Chapter 37

Several days later, Corliss was leaned against the doorframe of her brother's suite of rooms, trying to hide her laughter at the sight of the chaos. Several boxes were lined up on one wall filled with Ruvyn's belongings since he was officially moving in and yet he wasn't the one riffling through them.

Gaven sighed, running his fingers through his hair as he turned toward his mate, who lounged on the sofa in front of the fire. "I never remembered you having this much shit."

"This has always been in my apartment. Are you regretting asking me to officially move in with you?" Ruvyn questioned, raising a brow.

"Never...but where are we going to put it all?"

"Looks like we're going to have to get rid of a bunch of your own shit, huh?"

"Like hell we are."

Corliss snorted, finally making herself known with the two males as she talked in. "He already trying to take over the place, Gav?" she asked, plopping down on the sofa beside Ruvyn. "What happens when you guys have even more stuff in here when I get a niece or nephew, huh?"

Gaven pointed a finger at her, embarrassment flushing his face. "No babies yet. That's only for Bridget and Alberich to work on getting at the moment. Besides, we're not even officially married. And then there's the matter of figuring out what needs to be done and finding a surrogate and..."

Corliss wiggled her eyebrows at Ruvyn, who'd tucked her into his side. "I see he's already thinking about babies."

He let out a snort, though the spark in his eyes revealed his true feelings on the subject. "I think I'd rather keep him to myself for a little while. Someday, though."

Gaven beamed at the answer.

Sighing happily, Corliss continued watching the two of them as they unpacked Ruvyn's things and found them a place in their now shared rooms. Every time her brother looked over at her, he'd roll his eyes since she was still smiling at them, but he knew how ecstatic she was for him. Of course, she would still glance down at his leg just to make sure he wasn't walking funny, but he never did. Just as the healer said, once the protruding bone was put back in place, his healing magic had taken over almost immediately. He was fine and completely healed within a half hour.

In those following days, though, she'd hardly seen Meron. She hadn't even talked to him before he snuck out of the infirmary as she and Ruvyn fussed over Gaven. He'd kept his distance and also kept quiet, even during training. They didn't speak and barely even look at each other. Odanth and Ollyn certainly took note of it. Even Gaven, Ruvyn, and the other riders who'd been around for the fights did.

And Corliss hated it. Hated the cold shoulder, the silence, everything. She'd rather be fighting with him than having him pretend she wasn't even there.

"Have you talked to Meron this morning?"

The question had her looking up at her brother. "What?"

He raised both brows. "I'll take that as a no then."

"I've barely spoken to him these last few days," she grimaced. "I need to talk to him tonight, though. I have to give him something, too"

This time, it was Ruvyn who spoke...and grinned when he did. "Really."

Corliss narrowed her eyes. "Shut it, Ruvyn. Nothing like what you've got in your head is actually happening."

"Yet."

"Not yet," Gaven mumbled. "There sure as hell better not be a yet."

***

Yet, later that night, Corliss found herself with both Odanth and Ollyn in the dragon caves. After those weeks of training in Eld, her little baby dragons weren't babies anymore and took up too much room. They weren't even finished growing yet and they were still as large as the smaller breeds of dragons.

Just an hour before, Corliss was handing over the rest of the coin promised to the best craftsman in all of Eld. Now, she was figuring out the straps and buckles on Odanth's new saddle before she was even going to attempt to put it on him. The dragon lounged next to his twin brother, both of them eyeing her every move as she sat in front of them.

"This will be much more comfortable for you rather than the training ones. I know how much you hate the one we've been using."

Odanth huffed out a hot breath through his nostrils, blowing a few strands of her hair across her face. Smoke curled into the air and yet he hadn't once breathed fire. Ollyn started just a few days before, which made him jealous. He was trying, though, and would eventually.

Ollyn was watching from beside him, sniffing at the brand new saddle before looking back at his own worn one. But after finishing the straps and buckles on Odanth's, she turned to the second giant box she'd somehow managed to get inside by herself.

"And you," Corliss said, smiling at the other dragon as she lifted the lid and placed it on the floor beside her. "I got you a present, too."

Ollyn's eyes widened in excitement as he beheld his very own saddle, almost twin to the one on Odanth. The only thing different was the seat itself, which was built for his bloodrite bond. The dragon began wiggling excitedly, bounding up and down before practically demanding her to remove the other. It took much longer to get the new saddle on since he was so excited, but she was laughing by the time she managed to finish.

"There," she grinned, planting her hands on her hips to gaze at both dragons. "You two look ready to fly now, right?"

Odanth and Ollyn were not only looking at their own saddles, contorting in order to do so, but they also had to look at each other's. After sharing a look that sparked with excitement, both bounded over to her, shaking the ground beneath her feet, and wrapped themselves around her.

"Be careful, would you?" she yelled, though she was laughing at the same time. "You're not only going to poke my eyes out with your spikes, but each other's! Stop it!"

Odanth's snout poked into her stomach while Ollyn put his on the back of her head. It had her laughing all over again, the sound echoing as another walked in.

Meron's face was stoic seconds before he spotted what was going on...and then a small smile stretched across his lips. "What's going on here?"

With both dragons weighing her down, she was practically smothered. "You wanna help me?" Corliss gasped, but the dragons held her tight between them. "Please?"

Meron set down the bag he'd had slung across his shoulders before coming over. But since the dragons didn't want to let her go, they weren't going to let him in the fold either. Somehow, though, Meron's hands secured around her own and, with both of them laughing, he practically lifted her from the cocoon they'd encased her in.

Corliss stumbled forward, catching herself on Meron's arms before steadying. Her smile was blinding, even as she looked up at the male she'd been fighting with before and barely talked to those last few days.

"Thank you," she told him. "I highly doubt they would have let me go anytime soon."

Meron chuckled, dropping her hands when he realized he was still holding them. "What did you give them to warrant such a love fest?"

Nodding toward the two, she didn't say a word as his eyes followed...and widened when he noticed the saddles.

"I might have spoiled them a little," Corliss said after a few moments of his stunned silence. Clasping her hands in front of her, she shifted from side to side, looking between him and the dragons. "I...I had the saddles made so we can adjust them as they grow, which we both know they'll be doing more of in the coming months. But I...I might have stolen the saddle you've been using. You know, the one you said was almost perfect if it hadn't been well-worn by everyone else who's used it? That's why you couldn't find it. I had to make sure Ollyn's saddle was perfect for you, too."

Meron was still silent as he slowly walked toward his bloodrite bond. Ollyn was still wiggling in excitement, shifting so he could show him his brand new saddle. He poked his nose into his stomach before curling around him, practically pulling him into his side. Corliss watched as Meron reached forward to brush his fingers along the leather and the embossing design stamped into it – mountains and flames for Eld, for home.

"I..." Meron started in a whisper, still marveling at the saddle. "You didn't have to do this, Lis. I was saving up for my own, but I..."

She cut in before he could finish. "And it would have taken you years with how long the waitlist is with this craftsman. He's the best in all of Eld. I might have pulled a few strings in getting a meeting with him under a false name...and then when he saw who I was, he was more than willing to work on these for me and finish in such a short amount of time."

Glancing back at her, one brow rose in question. "What do I owe you?"

Gods, was he serious? "Absolutely nothing."

"Corliss, I know how much one of these costs. And if you went to the craftsman I think you did, then his are usually triple in price. Something like this...it couldn't have come cheap."

"It wasn't, but you don't have to worry about it, Meron. Just take it, all right? It's as much for Ollyn as it is for you. Plus, he and Odanth want to do everything together, so why not give them matching saddles as well?"

This time, he looked over at Odanth's, which did indeed mirror Ollyn's though the seat portion was fit for Corliss's frame.

"You don't owe me anything," she said a little more forcefully. "And stop thinking you do."

Meron blinked quick a few times before he met her gaze. "Then if you won't take my coin as payback, what can I give you in return? Because you can have anything you want and yet I don't think anything would be enough after what you've given me."

Nothing, she wanted to tell him. No, everything. But instead...

"I have a proposition for you."

One eyebrow rose. "All right. What?"

Threading her fingers together once more, Corliss looked away before back to him. "I think it's time to go back to Ayveri. I miss being home."

Meron's head tilted. "But Eld is your home, one you'll rule over one day."

She didn't want to think about that then, though. Right now, all she wanted was to be Corliss Lucerra. "I know that, but Ayveri is home right now. Plus, I have to finish up with university since I've been dragging it out for long enough."

"And Odanth? What are you going to do with him? I know of a place just to the south of the capital where the dragons usually stay, one Bridget has Chesnan stay at when they're there..."

Corliss nodded. "That's what I was thinking, too. I think we've learned enough here to continue when we're back in Ayveri. Of course, we'll still come here from time to time when there's official business, and I've already made Gaven and Ruvyn promise to come visit, but..."

"But what?"

She sucked in a breath, puffing out her cheeks which were turning pink. The expression made Meron crack a small smile.

What would he think when she said what she did next?

Guess she was going to find out.

"But I don't want to separate the boys."

The boys. Meron's nickname for Odanth and Ollyn.

That small smile continued to grow. "Is that it or are you asking what I think you're asking, Lady Lis?"

"What do you think I'm asking, Commander?"

"That you want me to come to Ayveri with you."

"Not like..."

"Don't even try to deny it."

"I'm not, but..."

"Corliss."

"Meron."

Meron closed the space between them, leaving just a foot between the toes of his scuffed up boots and hers.

"You can have the second bedroom in my apartment if you want," Corliss said quietly, her voice just over a whisper. "The only payment I want from you is to get the weekly groceries and cook the meals."

"Nothing else?"

"No. Just don't set the place ablaze, all right?"

"Will you ever stop?"

"Nope, but you love that I don't."

"Hmm."

Corliss held her breath and stuck out her hand. "So, do you accept my proposal?"

Meron stared at her, then down at her hand. His eyes went back to her face...before dropping down to her lips for a fraction of a second. "I do," he agreed, fingers curling around hers as they shook on it. "But if you want to change the terms at any point, all you have to do is tell me, all right?"

"Because that's what friends and roommates do, right?"

"Right. Friends and roommates."

Even as they agreed, they were still shaking hands. Both of their hands were rough and calloused from training, but all Corliss could focus on was how a sense of comfort spread through her at the simple touch. Something warm and glowing sparked in her chest, wanting to pull her closer to him, yet her feet were firmly planted.

"I have something else I want to give you," she said then, dropping his hand. "And again, there is absolutely no need for you to pay me back or give me anything in return. Just give me food and I'll be more than happy, all right?"

This time, Meron's laugh rang out, making her heart race before twisting in her chest as she turned her back to him.

"Is that so?"

Corliss only nodded, walking over to another, smaller box next to the ones that carried the saddles before bringing it back to him. Meron raised an eyebrow at the red bow she'd tied around it, then raised the other when he saw the tag on it that read To Meron.

"I was going to leave this at your door if I didn't see you today since you've been avoiding me lately, but I guess I can give it to you now."

A nervous knot twisted her stomach as Meron reached out to start undoing the bow as she held it for him. Even Odanth and Ollyn had gotten closer to see what his present was after getting their own.

Meron paused with both hands on the lid, playfully narrowing his eyes at Corliss. "Something's going to jump out at me, isn't it?"

"No," she scoffed, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. "Just open it, would you?"

Another smile twitched at the corner of his mouth...and then completely fell when he finally lifted the lid and peered inside.

Corliss was holding her breath again before it all came rushing out with a jumble of words. She hadn't planned on explaining her present to him. Like she said, she was going to leave it at his door and not even tell him it was her who'd given him such a gift.

"Just like the training saddle, I might have had to steal a few of your things. That one jacket that fits you perfectly...and those black pants you wear way too often and have more patches on them from every time you've torn them. Oh, and your favorite pair of boots I might have snuck back into your room this morning while you were in the bathing room. I needed your exact measurements for these to be made. If they don't, we'll have to get them adjusted before we leave for Ayveri. You can't go flying without proper gear, right?"

The lid tumbled from Meron's fingers onto the ground before he reached in for the black leather flying jacket with the same embossed flame and mountain design along one of the sleeves. He gently touched the silver fastens and buckles, the smaller details in the leather and fabric. Then he was pulling out the matching leather pants, marveling at the built in sheath for his dagger. And finally, there were the riding boots, the leather and silver buckles and rivets gleaming.

Meron's eyes were sparkling when they finally lifted to hers. "You got these for me?"

Swallowing hard, Corliss nodded. "Of course. You finally have your bloodrite bonded dragon after wanting one for so long, so you have to be properly dressed for flying, don't you? And the first time you wear your own flying leathers...well, you officially become a dragon rider. At least, that's what Ruvyn's always told me. But I...I wanted to be the one to get them for you, wanted to...to surprise you without you knowing it was actually me who did it. Because you deserve this, Meron. You deserve the gear and being bonded with Ollyn and the impressed looks I've seen almost everyone give you when you two are together. You deserve everything you've ever wanted. I hope you know that."

Silence caught between them before Meron dropped the gear back into the box and took it from her grasp to set it beside them. Corliss looked down at it in confusion, brows pulling together.

"What? Do you not like it or...?"

But he cut her off, immediately pulling her into his arms as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. Corliss's arms hung loose, surprise freezing her in place. Then that same warmth crashed over her as she hugged him just as fiercely as he was her, turning her face into his hair. Finally, she was able to touch him like she'd wanted to, even when she was mad at him.

"Thank you," Meron mumbled against her. "Thank you so much."

Corliss laughed and tightened her hold around his shoulders. "You're very welcome."

"I just...I never thought...gods, the saddle and the gear?"

"I will say again, you don't have to repay me, even though I know you're going to say you need to."

"Because I do. I can't accept this, Lis..."

"But you will...because you really want them."

"Of course, I do," he laughed, then pulled back. He kept his arms secured around her, though, leaning his forehead against hers. "Thank you."

"Again, you're very welcome," she grinned. "So, does this mean you like them?"

Meron was quiet then. One arm left her waist, but then his fingers were smoothing along her cheek, brushing her jawline, tracing just below her lower lip as his eyes dropped to them.

"I love them," he whispered, still staring at her mouth. "More than you will ever know. The best gift I've ever gotten from one of the best people I've ever met in my life...and quite possibly my favorite on both accounts."

He watched as her lips curled up in a smile. "Uh-oh. Is my brother-in-law not going to appreciate the demotion when he hears of it?"

"I was demoted the moment he met Bridget, so he knew it would come one day for him, too. I don't think he'd be mad."

"The Lord of Asturia coming after us both."

"He'd have to take on not only us, but the boys as well, right?"

Corliss threw her head back and laughed, the sound echoing off the walls around them. Odanth and Ollyn perked up at the sound, especially since they hadn't heard it with both their bonds in the same space...and so close together. And Meron...he was just as entranced, his arm tightening around her waist as the other dropped to the side of her neck. When she finally opened her eyes, she found him leaning closer, drawn into her.

But stopped just as his breath brushed across her lips, just centimeters away.

She almost closed that distance herself.

"When do you want to leave?" Meron asked her then.

Corliss had trouble focusing with him so close. Somehow, she found it in herself to detangle herself from his hold and take several steps back. Without the contact, Meron's own head seemed to clear. That warm, glowing light still tried to draw them together and yet neither one of them gave in.

Her voice shook slightly when she spoke. "Maybe a week? That good?"