.
Emotion swelled softly within me.
“I would choose it again,” I said. “And again.”
His lips brushed my forehead. “I know.”
A comfortable silence settled between us but was broken by Talon’s sigh.
“We must head back,” he murmured.
I hummed in agreement, but could not find the energy to untangle myself from him.
He gently tugged my undergarments back into place and straightened out my cotton skirt until it was no longer bunched at my waist and wrinkled.
He clasped his trousers and slotted his hands beneath my armpits, lifting me and placing me back on my feet.
Offering me his hand, he led the way out of the cavern.
When we slipped back through the narrow gap in the rock and into the tunnel once more, the city’s distant hum returned gradually.
The upper corridors welcomed us with warm lantern-light and polished obsidian walls that reflected faint impressions of our passing forms. The city above had quieted for the evening.
It was peaceful. But I knew it would not remain this way forever. The High Court had yet to make a move against us—Talon also waiting for the perfect moment—but it was only a matter of time before the city I had come to love so much began to crumble.
As we approached the gate, a cloaked figure paced the length of the fence.
We sped our steps up until we reached Bater’s rigid form. His hand was clutching a thick piece of cream parchment with a bright red wax seal pressed cleanly at its center.
Talon’s hand tightened slightly around mine before releasing it.
“Bater, what is it?” he asked. “You have that look.”
“I do not have a look,” Bater replied automatically, though the faint humor did not fully reach his eyes.
“You do,” I said gently. “It is the one you wear when you are deciding whether to ruin a perfectly good evening.”