Laughing harder, Brannie nodded. “Fine. I get it. We all do what we must. That’s why Keita’s still alive and I didn’t stab her in the face.”

“I was amazed about that,” he admitted. “Several times I thought she was definitely dead.”

“It crossed my mind more times than I could ever admit to my kin.”

She took another swig of ale before handing it back to Aidan.

“Let’s stay here tonight,” she suggested, looking at him. “You and me. Fucking.”

Aidan smiled. “I will always enjoy your subtlety.”

“I’m a Cadwaladr. That was subtle.”

He raised the bottle. “Then here’s to a night of fucking.”

Brannie crawled into his lap, placing her knees on either side of his hips. She took the ale. “And drinking.” She took one more swig and handed it back to him.

Watching her, Aidan took a drink. When he lowered the bottle, Brannie put her arms around his shoulders and leaned in. She kissed him, long and deep, and Aidan immediately dropped the bottle so he could put his arms around her.

He pulled her in tight, automatically lifting his hips. They were both still dressed and yet he was already trying to fuck her. To be inside her.

Their kiss got deeper, more intense. Her hands moved to his hair. He gripped her waist. They began panting, clinging to each other.

That’s when Brannie jerked back, her breath harsh.

“What?” he asked, almost barking at her. He didn’t want to stop.

“This is it. Tonight.”

“This is what?”

“The end of it. You and me. This is our last night.”

“Gods, are we dying?” He began to panic. “Did you have a vision?”

“No!” She briefly closed her eyes, tried to calm down her breathing. “What I mean is this will be our last night of fucking. All right?”

“Uh . . . well . . . if you’re sure.”

“I’m sure. I’m positive!” Now she sounded like she was trying to convince herself. “All right?”

Aidan couldn’t help but feel that Brannie was forcing herself to do this. Forcing herself to break off what they had because she didn’t want to deal with how she truly felt.

He knew he could fight her on this. Spend all night trying to get her to see reason, but he also knew that would never work. Not with Brannie. He’d just have to wait it out. Let her figure it out for herself.

But until she did . . . they had tonight.

And they had ale.

“All right.” He grabbed the bottle again, lifted it. “To our last night.”

She let out a relieved breath and smiled. “To our last night.”

* * *

Gaius Lucius Domitus found a quiet spot away from all the camp activity and sat down, his back against a tree stump.

He opened his mind and, finally, after months of no contact for the safety of everyone, he called to his sister.

Agrippina.

Gaius?