Realm of Light - Deborah Chester [78]
He said nothing, and her heart fell to her slippers. She dared peek up at him and saw him frowning, saw the battle of hope, disbelief, and acute longing in his face. That gave her courage.
Reaching up, she caressed his cheek with her hand. “Let us go to the cave,” she said, her voice low and throaty. “Let us have tonight before we face our future.”
Part Three
Chapter Fourteen
Dawn came too soon.
Elandra wakened slowly, stretching beneath the warm fur cloak that had served as their coverlet. Her bed was made of thick pine boughs, with Caelan’s tattered red cloak spread across them. They had spent the night in the innermost cavern, where hundreds of emeralds embedded in the ice walls glittered around them like stars. A fire that needed no replenishing had burned nearby all night. Food, steaming hot, had been waiting for them.
She could smell fresh platter cakes now, making her ravenous. Truly this was a special, magical place. She was not ready to leave so soon.
But Caelan was already out of bed. Quietly he was dressing with his back to her. She rolled onto one elbow and watched him, loving the gleam of firelight on his sun-bronzed skin, the smooth ripple of muscle and sinew, the knobby ridge of vertebrae up his spine as he bent over to pull on his leggings. Thinking of the night and its mysteries, she felt herself blushing, but she didn’t care. She was wildly, gloriously happy. Caelan had been both ardent and gentle, a combination that had led her quickly past shyness into passion. In exchange, she had drawn on the dances of pleasure that had been taught to her during her time with the Penestricans. She had been both wanton and innocent, and even now as she dreamed of all that they had shared, she felt her pulse quickening and a sensual little smile curving her lips.
This was life. This was truth. A man and woman together were so much more complete than either could be alone. Whatever lay before them, they would face it as one.
But this morning, he looked so serious, so remote. She watched his supple hands that had been so gentle, so masterful last night now fasten buckles and oil the blades of both sword and dagger. He wore his warrior’s face, purposeful and somber, and she felt a qualm, wondering if he would become a stranger again.
Caelan picked up his armor, then hesitated and glanced over his shoulder at her. Seeing her awake, he smiled.
The smile lit up his face, and the warrior vanished. In his place stood the man with a heart of grace and compassion, a man who was kind and loyal and true.
He dropped his armor and came to kneel beside her, kissing her thoroughly until her body melted and her arms reached around his neck to pull him down.
But he unclasped her hands and held them in his large, callused ones. “Temptress,” he said, still smiling.
“You are too far away.”
But although passion quickened in his eyes, he shook his head. “It’s daybreak. We must not linger here.”
She sighed while he stood up and started buckling on his armor. “I will always love this cave.”
He paused with his hands on the buckles and grinned at her. “And I will always love you.”
Her breath caught in her throat, and she loved him so much she wanted to cry.
“Get up, your lazy Majesty,” he said. “It’s a long walk to Gialta.”
That brought her down to earth. Flinging off the fur cloak, she dressed quickly, amazed to find her gown mended and clean. Braiding her hair, she leaned over a stone bowl of water to wash her face. The water was freezing cold, making her gasp and shiver.
By then, Caelan was bringing her the platter of food. She nibbled on a cake, finding its nutty taste unusual but delicious, and looked in vain for her slippers. They were worn through. They would never take her to the Trau border, much less all the way to Gialta, but she couldn’t travel barefoot.
“Ready?” Caelan asked, leaning over her shoulder to bite the cake she held absentmindedly.
She looked around with a gurgle of laughter and gave him a quick kiss. His lips were covered with crumbs that she licked off.
“Stop that,” he said, pulling away