The saddle is barely big enough for both of them, and Rakos’s entire body surrounds Bellamy. Their knees fit together front to back, and Rakos’s broad chest presses directly on Bellamy’s back. Bellamy’s ass fits snug up against Rakos’s crotch.
Heat rises from Bellamy’s neck, especially as Rakos embraces him to take the reins.
Bastard teleports from her carry-pouch and reappears on the saddle of Bellamy’s horse, where she settles in for her own spacious ride.
“Cozy, isn’t it?” Rakos murmurs hot in Bellamy’s ear. “You just sleep now. I’ll drive.”
They ride deeper into the forest, and Bellamy doesn’t sleep. He’s too content and cozy snuggled up against Rakos. “I’m so lucky to have stumbled into you.”
“I don’t think that was luck,” Rakos says. “The storm that blew you off course was probably Prince Vana’s attempt to cover up my exile. I’m the one who’s lucky you decided to take that collar off.”
“You’re welcome, then. My most successful kidnapping ever.”
“Well, maybe I can make it up to you. There’s something I’ve been wanting to try.”
“I’m listening,” Bellamy says neutrally.
Maybe not so neutrally. “Not that sort of something,” Rakos clarifies. “I wanted to see if I could use Tem magic to shut off your vision temporarily. I won’t try it if you don’t want me to, but it might give you a bit of a break.”
“Huh.” Bellamy thinks about it for a bit. “Does it hurt?”
“No, and it doesn’t touch the magic source within you. It’s nothing permanent. All I can do is cancel magic in active use.”
“My vision isn’t exactly active,” Bellamy says. “I don’t have to consciously use it.”
“If I try and it doesn’t work, nothing will happen.”
“Then sure. I’ve tried weirder cures.”
Rakos shifts the reins to one hand and cups the other around Bellamy’s forehead. He pulls until Bellamy’s head rests back against Rakos’s shoulder, which is already infinitely more comfortable. Bellamy would be perfectly content to just lie here, utterly boneless.
“Let me know if you notice anything,” Rakos says.
Bellamy doesn’t think Rakos is doing anything at first. He feels nothing, and faint iridescence still flickers here and there in the forest. Swirling in the air and skating around the outside of the bubble Rakos is enforcing around them.
The light dims so gradually, Bellamy doesn’t notice at first. Then he gasps, because the forest is utterly still around him. Utterly normal.
“Did it work?” Rakos asks.
Bellamy twists around in the saddle, and the same is true everywhere he looks. The forest’s magic is nowhere to be seen. “I can’t believe it.”
Rakos removes the hand from Bellamy’s forehead and loops his arm around Bellamy’s waist. “What do you think?”
“This is incredible.” Bellamy can hardly believe his eyes. The magic-tainted forest looks as ordinary as the plainest beach on Tavoc. “I wouldn’t want this all the time. My power is pretty useful. But if I could just take a break like this, every once in a while…”
Bellamy trails off.
He won’t be able to do this for long, and he won’t be able to take advantage of Rakos’s power where he really needs it in Sandrelle. As soon as Rakos reunites with Sarka, Bellamy will return to Silaise, and all of this will be over. This dampening of his sight is one more thing he’ll lose when he and Rakos part.
But like all the rest, he’ll enjoy it for now.
“I’m glad it worked.” Rakos strokes Bellamy’s waist, almost tickling. “The effect will wear off in ten minutes or so. I didn’t want to leave you defenseless for long.”
“This is perfect.” Bellamy nestles back in Rakos’s arms, enjoying the lush red and gold of the forest.
Silence stretches comfortably between them. The only sound is the wind rustling through the trees and the steady hoofbeats beneath them. Until after a while Rakos says, “How about a song, to pay me back?”
Oh, dear.