by Lelia Eye
Tierra looked away from him, guilt passing over her countenance. “I would have done anything to save you,” she said quietly. “I will not apologize for that.”
Skye sighed and put his hand under her chin, raising her head so she could meet his eyes. “Tierra, I’m sorry I’m on edge. I don’t mean to take it out on you. It’s just . . . this is a lot to take in. And I still don’t know what exactly is going on.”
She brought a hand up to cover his, giving him a small smile. “I know, and I am sorry you did not get the opportunity to be part of the decision, but I was desperate, and I did not think of it immediately. There was no time to consult with you.”
“Consult with me about what?”
She did not answer directly. Instead, she asked, “Do you know of the room in the castle that contains the Pool of Terrain?”
His eyes narrowed at the question, but he asked, “You mean the room that Skychildren aren’t allowed to enter?”
She nodded, still not releasing his hand. “Members of the royal family act as the stewards of that water, and it is not simply an ordinary pool. It is a gift from Terrain, and only couples with a strong commitment to their relationship are allowed to drink it. It has its perks—it strengthens a couple’s powers and allows them to hear each other’s thoughts—yet it also ties their lives together forever. Some might think that final fact is not worth the benefits, but there are many who would rather die than live without the one they love. The water ensures that a couple will not be forced to live alone when one of them dies—the hearts of a couple who share the water stop at the same time. When one dies, so does the other.”
Skye dropped his hand. He felt his gut clench at the thought of how close Tierra could have been to drawing her last breath. “What if your mother hadn’t believed you, Tierra? You could’ve consigned yourself to death with me!”
“And what sort of life would I have had without you?” Tierra asked bitterly. “I would never have been able to forgive my parents for killing you, and I could not have stayed at the castle. But where would I have gone? Everything I have ever known has always been here . . . until you. I would follow you to the ends of the earth and to the tops of the skies, Skye. I have never met anyone like you. You may be stubborn and proud, yet you had not been here a month before I also knew you to be loyal and kind. You were willing to forgive me despite everything that I—and my people—have done to you, and you showed me the beauty of your home and your people.”
She took in a deep breath, trembling with emotion. “I love you, Skye. And I thought that m-maybe . . . being bonded to me would not be t-too bad.”
Skye did not respond verbally. Instead, he pulled her up against him and lowered his head. He hovered in front of her mouth briefly, his breath ghosting against her lips. Then he kissed her.
Skye had been denying his feelings for this petite woman for some time, but there was no reason to do so any longer. The love he held for her was real and strong and life-altering.
For a moment, he allowed himself to relinquish the heavy duties of a prince to his people and concentrate only on the pleasure of being a man with the woman he loved in his arms. There was no greater feeling than that.
He moved his lips gently against Tierra’s own soft ones, feeling the strength of her emotions feeding into his own through their bond. She moaned into his mouth, and he tightened his grip on her in response, pressing her more firmly against him and deepening the kiss.
He tried to pour all of his love into the action, showing her that she meant the world to him . . . and allowing himself to take heart in the fact that they would belong only to each other for the rest of their lives. This moment was one he would take with him when he finally confronted Hawkins, and he wanted it to last.
When he finally—with no small amount of reluctance—began to break away, she followed him, standing on her tiptoes so she could thread her hands in his hair and push his head back down against hers. He chuckled against her eager mouth and kissed her again, unable to understand how he could have ever thought he hated such a wonderful young woman as this. She was kind and perfect and beautiful, and he was fortunate to have her in his life.
Tierra at last pulled away, gasping and clinging to him as if she feared he would be wrenched from her once more.
Once he had regained a little of his own air, Skye teased, “I had no idea my fiancée was such an insatiable dragoness.”
Tierra flushed, but she fisted one hand in his shirt and used the other hand to rub gently up and down his chest. “I like being able to touch you like this,” she confessed, her cheeks pink with embarrassment.
Skye lifted an eyebrow. “What happened to the injunction against touching the Groundbreather princess?”
Coloring further, Tierra nevertheless responded in kind. “That stricture is for slaves. In reality, our courting rituals are quite structured, with exact rules of behavior that must be followed. But when one moves on from courting to engagement, the rules are relaxed considerably.”
Taking her hands in his and kissing first one and then the other, Skye responded, “In that case, I suppose I must admit that I like it when you touch me, too. And I’m rather glad we managed to bypass your courtship rules altogether.” He paused, glorying in the sound of her light chuckle, and looked at her, all the playfulness of the previous moments forgotten. “Tierra . . . I love you.”
“I know you do,” she said, smiling back at him. “I can feel it. But still . . . it feels nice to hear you say it.”
Skye laughed. “Then I guess I’ll have to say it more often.”
“You certainly will,” she said, staring up at him, her face suffused with joy.
On impulse, he leaned down and kissed her again.
* * *
Despite his initial frustration, however, his mental state had calmed once Tierra clarified what had happened to him. Now, he looked fondly back on those moments they had shared in that room once her family had left them alone. They were a bright light amid a dark storm.
After his return from the mountains, Skye and Tierra spent the rest of the day in one another’s company, enjoying the feeling of being close. For the most part, nothing intruded. They ignored Wisteria’s glares, Sequoia’s exasperated looks, and the wondering glances they received from almost everyone in the castle, content to focus on one another. On the morrow, Skye would return to the sky realm, and they both wanted to cherish these precious moments together before that happened.
Tierra and Skye knew they had garnered an intense amount of interest—the unorthodox way they had come together was such that it could be no other way—but most Groundbreathers were still friendly and deferential toward Tierra, and many of the guards who had once given Skye sympathetic looks appeared relieved that he had come through his trials unscathed. Even River, though she and Skye would never be anything resembling friends, had an amused smile or two to spare for his obviously besotted state.
Early the next morning, Skye had risen to begin his day and prepare for his return to the sky. After sharing breakfast in the dining hall with Tierra, he returned to the rooms in the royal apartments which had been set aside for his use and made his final preparations. He had just finished when a knock sounded on his door.
After Skye gave permission to enter, the door opened to reveal Tierra’s father. Skye stood swiftly, wondering why the man had come to see him privately.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Skye said. He dropped his gaze to the floor. “I’m eager to return to my homeland and remove the usurper, but I must admit that I’m reluctant to leave Tierra behind.”
Tillman chuckled. “I understand. In fact, I can well believe that the first blush of love makes it that much more difficult.”
Skye looked up, relieved the man understood him.
“I was newly in love once myself, young man,” Tillman said. “Trust me when I say I completely understand your feelings. And remember to
keep showing such concern for Tierra; that is the quickest way to bring Sequoia around.”
Skepticism did not even begin to describe Skye’s feelings. “Pardon me if I take your word on it, sir.”
Tillman, far from taking offense, found amusement in what Skye had said. “Oh, I do not think the goal is as unattainable as you might think. The way you have both been mooning into each other’s eyes the past few days has begun to melt her heart. After all, a mother’s greatest wish is for her children to be happy, and I think you will do quite well in that endeavor. Sequoia seems to be seeing that, too.”
“It’s just . . .” Skye paused, not certain how to say what he felt without injuring the fragile relationship he was building with his future father-in-law. “Your . . . relationship with your wife is not what I would have expected. My father ruled and commanded all, including my stepmother, though she’s not exactly . . . gifted intellectually.”
“I presume you refer to the way I usually allow my wife to speak for me?” Tillman asked.
Skye reluctantly agreed, but the king did not show any indignation at the admission. “Has it ever occurred to you that I allow my wife to have her say because I generally agree with her?”
Blinking, Skye considered that fact. He had always thought Tillman was just a meek man, completely dominated by his wife.
“Our opinions tend to be in line on most subjects, though you might find that surprising. Now, that does not mean that my wife does not get a little . . . exuberant at times,” Tillman paused and shot Skye a knowing look, “but for the most part, she is a good companion and partner, and I love her as much as you love my daughter.
“And as she is outspoken and I am inclined to be quiet, it is only natural that she be the one to speak for us.”
“Is everything all right in there, Skye?” Tierra asked through their link.
“Yes,” Skye replied. “I’m not sure what your father wants, but we’re having a civil conversation.”
Tierra’s concern was palpable. “My father asked me to wait outside, but if you do not come out soon, I am going to come in.”
“Don’t worry, Tierra. It will be fine.”
Skye turned his attention back on Tillman, only to see that the man was observing him with some amusement. “Were you speaking with Tierra?” the king asked.
When Skye nodded, Tillman said. “That is what I thought. The newly joined have a way of becoming almost . . . insensible to their surroundings when communicating. I have been told that those who have more practice can hide it better.”
Tillman smiled and continued, “There are benefits and downsides to having two rulers connected by the water, and Sequoia and I decided that the negatives outweighed the positives. That is not to say that you and Tierra shall not benefit from the bond. But the loss of two figureheads at once can be difficult for a kingdom to handle. Considering the way that Wisteria has turned out, our decision appears to have been for the best.”
Upon seeing Skye’s look, Tillman chuckled. “I am quite aware of what Wisteria is like. The girl is opinionated and does not possess Tierra’s compassion. Luckily, she should still have many years to mature before she must take the throne. I will need to help her gain that sense of compassion for others, or I fear that she could become a despot.”
Skye could not argue with that assessment, though he kept his opinions to himself.
“Now, I realize you must leave soon.” Tillman paused and then grinned knowingly. “I am also certain my daughter is eager to see you before you go. I simply wanted to reaffirm the fact that I wish for my soldiers to be involved in this battle. While there are undoubtedly some problems inherent in such assistance, a show of common purpose will be important. The soldiers going with you have been trained well and are very loyal. They should serve you admirably.”
“I agree with the need to demonstrate solidarity between our peoples,” Skye said hesitantly, “but you’ll have to forgive my reservations about having some of your people participate in a battle that takes place in the sky.”
“I understand your concerns, but my men will be more than aware of the need to stay away from the edges of clouds. Do not forget that my kind have been accustomed to battling with yours over the years. To avoid being affected by certain wind attacks, we can anchor our positions by covering our feet with soil. You must remember that Skychild raids have forced my people to become creative when it comes to fighting with yours.”
Skye managed an ironic smile. “I suppose at least something good has come out of this mess then.”
Tillman snorted. “Indeed. And you must also remember that I have an important stake in this battle.”
“I know,” Skye said softly. “I wish . . . I wish it wasn’t like this. I don’t like the idea that I’m placing Tierra in danger, even if it is only by proxy. It’s just . . . this is something I have to do. I cannot leave the sky realm in Hawkins’s hands.”
“I know. Were it anything of less importance, I would stop you. But I know you need to do this . . . and so does Tierra. I doubt you will ever meet another woman like my youngest daughter.”
Skye smiled in fond agreement. “I’m definitely aware of that.”
The king chuckled. “I know you are. If you were not, then you would be locked up in a cell for the rest of your life, bond or no bond.”
“I guess I’m glad I have your approval then,” Skye said dryly.
“Give Sequoia a little while,” Tillman said. “It will not be long before you will begin to hear entreaties for grandchildren. She loves children, and as we were only able to have two daughters, I believe she has her heart set on having many grandchildren to spoil.”
Skye’s face turned bright red, and Tillman began to laugh.
* * *
Tierra, sensing Skye’s nervous embarrassment through their link, decided she could wait no longer, and she opened the door to Skye’s room.
Much to her surprise, her father was laughing as Skye murmured something unintelligible. She was not sure what she had expected, but it was not this.
“Are you both all right in here?” Tierra asked with a frown.
“We are fine,” Tillman said, waving off her concern. “We were merely discussing your young man’s future.”
Tierra raised an eyebrow skeptically and looked at Skye, but he did not seem inclined to elucidate what exactly they had been talking about. “I see,” she said, eyeing them with suspicion. “Are you ready to go, Skye?”
Skye glanced at Tillman for confirmation.
“We are done here,” the king told him. “You should probably say goodbye to your sweetheart now. There might not be much time for that when you come back.”
Tierra and Skye watched Tillman leave, and then Skye looked at her and gave her half a smile, holding out his arm.
She hooked her arm in his, but though he started to walk out the door after her father, she did not move, and so his movement was stayed.
“Tierra, what is it?” he asked, looking puzzled.
She bit her lip. “Skye . . . I want to go with you.”
The set of his jaw was evidence enough of his frustration with her statement. “Tierra, we’ve been over this. You have to stay here.”
It had been the one point of contention between them the past few days. Every time she attempted to broach the subject, he shut her down.
“Skye—”
“I don’t want you to be put in danger. I don’t know what it’s going to be like up there, but it won’t be pretty, and I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“And what about you?” she countered. “You forget, Skye, that if you draw your last breath, then so will I.”
A look of pain crossed his face. “I can’t forget that. Do you know how many times I’ve considered staying here and living my life out with you? It’s so tempting to just do that and pray for peace. But if the Seneschal gets his hands on the Fenik, there’s no telling what he will do to your people. So I not o
nly have to do this for my people . . . but I also have to do it for yours. I don’t have a choice.”
Tierra nodded and leaned her head against his shoulder, not wanting to argue with him anymore, just wanting to let him draw from her strength.
He removed her hand from the crook of his arm and drew her to him, burying his face in her hair. She shivered at the feeling of his breath on her neck, and he tightened his hold on her. She did not need the bond or even words to know how much he loved her; she could feel it in the strength of his embrace, in the slight trembling of his form as he held back his emotions.
“I’ll live, Tierra,” he whispered. “I’ll live for you. Whatever I need to do, I’ll do it, just to make sure that we can spend the rest of our long lives together. And then I’ll come back to you.”
“I will hold you to that,” she said, pulling back so she could look up into his blue-green eyes. “Being an engaged woman, there are certain perks I expect to be able to enjoy.”
He grinned at her. “And what perks would those be?”
She craned her neck up to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head and captured her lips with his own.
Whereas before, their stolen kisses had tended to be gentle learning experiences, this time, their kiss burned with a passionate fire. Skye brought one hand up to her cheek to keep her from moving her face too far from his, and he shoved her up against a wall, drawing a surprised yelp from her. But though the stone behind her dug into her flesh as he pushed her against it, she kissed him back hungrily, grabbing his shirt and trying to pull him even closer to her, though it seemed somehow impossible in that moment.
He pulled away, gasping, and trailed a burning line of kisses down her neck.
“Skye,” she whimpered as he pressed his lips against a pulse point.
