Tested by the Night (35 page)

How many nights had she lain awake, afraid to go to sleep in case those bogeymen might come back for her?

Mia shivered again.

And beyond the outcroppings? What was there?

She could see nothing but mile after mile of barren mountain ranges. Not one single tree or one branch or even a fallen leaf. It was obvious nothing living stayed that way for very long in this place. Only death resided in Vile, death and misery.

And she’d once thought Bane to be cold. Mia chuckled. Compared to Vile, Bane had been a warm summer retreat.

Shivers that had little to do with the intense cold skittered unchecked along her spine and landed deep in her gut. Oh, yes, Vile really was as its name implied. It was dark, unsavory, and wicked. She could feel the wrongness of the place closing in around her, and she longed for the warmth, the safety of Talon’s arms.

But without even glancing his way, she knew no comfort would be coming from that quarter. He hadn’t spoken to her since they’d left Karza. But could she blame him? Especially after what she’d done?

She’d allowed him to unknowingly eat cat, and she’d even hand fed it to him. He’d probably never forgive her, and even if he did, she wasn’t sure she could ever forgive herself.

Mia hugged her cloak closer around herself and shivered again.

How could she have done such a horrible thing? He’d trusted her with his heart and with his story about Snoopers. And how had she repaid his trust? She’d stomped all over his honesty, his dignity, his vulnerability, and his love. She’d hurt him deeply, and she hadn’t even realized how much until she’d seen the proof of her own betrayal reflected back at her from the depths of his sad gaze.

And what excuse did she have for her thoughtless actions? Plain and simple, she’d been pissed. Pissed that he’d outsmarted her. Pissed that she really did need his help with the quests. And even pissed that she loved him so much her heart hurt with the weight of it.

In other words, she’d finely and truly become the pretty, pretty princess everyone was always accusing her of being. The silly little chit who threw hissy fits when she didn’t get her way.

In her heart, Mia knew they were right. And that above all else should have pissed her off. But all it did was make her even more disgusted with herself.

She hung her head. She didn’t deserve to be Queen. A true queen put her people’s needs above her own, always. A true queen wasn’t vindictive, mean, or vengeful, even when provoked. And a true queen most definitely did not betray the trust of the man she loved, not ever, not for any reason.

Tears threatened but froze in place before they could fall.

The knowledge that she’d learned an invaluable lesson from her mistake was cold comfort. However, now wasn’t the time or place to dwell upon it. Later, when there was more of an occasion for contemplation, she’d delve deeper into the whys and why nots of her actions.

Sighing, she pulled the small leather pouch she’d been saving for this occasion from the pocket of her cloak. It took her numb fingers a moment to undo the strings, but once she had it open she sprinkled about a quarter of its contents into her hand.

Leaning down, she placed the bright red grains of Aunt Lark’s gift—a combination of Uncle Sarco’s private stock of dragon’s breath combined with Aunt Lark’s spiritmaster magic—upon the ground and backed up three steps. And after clearing her throat, Mia began to chant.

“I banish you wind. I banish you cold. Be gone from this place with a fire that is bold.”

The pebbly grains suddenly popped, sizzled, and exploded as glorious heat rose upward. Within moments, a roaring fire was blazing, and this time when Mia sighed, it was with relief. She wished she could simply stand still a while and bask in its warmth, but there was a tent to erect around it and food to prepare upon it. So move she did.

For in Vile, there was no place for pretty, pretty princesses, even reformed ones.

****

If the blasted woman shivered one more time, Talon was going to lose his mind.

Not that he hadn’t been watching her do precisely that since the moment they’d stepped through the portal and into Vile. It was just that she was even doing it in her sleep.

It shouldn’t matter.

He shouldn’t care.

And after all, she didn’t need his assistance to stay warm. They had a magical roaring fire going nonstop right in the middle of the tent. Surely, that would be enough.

But even through his nice thick fur, the cold slowly seeped into his own not so dainty backside, so he had no doubt it was chilling Mia’s small frame to the bone. The fire was certainly sufficient to ward off the extreme nippiness while one was standing or walking about, but nothing, not even magic could penetrate the cold of the permafrost beneath them and the shock of the hard frozen ground. Even the thickest of furs was a piss-poor, lonely excuse for a bed in Vile.

She’d probably get sick. He should move her closer to the fire. No, he shouldn’t. He should let the stubborn, mean-ass little chit freeze to death where she lay.

So then why was he up and moving before he’d even completely formed the thought?

He was half way across the tent before he realized a new sound was reaching his ears, even above the snores of Wally, Pierced, Alistair, and Pearl. It was the chattering of Mia’s teeth. He quickened his step. That was one sound he couldn’t abide or ignore, especially when it came from her.

How many times when he’d been a child in Bane had the communal lodge fire gone out and he’d awaken in that self-same state? Cold and alone? He couldn’t begin to count. But then he’d had his father to rescue him, and Mia had no one right this moment except for his sorry excuse for an ass.

Oh, yes, the man Talon wished he could’ve been more like had always been there for him. And he had gathered him up and tucked him in snugly, right in the warmest spot, in the middle, between both his parents. He’d been safe, he’d been loved, and the world had once more been made right. That was, of course, until they both were no longer there. After they were gone, Snoopers had been the only warmth he could consistently count on.

His wool gathering wasn’t helping Mia, though, and he knew it, but still, he stood there another moment, still hesitated. He watched her fitfully sleeping.

Perhaps she was angry with him for good reason, and perhaps he was still a little miffed with her. But whether she liked it or not, he was going to have to pick up the little chit, for her own good, of course, and take her to his fur. He’d lose his mind if he didn’t.

Silently, he made the last few steps between them and lifted the princess into his arms, furs and all. She didn’t even open her eyes as he carried her across the tent. And she didn’t seem to notice anything was amiss as he laid himself down upon his pallet, hugged her body close against his and covered them both with furs.

She snuggled right into his embrace, as if she really, truly belonged to him, and she sighed as warmth once more began filling her chilled limbs. He held his breath and closed his eyes as he relegated to memory this one perfect moment of contentment. Soon she’d wake. Soon her third and final quest would begin in earnest. Perhaps he couldn’t hold back time, but for this single moment, this one night, he could keep her close and keep her safe.

A bone deep ache resonated through his very pores. Soon, much too soon he’d be forced to let her go.

In her sleep, Mia rubbed her body along the plane of his, kissed him on the cheek, and snuggled in even deeper. His cock roared to life.

“Down boy,” he growled. “Now is not the time.”

She yawned and squirmed even closer. “I rather like your cock when it’s standing at attention.” She wiggled her ass.

Talon shook his head. “Tempting, but not only are we not alone, but we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. You need your rest, princess.”

She opened her blue-gray eyes and gazed at him. From the soft glow of the fire, he saw her sad smile. “The boys and Pearl are all sound asleep. If we’re quiet, they’ll never be the wiser. And…and I’d sleep so much better…afterwards. That is, if you aren’t still too awfully angry with me. I’m sorry Talon. What I did was horrid and unforgivable. I wouldn’t blame you if you never wanted to…” She rubbed herself along the length of his hardening cock. “Well, you know, make love with me.”

It was true, he was still angry with her, but the question remained, was he so very angry he’d deny them both pleasure?

He thought about it, really thought about it. Yes, she’d tied him to her bed and drugged him. Yes, she’d tricked him into eating friggin cat. And yes, he had no illusions that she’d do it all over again if she deemed it necessary. She was as stubborn as the day was long and would, without a doubt, do whatever she needed to do whenever she felt she needed to do it in order to accomplish her goal. But then, wasn’t that the definition, the very essence of a true leader? And wasn’t that one of the qualities he loved best about her?

Mia didn’t do anything half-assed. If she believed in something enough to attempt it, VoT and high water wouldn’t keep her from her goal. Just as all of the other true rulers before her.

He ran his hands up her ass, and this time when she shivered it wasn’t due to the cold. “I suppose I’m not so awfully angry with you anymore. At least not right at this moment.”

Mia sighed and wiggled against him once more. “Well, then?”

Talon chuckled. “I’ll have a promise first, princess. No more trying to run away from me, no more tying me down, no more drugging, and God Draka knows, no more tricking me into consuming things no self-respecting barbarian would ever put in his mouth. Deal?”

Mia kissed his lips, and then his chin, and then his neck before forging a path southward. “Deal.”

Talon almost laughed as he smacked her on the ass. “Now uncross your fingers and say it again.”

Instead, Mia punched him lightly. “I do mean it, really I do. It’s just that sometimes even the best laid plans go awry, and one must do what one must do.”

All playfulness left her countenance, and she looked him straight in the eye. “As God Draka is my witness, I promise you this. After this quest is long over and forgotten, even when we’re both old and gray, I’ll still love you, Talon Starkweather, with all that I am and all I ever hope to be. There’s no power on or in Albrath that can change how I feel about you.”

“You mustn’t,” he whispered.

“But still, I do,” she whispered back.

****

Mia met the breaking dawn of a brand new day in Vile with a smile on her face even the cold, even the thought of what was to come, even a deep sense of foreboding couldn’t curtail. And though what happened today might very well determine her fate, she couldn’t seem to wipe away the remnants of last night’s silly grin.

Talon had made love to her, really and truly made love to her, and she’d made love to him right back…finally.

They hadn’t simply had sex, fucked, tupped, or played hide the sausage, and neither had they boned, banged, or bumped uglies. And they certainly hadn’t had plain old intercourse, diddled, doinked, or did the nasty. And without a doubt, they hadn’t just gotten it on, porked, screwed, shagged, or even played slap and tickle. What they’d done was so much more than any of those words could possible begin to describe. They had made wondrously, glorious, one man, one woman love with each other, and it had been amazing.

After her declaration of her true feelings, they’d cocooned themselves between the firs and shut out the entire world. There was no need of further conversation, not with words, anyway. Instead, Talon had told her with his body, with his very soul that he loved her and always would. And even if he did believe they could never be together as man and wife, at least last night, he’d touched her as if he’d been her husband. He’d kissed her with reverence, caressed her with tenderness, and took her with infinite care. Just as if she were precious, as if she were priceless.

The madness of barbarian lust had been far, far away last night, and in its place had been a slow steady burn, a joining, a melding of two souls, a benediction to life itself.

Ever so slowly, Talon had entered her, his cock burying, tunneling, stroking deep and sure, over and over. He’d even trembled in her arms, as she’d trembled in his, and when they could hold back the damn of release no more, they’d locked their arms about each other, kissed deeply, and poured out their pleasure into each other’s souls.

After it was over, they’d lain spent and quiet. Only the sound of their ragged breathing disturbed the silence of the night.

Then Talon had taken her hand in his and whispered, “As God Draka is my witness, after this quest is long over and forgotten, even when we’re old and gray, right or wrong, I’ll still love you, too, princess, with all that I am and all I ever hope to be.”

And then they’d slept.

She took a deep breath of frosty, cold, morning air, wrapped her fir cloak closer around herself and shivered as Talon, Pierced, Wally, and Alistair stepped from the tent and out into the new day. Pearl had been up and about for hours. Mia had heard her leave and return, and she’d also listened to the dragon’s lamentations about the lack of game. But then what would be the purpose of warm blooded, living, breathing creatures in a place that reeked of only cold death? And though last night under the warm firs with Talon had been perfect, last night was over, too. It was a brand new day, and the time to start this third and final quest was upon them.

Prickles of anxiety and trepidation skittered along her spine.

“So, what’s the plan?” Pierced grumbled. “And I’m hungry. Do we have anything left ta eat? Ya can’t expect a gnome ta go questing all day long on an empty stomach.”

Alistair chuckled. “When aren’t you hungry?”

Pierced winked. “For you, big guy, always.”

Mia simply shook her head. Though she was infinitely glad Pierced and Alistair were no longer bickering, she was also anxious to get under way and get this over with.

Talon beat her to a response, however, as he pointed back toward the tent. “The plan is, we’re going to hunt hydra, and if memory serves me correctly, there are still a half dozen or so apples and some bread and cheese in my pouch. Eat up.”