Page 80 of A Kiss of Flame
He knew Levian’s history and her troubles. He knew what she loved and loathed. He knew what made her sigh with pleasure and grumble with frustration. He knew the woman and the mage. Barith also knew to truly love Levian meant to love her as she was, fears and all.
“I love you, Vi,” he told her again, despite her previous snarl. “I’ve loved you and will love you until the last of my days. All I want is the chance to prove it to you every day ye’ll let me.”
Levian was powerless to stop the tears as they began to run down her cheeks. Barith brushed them away with his finger, his tender touch filling her heart with warmth.
“What will this mean?” she grumbled. The realities of their complicated lives were already pelting her with worries.
“It’ll mean I’ll have to be here to help with the horde, an’ ye’ll have to keep working with Council, an’ ye’ll have to make a fresh batch of Stepping Stones,” he told her without a hint of concern.
Since Vane’s kidnapping of Barith, Levian’s whole professional life had been turned upside down. The Council was determined to uncover who the Order of Penumbra was and unearth any spies that might be lurking amongst them. Levian was now an Ambassador and the head of a secret task force whose sole purpose was to do just that. How she’d gone from problem child to head girl in the eyes of the Council in a matter of a week still boggled her mind.
Levian was exhausted already. Tsuki had vanished, and so far, Levian could not find a hint of who she was other thanVane’s cohort. She’d hidden the mysterious orb, unsure what to do with it, but she’d have to sort it out eventually. She’d also briefly visited Merlin to confirm she was still alive but had been nervous about lingering. Levian felt no trace of the shadow magick any longer, but her use of it still weighed heavily on her heart. In her nervousness, she’d promised to visit Merlin again soon. All that she had to do began to run through her mind like a swarm of bees that managed to reproduce every second until her head buzzed.
Levian grunted with irritation. “It’s going to be chaotic,” she warned him.
“Aye,” Barith chuckled, kissing her forehead. “That it will be.”
The mage took a deep breath, letting the warmth of his touch ease her somewhat. It was going to be chaotic but not impossible. “We’ll have no time together, but I suppose I could try to spend more time here on the island if the queen will let me.”
“She’s lettin’ you be here now,” he reminded her. “And agreed to yer contract. Besides, my sisters are startin’ to warm to ye, and they have a bit of pull.”
Levian scoffed softly. Now that it was becoming serious, it all felt oddly absurd. She and Barith—together as acouple—living on the island of his dragon horde.
“We’ll find a way,” he encouraged her. “We always do.”
A soft smile tugged at the corner of her lips when he pulled her closer, and Levian’s worries couldn’t help but begin to melt, the bees in her head quieting. It was going to be insane and chaotic and taxing, but it’d been that way ever since she’d known him. They’d always thrown themselves willingly into the fray, knowing somehow they’d manage to scrape their way out; why would being a couple make things anything different? Would she want them to be any different?
“You’ll have to take me out on dates,” she told him flatly.
He rumpled a laugh. “I think I can manage it.”
“And buy me presents,” she added.
Barith grunted. “I’ve been doing that for centuries,” he reminded her.
She laughed sarcastically. “Losing bets isn’t the same,” she clipped tartly.
The dragon sighed heavily, and she smirked with satisfaction. “More presents,” he grumbled.
“You’re also infernally hot in your sleep,” she huffed as if second-guessing if she wanted to do this at all.“
Barith grunted at her taunt. “I think you’ll manage,” Barith grumbled, leaning back to look at her. “I’ve never complained about yer droolin’.”
Levian gasped at his slight, ready to snarl a retort, but the dragon chuckled and stole her words with a deep kiss. She leaned into the embrace, letting his warmth radiate through her chilled skin, and ran her hands along his broad chest. He growled in response. Her core ached, and her heart thrummed with pure and utter happiness. Levian ran her fingers along his neck and through his hair. When sent a cascade of magick washing down over him, Barith tensed, his primal growl reverberating through them both.
“Some would pay a fortune to be my pillow,” she quipped breathlessly against his lips.
“I know,” Barith grunted, laying soft kisses along her jaw. “I’ve no doubt it’ll cost me dearly.”
Levian smirked, leaning into his kisses. “Maybe I could craft an enchanted mattress that always stays cold?” she posed.
“Ye could move us to the middle of the bloody Arctic for all I care,” Barith growled before finding his way down to her neck, his focus now far from the conversation.
Levian sighed with joy and amusement before she pulled his head back up, keeping him from drifting too low. “I can’t promise I won’t threaten to turn you into a lizard sometimes,” she teased with a sly smirk.
Barith grunted a laugh. “I wouldnae expect anythin’ less, magick slinger,” he grumbled back.
Levian smiled, and the dragon smirked in response. There were more questions than they had answers; for once, the mage pushed them aside. She was afraid, but her mother had been right—If she wasn’t a little frightened, would she truly be in love?