“And the Guild?”
“I don’t know.”
“Fair enough, but even if you choose not to come back, know you’ll always be Guild. You’ve been marked by our enemies and you need to remember that, and if there is a question that only your talents can find the answer to, we will call on you. You’re never truly free.”
Fallon’s response was reasonable. Still, flame bristled under his skin at the directive, while Nalah answered. “I understand. That means also if there is something only the Guild can help us with, we’ll be sure to call you.”
With that, Fallon smiled a wide, genuine smile. “Make sure you invite Laire to the wedding. She gets horribly depressed if she misses any occasion that allows her to dress up.” In a smooth movement Fallon turned and headed back to the town, the other two following.
Let them clean up, or arrest people, or whatever else. He was done, and all that mattered was getting back home, getting his motorcycle, and bending Nalah over it as he’d been dreaming about for six years.
Speaking of, Nalah leaped into his arms and began raining kisses over his face. “I love you,” she said, fierce and forever, and it seared itself onto his heart. “But don’t think you’re getting your way in everything. Five years is a long time, and we need to readjust to one another. So don’t expect us to move in together right away.”
He started kissing her neck. Not right away then. He’d give it two weeks before he moved her.
She was wriggling in his arms, her voice growing breathier as her body responded to his kisses. “And I’m not staying at home while you get in trouble. Even if I don’t go back to the Guild, I need to use my talents and be productive.”
There were handcuffs to keep her at home. Though by the bulge in his jeans, handcuffs were both a good and bad idea. Good because it would keep her safe. Bad because he’d never leave the apartment if she was cuffed to the bed.
“And why the hell do I bother to talk? You aren’t listening to a damn thing I said.”
“You said you love me. What else do I need to hear?”
And after her bright smile, as she leaned in to kiss him, she said, “You better stay very good in bed if you expect lines like that to keep working.”
That, he intended to do.
Chapter Twenty-One
‡
The huge walls and domed ceiling of the hall told the story of a proud and powerful people. Guards stood at the ready with weapons while behind them tiled scenes decorated every square inch of stone, scenes depicting battles and victory and always, always, flame and ash and the burnt remains of those who were enemies.
Red and gold dominated, followed by rich earthen colors. A closer look revealed the decoration to be gold and silver, gems of all types within the designs. None entering could mistake this place as anything but the domain of one who should be looked on with awe or fear – or both.
The hall led to a room, large and forbidding. Everything from the wood of the floor to the fabrics that covered the scattering of furniture was rich and sumptuous, tasteful, restrained, and any Blackguard’s mouth would water at the fortune contained within.
At the far end, in front of a huge picture window, the man stood, his shoulder-length red-gold hair alight from the incoming sunshine, creating a halo effect.
“No wonder your kind were looked upon as heaven’s messengers. I can almost hear the harps.”
He didn’t start or look away from whatever held his attention beyond the glass. He answered, his voice the deep tones of culture and breeding. “And do you wonder about the workings of heaven, Dragon Slayer?”
Fallon gave a short laugh that edged into humorless. “Hardly. I have enough problems worrying about all the gods wandering underfoot down here. I’ll leave heaven to its own. Lord Kyo sends his regards.”
He turned to her, his eyes a simmering flame, red and gold mingled together, almost the same shade as his hair. The expression on his face was pleasant, the rehearsed pleasant that spoke of training to never let real emotion through. “I have been anxious to hear your account of our operation. I am pleased it was a success.”
Fallon’s eyes flicked to the side, her mouth twisting in one corner. “Depends on your definition, though Kyo agrees with your assessment.”
“Yes, Lord Kyo and I are in agreement.” His next words were a volley, a gentle probe against her defenses. “And your thoughts?”
The quirk of her eyebrow spoke that she knew what he was doing, but she answered anyway. “While I agree that Esh was our priority, I think I put a little higher value on the Realm Jumper than perhaps you or Kyo.”