Page 94 of The Dragon King
It took several days to prepare for departure, and on the last night, I stayed in my tree house alone, wondering if I would ever see this place again. If I chose to stay behind, no one would stop me, but I felt like my purpose was in that battle, whether I lived or died.
No matter how angry I was with Talon, I wouldn’t abandon him.
I sat at the dining table with a cup of tea, looking at the fireflies floating outside the window and bringing a glow to the canopy and the forest. The music from the Great Tree was quieter than usual, somber because of the mass exodus that was about to happen.
I should go to sleep, but I hadn’t slept well in several nights. Tonight would be no different. I would lie there and reach forsomeone who was gone. I would think of someone who didn’t think of me with the same desire.
The front door opened.
It was late, and I expected no visitors, especially the kind that just let themselves into my personal space without invitation. There was no danger in the forest, but I got to my feet and rounded the corner in preparation to grab my sword.
But I stilled when I saw him.
Talon.
I sucked in a deep breath that almost sounded like a gasp. I hadn’t been sure when we would see each other again, but I hadn’t expected it to happen in Riviana Star, in my tree house, at this hour.
His armor was different now, with pieces of the Black Diamonds fused into different parts, the shine distinct against the matte appearance of his chest plate and vambraces. His cape was still at his back, and the hilt of his sword was visible past his head. He stared at me from where he stood in front of the door, his eyes dark like the underworld.
I was still frozen in place, still in disbelief at his appearance, even though an entire minute had passed.
Then he walked up to me, his boots loud against the wooden floor, taking his time as he crossed the room and came up to me.
He could kiss me or strike me. I wasn’t sure which would happen.
He stared at me harder than he had before, his eyes shifting slightly between mine, a mixture of anger and desperation.
My heart raced so quickly I could feel my pulse in my neck. I felt like I was in free fall and glued in place at the same time. Even after all the harsh words that were said, I couldn’t deny that my heart beat for him as much as it always had, since the night he’d told me what had happened to his family and we’d made love in the tent, since he’d swooped down from the sky and killed General Titan with a dagger to the mouth, since he’d slept with me through the night and dropped his guard.
“I thought keeping my distance would make this easier for both of us, but it hasn’t. It’s only made it worse, and now I hate myself for the time I wasted. For the nights you could have been in my bed. For the moments we could have shared. For the love we could have had. I’m sorry that I chose wrong.”
I continued to breathe hard, surprised by all that.
“I’m sorry.”
I looked into his eyes and saw the gold flecks in his gaze, the sincerity that shone through.
“I meant what I said before. That I believe this battle will claim my life. That these final days will be our last. I know it’ll kill you—and that kills me. After everything you’ve endured and lost, you have to endure this too.”
“You aren’t going to die?—”
“But our hearts were already sewn together. I finally gave my heart to you when I slept beside you, but you had earned it long ago, so long ago I can’t recall the moment it happened. But that was the moment I couldn’t fight it anymore. I thought I would love one woman all my life…but now I love another.”
I could feel the tears burning behind my eyes, feel them try to break down the dam that kept them from the surface.
“I love you with all my heart, Calista.”
I inhaled a deep breath as the fire in my eyes started to burn hotter.
“I’ve loved you a long time—and I will love you always.”
This was what I’d wanted when I told him I loved him, to hear him say it back…andfeelhim say it back. All the anger and resentment I felt disappeared when his words hit me with a sincerity so potent it burned. “I love you too” The tears broke free and released from the corners of my eyes.
His hand cupped my face, and his thumbs swiped each tear away before he brought his forehead to mine and stared down at my lips. We stayed that way for a long moment, savoring the connection between our hearts and our souls.
I felt all my pains ease and my scars heal. Felt my heart calm from a raging river to a steady stream. The peace his love granted me was more profound than the serenity I found in this very forest.
He pulled away and tilted my head back to look at my lips, to rest his thumb in the corner as he continued to regard me with soft eyes. “If I were to live…” His eyes stayed on my mouth. “I would marry you…and have children with you, and we would live among dragons and elves and humans—all as equals.”