He swallowed. "I was lost from the moment you laid your hand on me for no other reason than kindness," he said. "I didn't know it at the time, but it's true. Everything that came after – your desire to see me freed of my past, the way you came to me for companionship, how you would sit in the stands in the fighting courts and watch me quietly – it was wonderful, but you were only laying stones on a solid foundation."

With one hand, Dain twined his fingers through my drifting hair. "I would have loved you even if you shuddered at the sight of me. I would have loved you even if you found me detestable, and despised my friends and passions. I belong to you completely, and I have been yours ever since that moment."

I looked up at him, wanting to tell him and knowing it would be wrong to. So I only looked, and smiled, hoping that my own love would show in my dark eyes. "I've never possessed anything more valuable," I said, smiling helplessly.

"Save your compliments," Dain said gently. "I'd rather hear them tomorrow."

A command. Wonderful. I practically melted from the ability to do something for him. "Then I'll tell you tomorrow," I promised.

"Only if you still want to tell me then," he said, sounding wistful. "Would you like another story?"

"Yes, please," I said, still smiling. "Would you like to pick?"

"I can pick," Dain said. "I'll tell you about how I met Alluin."

"Okay." I settled deeper into the warm water, my eyes fixed on his face, and let his words fall into my soul.

48. Teeth

Chapter 48

Teeth

It took hours for the heartflower to wear off.

The bathwater cooled and Dain toweled me off. He brought me over to my side of the joined suites and dressed me in comfortable pajamas. He held me in his arms on the bed and told me story after story, until his voice got hoarse. When Kamharida came in, he told her to have dinner brought to us, and not to tell anyone what was happening in our rooms. She agreed without hesitation, my friend who took one look at the expression on my soulmate's face and knew something was terribly wrong.

Sometime around six or seven, my liver managed to crunch through enough of the drug that reality came back in one horrifying tidal wave. I flung myself away from Dain, retching, and puked over the side of the bed, sobbing hysterically. He had his arms around me again in an instant, holding me as I shook and screamed and wept.