He obeyed her silent demand, unable to resist even if he’d tried, and let her guide him down until his head rested on her stomach, and his chest pressed flush to her thighs.

“There’s so much more to you than just fighting and protecting, Jaren,” she said, running her fingers across his forehead and down his nose, soothing the tension in his face. “And I’m sorry that you couldn’t see that growing up. I’m sorry their choices took that away from you.”

He swallowed, and then swallowed again, feeling a burning in his throat as she gave voice to the pain that he’d held onto all these years. Gave voice to it and accepted him anyway. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

His eyes fluttered shut, and he groaned when her other hand worked its way into his hair, massaging his scalp. “Yes, it does.”

Humming in pleasure, he turned his face down into her bare torso, letting the steady rise and fall of her lungs drive away everything else. “I like it when you say my name,” he mumbled, wrapping his hand around her side.

She chuckled, and pressure built in his chest as his heart swelled in a way he’d never felt before, not even in the last few weeks with her. The feeling reminded him of the tug of their bond, but different. Stronger.

As if, even without it, even without their history, their connection, or any of it, he’d still be completely and irrevocably hers.

Her muscles tensed beneath his cheek, her skin growing hot just before a flash of light sparked behind his eyelids. He mumbled again, aware he needed to do something, but his mind grew hazy, and his eyes refused to open.

A moment later, her sigh of relief hit his ears, and her body went soft beneath him while her hand continued its lazy circles over his scalp.

And for the first time in his life, he felt like he was home.

Chapter 20

VERA

Consciousness came too soon. She groaned, not yet ready for another early morning of pain with Reniya. It’d been six days since Vera had met King Vesstan and gone to the training field, and Reniya had made a habit of kicking her ass every single morning since.

She was starting to wonder why she’d ever agreed to it. Her body ached more than it ever had in her entire life. Elric hadn’t been lax by any means, but no matter his skill, he’d certainly never hit with the power of a confident Magyki.

She wanted nothing more than to curl into Jaren and steal a few more minutes of sleep. Maybe wake him slowly with soft kisses and convince him to rub her calves. And feet. And also her shoulders. Fuck, she was sore.

Feeling the steady beat of his heart, but not feeling his body heat from his usual position behind her, she rolled to her side only to grunt in pain when something stabbed her just under her ribs. “What in all of Aleron is that?”