Chapter 41

She didn't have to run for too long, though. With her magic flowing full force through her, something happened that never did before. Instead of creating a portal in front of her, she was able to redirect her magic to surround herself instead, allowing her to practically jump from one area of space to another. Within the time span of one blink, she found herself going from the archway leading into the palace from the training courtyard and in the library.

With her sudden appearing, her parents practically jumped off the sofa in front of the hearth. Jai had been stretched out and half asleep with his head in Lyv's lap while she ran her fingers through his hair, but both of them shot up, eyes wide as they stared at her.

"Dessa," her mother breathed, still feeling the air charged with her magic. "What in the world...?"

But Dessa wasn't going to let her finish, not when the sight of them both, healthy and alive and right there in front of her made her immediately burst into tears. Rushing forward, she collided with her mother, curling herself into her just as she had not a half hour before in the Keep's dungeon.

"I'm sorry!" she cried against her shoulder. "I'm so sorry!"

Lyv stood frozen for only a split second before securing her arms around her, one hand on the back of her head. "Oh, sweetie, it's all right," she told her, turning her head to kiss her temple. "You don't have to..."

"I do, though. I never thought...gods, when I saw you and the only thing keeping you alive was your magic, I..."

When they pulled apart, confusion knotted her brows together...until realization lit up her eyes. "You went back," Lyv whispered. This time, her eyes filled with happy tears. "You went back to when I was in the Keep."

A laugh somehow found itself bursting from Dessa as she nodded. "You told me the story a thousand times and yet never told me who helped you get out. That who was me."

She pulled her forward again, giving her a tight squeeze. "Now I can officially say thank you."

When she let her go, Dessa still kept hold of her hand as she turned to look at her father. Jai seemed to have cooled down after what happened a few hours before. Before he could even open his mouth to apologize for going off on her, Dessa shook her head and stepped into his open arms.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to him. "I'm sorry for being such a pain lately. I'm sorry for what I said to Momma in anger and frustration with myself. I'm just sorry."

Kissing the top her of head, Jai held her tight in his arms. "It's all right...just never do it again, all right?"

"Being a pain? I'm just like you and Momma, so you know that won't happen."

His laugh had her snuggling closer¸ her ear right over the strong beat of his heart.

But that laugh cut off when she told him what she did next.

"Thank you for coming back to us," Dessa whispered. "I never want to know what would have happened if you didn't."

Jai's breath hitched in his throat. "You know I could never leave you, Dessa Jai. I couldn't leave any of you."

Sniffling, she pulled back to look back and forth between her parents. Even within those fleeting few minutes with them both during a time she'd only heard about, she felt as if she understood their hesitancy more than she ever had. She wasn't the only one, though. Both Lyv and Jai knew they couldn't hold her back from learning her magic more extensively.

"We've been talking," her mother told her, glancing between Dessa and Jai. "You're right, even though I don't want you to be. You do need to go stay with Cleo for a few weeks and learn more from her."

"But Momma..."

"Listen to me. You were right in that she's really the only one who can teach you what you need to know. Your magic is different from how ours was and she's the only one who could help."

"So, you want me to go," Dessa stated, just so she didn't think she was hearing things.

"We want you to go," Lyv answered.

"But," Jai quickly cut in, "you're not going by yourself. Milena, Eamon, and Archer are going, too. We've already asked them and of course they said they would."

Excitement rose in her chest as her smile lit up. "And Elys, of course."

Jai crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "I guess he can go."

As if he knew the exact moment to make his entrance, Elys peeked his head inside the library. "Please. You know you wouldn't have been able to stop me anyway."

And stealing one of Dessa's favorite lines, Jai turned those narrowed eyes to him and said, "Shut up, Seer."

***

Though she'd promised her mother she'd kick her father out so they could just have mother-daughter time, there was no way Dessa could have done that after everything she'd seen. They spent the rest of the evening in the library, curled up on the sofas in front of the fire where Lyv and Jai retold their stories to her without holding anything back. Those stories took on new meaning then, especially when Dessa now realized she'd been a part of them for longer than she'd known before.

Elys stayed, too, though he was hanging off to the side just watching and listening. That changed when Len found them later, her little head poking inside as she hung from the doorhandle with one of her picture books in hand. She'd obviously come to see if Lyv would read her a story but changed her mind when she saw Elys. He was apparently her new favorite storyteller as she snuggled in his lap and turned to the first page.

"Read to me," she demanded, not even giving him the choice.

Elys's eyes sparkled with amusement as he looked up at Dessa, who was trying to hide her smile behind her hand.

Gods, he was perfect.

Opting for a quiet night with just the five of them, dinner was brought to the library where they ate and talked. Len finally let Elys out of her clutches to sit between Lyv and Jai, who helped her cut up her food before she started shoveling it in her mouth. Lyv tried to tell her to slow down so she didn't choke, but the three-year-old only grinned.

When Len was falling asleep in her father's lap just an hour later, he and Lyv said their goodnights to Dessa and Elys.

"Don't stay up too late, you two," Lyv told her after she leaned down to kiss her forehead. "And we'll talk in the morning with everyone on when you all want to leave. I don't want to you immediately, but it's up to you, all right?"

Dessa smiled and nodded, holding her hand against her cheek. "Of course. Goodnight, Momma."

But as soon as the library doors closed, Dessa grinned over at Elys. "You wanna stay up late?"

His laughter was answer enough.

Much like that first night he was home, they talked about anything and everything, falling into a comfortable rhythm as they sat on the sofa in front of the flickering fire in the hearth. By the time midnight came and passed, Elys was stretched out with his head pillowed on Dessa's lap. His eyes were closed as she ran her fingers through his hair as silence surrounded them.

"Thank you," she said quietly to him then.

Without opening his eyes, Elys gave her a small smile. "For what?"

"For taking me where you did today. For showing me what happened with Momma and Daddy before, the sacrifices they made so we could be here today."

Elys pushed himself up to sit. "You know how long I've been waiting for it to happen?"

"So, you knew, huh? Figures. And you didn't tell me, of course." Crossing her legs under her, Dessa shifted to face him, leaning her elbow on the back of the sofa before propping her chin in her hand. "With Daddy...you were there. And you were, what? Seven?"

Elys went silent for a few moments as his eyes slowly opened and he stared at the fire blazing in front of them. He wasn't seeing it, though, but rather reliving those few terrifying moments of watching Jai die.

"He died saving me," Elys said in a whisper. "Lyv was gone to try and stop Corliss and Guinevere herself, and the dark creatures attacked our camp without any warning. There were too many of them. So many of our guardsmen were caught off guard without weapons that would work against them, and their magic only managed to slow them some. I...there were too many around me and he'd come to save me. He didn't have to think about it, just stepped right in front of the blade that was coming for me and took it himself."

Seeing the tears he blinked back, Dessa reached over to brush her fingers beneath his eyes. "Not only did Momma save you, but he did, too."

Grasping her hand, Elys looked over at her and smiled, shifting to face her. "And I will never be able to repay them for all they've given me."

A smile lifted at the corner of her mouth as she reached up with her other hand, caressing his cheek and the scruff along his jaw. Gaze dropping to his mouth, Dessa brushed her thumb beneath his bottom lip. "What were you whispering to Momma before?" she asked him then, still looking at mouth. "When we were in the dungeon, I mean."

Elys kissed the pad of her thumb and winked. "You."

"Hmm. You seem to like talking about me a lot, but just not to me directly."

"Of course, I do. You're my favorite person, which also means you're the easiest one to see in my visions. You always have been."

"Yeah? And what do you see me doing next?"

Elys was the one looking at her mouth then, leaning in just a fracture more. "Showing me how you jumped from one place to another without using a portal."

"How about tomorrow during training?" she suggested. "I want to see just how I can use it in a fight, you know? Plus, we really should be getting up to bed before Momma finds us still here and yells at us."

He swallowed hard, eyes still on her lips. "Bed. Right."

Giving his hand a squeeze, Dessa stood up and let go as she walked backward toward the door. "Goodnight, Seer."

Elys didn't move from his spot on the sofa. "Goodnight, princess."

Another smile lit up her face when she reached the door. "Full title, please, since I still want to murder you."

"Goodnight, Princess Dessa Jai Deverell Ayveri."

"Much better."

Elys shifted to stand, chuckling to himself, as she reached for the handle...but she couldn't find it in herself to. Not when she noticed the slight flush along his cheeks in the firelight or how it made his mismatched eyes seemingly glow as he smiled at her. All thoughts completely left her as she stood there, frozen. All but one single word.

Mine.

Before she could stop herself, Dessa's magic sparked to life inside her, allowing her to jump from the doorway to just a few centimeters in front of Elys, who blinked at her sudden appearance.

Then stretched up on her toes, took his face in both her hands, and pressed a kiss to his lips.

Dessa sucked in a breath through her nose, thoughts jumbled as soon as his sandalwood and citrus completely enveloped her. She could only focus on him. The way his body was frozen against hers, the softness of his lips against hers, the scruff of his beard against her palms as she cradled his face in her hands.

The simple kiss only lasted a few seconds before Dessa pulled back, hands still on his face, and somehow managed a smile even as she felt a fiery ember threatening to combust within her.

"Didn't see that one coming, did you, Seer?" she whispered, thumb tracing below his bottom lip.

"No," Elys ground out, jaw clenched, eyes still closed. "Why...why did you do that?"

She shrugged one shoulder and took a step back. "Just wanted to...plus I forgot my jacket," she said, leaning over to grab it. "Goodnight, Elys."

And Dessa used her magic to jump from the library upstairs to her room.

Jacket slipping from her fingers, she leaned back against the wall by her door, eyes wide as she stared up at the ceiling. Everything was quiet around her as her mind raced, the only sound being her gossamer curtains ruffling in the slight breeze coming in from her open balcony doors.

"What in the hell did you just do, Dessa?" she whispered to herself, heart hammering in her chest as she lifted her fingers to her lips, still feeling Elys's pressed against them.

There was no way she was going to get any sleep now, not when she knew her dreams would be of him. Just that one thought had her body tightening as a flush rushed up her neck to her face.

Until two soft knocks on her door had her jumping and her heart racing in both surprise and anticipation of who she knew was standing on the other side.

Swallowing hard, Dessa tugged on the collar of her tunic, trying to get the cool air to calm her heated skin before she pulled open the door.

Only to find Elys standing there, hands braced on the doorframe with his head hanging forward. The tension in his body had Dessa thinking he was about to go off on her, especially when he asked her the exact same question she'd asked herself just a few moments before.

"What in the hell did you just do?"

"I'm sorry," she choked out. "I'm so sorry. I know I shouldn't have, but I was just caught up in the moment and I thought you would have yourself if...but I know you still think of me as your little sister..."

Elys silenced her as soon as his head snapped up, mismatched eyes blazing into hers. "You took away my chance to show you how I would kiss you for the first time, Dessa Jai. And it's been on my mind every minute of every day I've been back home with you."

Heart hammering in her chest, she whispered, "Really?"

"Really," he nodded. "And now...how the fuck do you expect me to sleep when all I'm going to be thinking about is what I'm going to do next?"

The question had her whole body tightening again, that ember inside her seconds away from bursting into flame. "And that would be...?"

"Kissing you the way you deserve to be kissed. Deeply. Thoroughly. With my hands everywhere on you."

That had the ember flaring to life, thoughts jumbled, body humming with anticipation as she watched him breathe in the scent of her and her arousal.

There was no hesitation as Dessa opened the door wider, inviting him in.

And there was none for Elys as he surged forward, hands going to her face as he pulled her body flush against his, and kissed her just as he promised.

With a flicker of magic, Dessa's door slammed closed and locked, which was a feat in itself since all she was thinking was Elys, Elys, Elys as her hands gripped the front of his tunic. His fingers tangled in her hair as he moaned, which made Dessa gasp at the sound. He took advantage of her parted lips then, deepening their kiss with a clash of tongues and teeth.

All she wanted was to get closer to him, to feel not only his mouth and tongue against hers, but his body, too. She'd admired his tanned copper skin, the tattoos and scars, the cut of his chiseled body from a distance for far too long and all she wanted to do was touch him.

Elys seemed to be wanting the same thing as his hands traced down her spine before gripping her backside as he pressed himself tighter against her. Dessa moaned breathlessly at the feel of the bulge in the front of his pants pressed against her stomach. The feel of his arousal had her moaning as one hand dropped so she could feel him through the leather, mind fogging over at the size of him and his clear need for her. His hips shifted against her hand as he panted into her mouth.

Feet tangling, they somehow managed to walk backward until Dessa hit the edge of her desk. Both of them were pushing everything out of their way, scattering parchment and books and ink pens all on the floor. Elys lifted her up to sit on top of it and fit himself between her legs, his hands trailing along her legs to grip her behind her knees, yanking her forward. As soon as he did, they were both groaning at the feel of the other pressed so intimately against them. Arms around his shoulders and fingers gripping his hair, Dessa wrapped her legs around his waist, knees at his hips as she deepened the kiss again.

Somehow managing to pull her lips from his, Dessa's hands traced down his chest to where his tunic was tucked into his pants. Elys took advantage of the tilt of her head as she did, dropping his mouth to her neck, teeth grazing her flushed skin, tongue dancing across it. Pulling his tunic up, Dessa's hands shook as she took it off him, unable to meet his gaze as he leaned back. She took every part of him in. The scars and tattoos and muscles, tracing them not only with her eyes but with her fingers also.

Elys jumped slightly under her touch, hands tracing up her arms to her neck as he lifted her chin to make her look at him. Words were lost to her as she stared at him, especially when he leaned in again to kiss her again, just as deep yet so much slower. Like he was savoring every bit of her as his hands traced down her neck, one curling around her waist as he shifted his hips against hers. The other trailed between her breasts, going to the tie on the neckline of her tunic, pulling it free so more of her was exposed. His lips never detached from hers as he continued tracing along the skin of her chest, then gripped one breast through the fabric.

He somehow managed to pull back a few mind-numbing moments later, both of them still wrapped around each other. Lifting a hand, he traced her lips with his finger, the bright flush on her cheeks.

"Now that was the way I wanted to kiss you for the first time," he whispered to her as he leaned his forehead against hers.

Dessa swallowed, still completely focused on his body against hers, his arousal pressed between her legs, and asked the same question he had. "How do you expect me to sleep when all I'm going to be thinking about is what you just did?"

Elys leaned in close and ducked his head to trail featherlight kisses up her neck to her ear. "You're not...and neither am I."

She let out a whimper as her fingers tangled in his hair again. "And are you going to be using those visions of yours to see what I'll be doing?"

His chuckle made her shiver. "No, I'll be nice and give you your privacy," he murmured, nipping at her earlobe with his teeth. "Just know I'll be doing the same. Besides, I'd much rather watch you in person."

Holy hell.

Dessa traced along the swirling ink of his tattoos on his chest. "Then stay and you can."

Elys lifted his head and surged forward to kiss her again, then pulled back as he detangled himself from her grip on him. "Later. But for now...goodnight, Princess Dessa Jai Deverell Ayveri."

Watching as he walked backward toward her door, his tunic in hand, Dessa's body was still humming with her absolute need for him. "Good thing you just called me by my proper title...because I still want to murder you, Seer. Especially if you think leaving me right now after that is the smart thing to do."

Winking, Elys gave her a wicked smile as he unlocked and opened the door to leave. "Oh, I hardly think that's the truth, you beautiful female. You'd rather be doing something else with me instead."