Her head righted, and she declared, “I’m going to make you commune with pixies tonight.”

And again, she was on about the pixies.

And…

Fuck.

Fuck.

Now he understood this feeling that plagued him.

He could fall in love with her.

“Cassius?” she called.

“Let us go,” he muttered, moving to round her.

But he stopped when her hand fell on the center of his chest.

The touch was light, but it burned through him like a brand.

She could stop him from a charge with a touch of her hand.

She could control his mood with the tone of her voice.

She was warrior and he could not strip her of that. It was not what she was, it was who she was born to be.

It was also magnificent.

But there was a very real chance he could lose her.

In the battle with the Beast.

In the battle for Airen.

In the giving to him of children.

Fuck, she could walk down the steps of the Citadel on her way to dinner, fall and break her neck.

Danger swirled around her and would for the rest of her days.

Her hair whipped his neck and he realized she’d come closer.

He tipped his eyes down to her.

And yes, bloody hell, she was closer.

He could take her mouth simply bending his neck.

“You’re not all right,” she whispered. “What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing. We must be away.”

He made to move again, but this time, she shifted so she bodily barred his path and he had to stop, or he’d come up against her.

And he could not have that.

Thus, he stopped.

“You are changed,” she noted quietly.

“I’m eager to be on our way.”

“We can delay if you wish to talk.”

“And what in the last two minutes of us speaking gives you the impression that is what I wish to do?” he asked.

“Well I know this Cassius. You’re being a cad.”

A cad?

He did not feel like laughing. Not at all.

But by the gods…

“A cad?”

“A cad,” she affirmed.

“And what is the word for a stubborn woman who pushes a man who does not wish to talk into talking by not letting the conversation lie and then calling him names?” he asked.

Her mouth quirked. “A concerned affianced.”

Oh yes.

He wanted to fuck her where they stood.

“Do pixies traverse the moors?” he inquired.

“Not often. They prefer the trees, creeks, streams, rivers, etcetera.”

“So if we stand here for eternity, I won’t be able to commune with them.”

With that, she smiled openly.

“Your point is made.”

“Excellent. Then shall we go?”

She shrugged. “Certainly.”

When he moved that time, Elena allowed it.

But she fell into step beside him and walked far too close.

He could take her hand, if he wished.

He wished.

But he did not.