With a growl that surprisingly didn’t shake the forest, Cee waded into the water, seized him by the scruff, and dragged him onto the bank. “You’re a lizard, for Creators’ sake,” she grumbled, teeth clenched. “And you’re going to drown in four feet of water?!”

“That was—” He coughed and spluttered. “At least eight feet. Pretty sure.”

“I can’t believe they gave you a weapon. You’re an idiot,” Cee muttered, leaving him on the bank, sprawled on his belly, soaked to the bone.

There was silence for a beat, and I thought Gary had passed out from sheer fright, but he groaned as if pained and rolled onto his back. “Don’t let this put you off, my aquatic angels,” he lamented to the two he’d been flirting with, reaching out blindly like a dying Romeo in an amateur theater production. They both laughed. “We can still make this work.”

I couldn’t help it, I laughed along with them, and with one glance at Cair—seeing him, in real time, question Rathe’s judgment—I fully lost it. My belly ached, and tears welled in my eyes. I might even have snorted. When was the last time I’d truly laughed until I cried? I couldn’t remember, and honestly, I wasn’t even sure what was so hilarious anymore, but it felt unbelievably good to just let go. To be loud, and unashamed, and carefree.

To be me.

Wiping my cheeks with my sleeve, I bounded into Cair’s lap, flung my arms around his shoulders and kissed him, deep and filthy, uncaring of our audience. There was a wolf whistle behind us. It was definitely Gary, because the sound was accompanied by a wet “Get it, boss” and I just grinned, sliding my tongue against Cair’s until I was gasping for breath.

Then I kissed him some more.

“What was that for?” he asked when we parted, his lips slick and kiss-bruised, satisfaction radiating from him in sweet, delicious waves.

I shrugged.

“Nothing in particular. I’m just happy, and so fucking in love I can hardly contain it.”

Cair mirrored my smile, his hands roving up my back to urge me closer. “As am I.”

* * *

For four days we traveled, barely stopping except to turn in for the night, passing through every tavern and inn along the path. We were back on track from our detour, only a straight day-and-a-half trek separating us from the Outerlands.

I’d given up on my ‘walk the whole way’ idea pretty fast, especially when every mile had begun feeling like a slog. Cair would fly us a decent distance before returning to the ground whenever the motion got too much for me. I was convinced I’d eaten something funny, or the unfamiliar bout of exercise was taking its toll on my body. Either way, everything was aching, and even the simplest tasks took more effort than they used to.