Union (11 page)

“But since I’ll be busy all day with preparations for the journey to Alel, I thought we should at least have breakfast together.”

“I do like these old traditions,” Nykin muttered around another piece of fruit. He meant to come across teasing and lighthearted, but Ryneq had put his knife down and was looking at him intently.

“I’m sorry for not being there yesterday,” he said, and Nykin wished he could take the words back. He hadn’t intended to make Ryneq feel guilty. “And for rushing everything today. Believe me, Nykin, there’s nothing I’d like to do more than stay locked in here with you for the whole day.”

“I know.” Nykin shot him a look that he hoped conveyed exactly what he was feeling. “And I understand. We can have a day to ourselves after the wedding.” He smiled, waiting for Ryneq to return it before continuing with his breakfast.

T
HEY
WENT
their separate ways after a long, heated kiss—Nykin pressed against the door as Ryneq refused to let him go. Nykin watched Ryneq’s retreating form, admiring the snug fit of his pants before he turned and headed up to the Eyrie.

His muscles still ached a little from the night before, and the steps up to the entrance seemed to take forever. By the time he got to the top, Nykin was out of breath and had to lean against the wall to rest for a moment.

“Rough night?” Selene’s cheery voice echoed out from the entranceway, and she laughed loudly when she saw the faint blush on Nykin’s cheeks. She walked over to stand next to him and nudged him in the side with her elbow. “I’m only teasing.” She grinned up at him.

Nykin glared at her, but he couldn’t keep it up for long. He shoved her playfully in return and smiled. “You could say that.”

Her eyes lit up, and she leaned in closer. “Oh, tell me everything, Nykin. I want all the details!”

He was about to say no, because he couldn’t very well tell Selene about everything he and Ryneq got up to, but Jaken’s arrival saved him.

“I heard that, and if you value our friendship, Nykin, please don’t tell her.” Jaken climbed the last few steps and joined them against the wall. “Not only do I really not want to hear about what you and the king get up to in the privacy of your bedchamber, but if you tell Selene, she’ll be on about it for weeks. It’s bad enough listening to her constantly speculate about who does what and in what position—it’ll be twice as bad if she actually finds out.”

Nykin grimaced at the thought of the two of them discussing him.

Selene caught his expression and rolled her eyes. “Like you two wouldn’t be the same if it was me.”

Nykin was almost certain he wouldn’t, and both he and Jaken vehemently denied they would ever do such a thing, but Selene just rolled her eyes again and waved off their protests with a flick of her hand.

“Anyway,” she continued, “are you two actually going to ride today or stand around here gossiping like a pair of old women.” She eyed Nykin suspiciously, and he shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. He really didn’t like the expression on her face. “That’s assuming you’re not too… um…
sore
to ride, Nykin?”

Nykin sighed. “Really, Selene?”

She shrugged but at least had the grace to look a little sheepish. “Sorry. I won’t mention it again, promise.”

She mimed locking her lips, and Nykin couldn’t help but smile at her.

“Come on, then,” he said, pushing off the wall and heading toward the entrance to the tunnels. “It’s been far too long since I was in the sky.”

Selene and Jaken hurried to catch up with him, and the three of them made their way down to the storeroom.

“
F
IMOR
?
” N
YKIN
had Fimor’s harness over his shoulder as he walked back up to the landing caves.
“How do you feel about a little flying this morning?”
The mark on Nykin’s wrist flared brightly with Fimor’s magic as their minds connected.

Fimor’s rumbling laughter sounded soft and throaty in Nykin’s head.
“Good morning, Nykin. I was beginning to think you’d never ask
.
”

“It’s been too long, I know. But the physician refused to clear me for riding until the day before yesterday, and then I had the ceremony….”

“Yes, of course. How are you feeling?”
Fimor asked.

It reminded Nykin of what Selene had said earlier, and he bristled instantly.
“Not you too?”

“What do you mean? The announcement ceremony is a serious commitment, Nykin, and I understand that Ryneq was absent for most of it. And today should traditionally be spent together too.”

Fimor paused, and Nykin felt a wave of warmth flow through the bond and wrap around him, soothing him from the inside. The tension eased from Nykin’s body, and he sighed.

“I just wanted to make sure you were all right,”
Fimor said softly, all traces of teasing gone from his voice.
“It’s your
well-being that’s my primary concern, not the king’s.”

Nykin thought about the last twenty-four hours—yes, Ryneq had left him as soon as the celebrations were underway, but that was unavoidable. As was today. Besides, their night together—and again this morning—had more than made up for it.

“I’m okay, Fimor.
So
much better than okay, actually.”
He smiled to himself, letting the warmth from Fimor’s magic relax him further, and by the time Nykin reached the caves, he felt no tension or anxiety whatsoever—just the excitement of finally getting to ride his dragon again. “
Are you planning on joining me anytime soon?”
He laughed to himself as Fimor’s indignant huff sounded in his head.

“Already on my way.”

Nykin carefully placed Fimor’s harness on the stone floor by the wall and walked over to the mouth of the cave. Half the morning had passed already, and the sun was high in the sky, its rays falling on Nykin’s face as he stood by the edge waiting for Fimor.

Soon the familiar sound of beating wings met his ears, and Nykin grinned as his dark red dragon came into view. He waited until the very last moment, with Fimor virtually upon him, before moving quickly back and out of the way.

Fimor glided into the cave and came to a graceful stop about a foot from Nykin—a smug look on his face as Nykin had to jump back a couple of paces. He folded in his huge wings, taking his time to settle onto the stone, before swinging his head around to face Nykin.

Nykin quirked an amused eyebrow. “Are you ready?” he asked aloud.

He walked over to retrieve the harness and hefted it over his shoulder again.

“Of course, Nykin. I’m ready when you are.”

Nykin reached up and slung the harness and saddle over Fimor’s back, then secured everything in place, and smoothed his hands down over the rough scales of Fimor’s flank. It felt like a lifetime since he’d ridden Fimor, and for the first time since Nykin had become a dragon rider, he was nervous.

“Nykin? What’s wrong?”

Nykin assumed his apprehension had seeped through their bond, and Fimor had felt it. He continued to run his hands over Fimor’s side, trying to calm himself or Fimor—he wasn’t entirely sure who at this point.

“Nothing,” he replied eventually. “It’s just… I’m….” He sighed, leaning forward and resting his head against Fimor’s neck. He picked at the edge of the harness, needing something to do with his hands. “I’m a little nervous.”

A beat of silence passed, then…. “
I see.”

Fimor’s long tail swept over the stone floor and curled around the bottom of Nykin’s legs, drawing him in until Fimor almost cuddled Nykin up against his body. Nykin felt the strong beat of Fimor’s heart pulsing underneath him, slowly calming the rapid beat of his own.

“Do you trust me?”

“With my life,” Nykin replied without hesitation.

“Then you know that I would never let anything happen to you.”

“I do know that, it’s just
—
”

“No.”
Fimor cut him off, his voice like the crack of a whip.
“Get on my back, Nykin, and start acting like my dragon rider, or I will request that Eldin find me another.”

The harsh words had Nykin stumbling backward, hurt and anger seeping into his chest. “Fine!” he snapped back, grabbing hold of the harness and hauling himself up onto Fimor’s back. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

Fimor swung his huge body around and ordered Nykin to
“hold on tight
” before launching himself out in the crisp mountain air.

Nykin hunched low over Fimor’s neck and clung to the saddle as Fimor plummeted headfirst toward the ground. Nykin clenched his knees so hard his muscles were already protesting, but his pulse raced from excitement, not nerves. All the hurt and anger melted away, the exhilaration of speeding through the air so fast filling his bones and making him laugh out loud.

“Fimor!” Nykin yelled out, the wind stealing the words away almost immediately, but Fimor would hear him, regardless.

“See, Nykin, nothing to be nervous about.”
Fimor’s voice held a slight hint of amusement as they flattened out over the sea, the salt-spray whipping up around them.

“I know what you did back there. Thank you.”
Nykin didn’t bother to try to fight against the wind this time.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Nykin grinned, loosening his death grip on the saddle as Fimor climbed back up into the sky. He relaxed back and took the time to look around and appreciate the view of Torsere spread out underneath him. He could see the lower town where he’d lived up until a few days ago, and was surprised when he felt none of the longing or regret he’d been expecting. Just fond memories. He let the resulting happiness and elation flow through to Fimor. The soft rumble of approval vibrated throughout Fimor’s body, and Nykin laughed again, his smile wide and his cheeks flushed.

“I’ve missed this so much.”

“As have I.”
Fimor circled around the top of the mountain, sweeping low over the resting dragons there and letting out a roar and a short burst of fire in greeting.
“Please refrain from getting injured again in future, Nykin. It’s not an experience I wish to repeat.”

“I’ll do my best.”

They flew down over the palace and out over the Nalvaq Sea again, and Nykin let Fimor take the lead—content for once to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

R
YNEQ
SHUT
the door to his quarters and sighed in relief at finally finishing with meetings for the day. He peeled off his jacket and placed it carefully over the back of the chair next to the bed. He didn’t bother with formal robes around the palace, but he was still hot and sticky, having spent the last several hours going over Nysad’s proposed plans for the journey to Alel. The plans were relatively straightforward, but they needed to make sure they had sufficient guards accompanying them while still leaving Torsere well protected.

Nysad had also given them an update on the search for the spy. He had four guards left to question, and Ryneq felt torn between wanting to find the traitor and not wanting to discover one of his own men had betrayed them. He sat on the edge of the bed and bent to pull off his boots. Normally Thane would be here to assist him, now Kalis in his stead, but Ryneq wanted a few moments to himself and had sent her away.

The bed felt soft and inviting, the coolness of the sheets calling to him, and Ryneq couldn’t resist letting himself fall back to lie across the top of it. He closed his eyes and sighed. He was tired. The lack of sleep was catching up to him, and his muscles ached a little from the night’s activities.

The thought brought a smile to his face, though, as he remembered the way Nykin had felt underneath him. The soft fall of footsteps in the passageway outside caught Ryneq’s attention, and he turned his head toward the door and waited. His smile grew wider as the door creaked open and a windswept, excited-looking Nykin burst into the room.

“Hey, you’re back.” Nykin grinned. His face was flushed, and his whole body radiated happiness. “I didn’t expect to see you for a few hours yet.”

He kicked off his own boots and climbed up next to Ryneq on the bed, then leaned down to give him a quick kiss.

Ryneq was tempted to pull him closer and make it last, but unfortunately they still had things to do. “My meetings are all done with.”

Nykin’s eyes darkened, and he shuffled closer to kiss Ryneq again, but this time the kiss was slow and sensual—a promise of more—and Ryneq almost gave in. But they really didn’t have time for that, and so he reluctantly eased Nykin back with a hand on his shoulder. “We have to pack.”

Ryneq sat up, bracing himself on his arms and groaned loudly. “And I really hate packing. But thankfully,” he added when a knock came at the door, “we have help.”

He opened the door wide, smiling at Kalis as she walked purposefully through. She stepped to one side as two members of Ryneq’s personal guard followed behind her carrying a large wooden chest, which they set down at the foot of the bed. It wouldn’t normally be part of their duty to help with this, but Nysad had insisted they let as few people in on their plans as possible. Ryneq had readily agreed, and so his own soldiers, already questioned by Nysad and deemed loyal, were taking the place of the usual palace staff.

“If you come with me, Sire, Sarenne will help Nykin.” As the soldiers left, Kalis beckoned a young blushing girl through the door. Ryneq recognized her as one of Cerylea’s maids, and after he’d nodded his approval, Kalis gave her a gentle push over in Nykin’s direction.

Ryneq watched for a moment as Kalis went through his entire wardrobe, selecting the clothes he would need both for the wedding itself and the week or so they would be spending in Alel. As king of Torsere, Ryneq would need both his formal robes and everyday clothes. His robes were too cumbersome to wear all the time.