“Oh, that’s only a day’s flight away. Good.” Although her eyes were red-rimmed, Adelina had an overly-bright smile stuck on her face.
“It’s further,” Tomaaz said. “He’s on the other side of the forest, near Death Valley.”
“I don’t care how far it is. I’m coming too,” Adelina said stubbornly. “No one’s going to rescue Erob without me. My brother’s dragon is the only reason I’m alive. My father would’ve given me to Zens too, if it hadn’t been for Erob. He hid me in a cave while he freed Roberto from Death Valley.”
Tomaaz nodded. “Roberto and Erob both care about you. Roberto made me promise I’d look after you if anything happened to him.”
“If he cares about me that much, he can just sharding-well come home, then, can’t he?” Despite Adelina’s brave words, her bottom lip trembled.
Lovina hugged her. “Do you want me to stay with you?”
Adelina waved her off. “No, I’m fine. I have things to do.”
She was anything but fine, but she shooed them out the door. As they left Adelina’s cavern and walked along the tunnels to his family’s quarters, Lovina slipped her hand into Tomaaz’s. It felt so natural and right. He smiled at her. “Your arm’s not splinted anymore. How’s it feeling?” Her bruises had also faded and her cuts had healed.
“A lot better. Marlies has given me exercises to strengthen it.”
Every time he looked at her, wonder bubbled inside him. “What about your drawing? Have you done any more pictures?”
She ducked her head and blushed. “A few.”
“Can I see them?” He could hardly wait. Looking at Lovina’s art was like seeing a hidden landscape within her.
Her face grew even redder. “I, ah … well, some might be of you.”
Oh. He hadn’t expected that. Tomaaz chuckled, trying to put her at ease. “Only some? I was hoping they all were.”
That made her grin. He squeezed her hand, and they approached his cavern. He hesitated. Lovina hung back too. Eyes locked, they spoke at the same time.
“Do you mind if—”
“Is it all right—”
They laughed nervously.
Tomaaz slipped an arm around her waist and touched his lips to her hair, then pulled closer. “I don’t mind at all,” he whispered.
Her eyes roamed his face and fell to his lips. Her breath caressed his cheek as he leaned down. And as his lips touched hers, Lovina gave a tiny gasp—the sweetest sound Tomaaz had ever heard.
Then they were kissing. That same wonder bubbled up inside him, like a glorious secret bursting into the sunlight. This was home. This woman, right here, was where he belonged.
Tomaaz drew back to look at Lovina. She was still so physically fragile, yet so strong to have survived Zens’ slave camp and years as Old Bill’s slave. Abused and drugged by Bill, she’d hidden behind a drab curtain of lank hair, tatty clothes and been dazed by numlock. She’d barely spoken a handful of words in the years he’d known her. Until he’d helped her escape Bill’s clutches. Then, little by little, he’d grown to know her. His heart stuttered when he thought of how hard her life had been, how lucky he was to have her, how easily she could’ve been killed. “Lovina, you’re so beautiful. I …” He shook his head staring at her, unsure of what he wanted to say. “I, uh, I’ve never felt like this about anyone before.”
“Neither have I.” Her cornflower eyes caressed his face, then she frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m remembering you, so if Zens catches you when you’re rescuing Erob, at least I’ll have my memories.”
He hugged her again, fiercely. “No. I won’t let Zens ever separate us. I’ll be back. I’m coming home to you.”
They entered Tomaaz’s family’s cavern, next to the infirmary.
“Hello, Lovina.” Pa embraced him. “Son, well done, getting home. Lars has told me to let you rest for a few hours and that we’ll head out at dusk. I guess you’ll want to see the boy?”
Tomaaz nodded. “How’s he been?”
“Still has broken sleep.” Pa shrugged. “Not much we can do about that, but your mother’s trying her best. I’ve taken him out on Handel a few times, and he seems to like that, not that he’s spoken yet.”
“Even after all these weeks?”
“He’s still mute,” Lovina said. “I’ve spent quite a bit of time with him while you’ve been gone.”
Pa nodded. “You’ve done a great job, Lovina.” He gestured through their caverns toward the mountainside. “He’s out on the ledge with Handel now.”
Lovina hung back, hesitating.
“Come on.” Tomaaz took her hand and they walked past the two smaller sleeping caverns, through the living chamber, to the ledge outside.
The boy was resting against Handel, eyes closed, the wan sunlight bathing his features, an arm flung over Handel’s foreleg.
While they were in the council meeting, Maazini must’ve flown the short distance here, because there was a hillock of orange scales beyond Handel’s tail. Tomaaz melded, but Maazini was sleeping too deeply to rouse.
As they approached, the boy’s eyes flew open, and he threw his arms up protectively, as if someone was about to beat him.
“It’s all right. It’s just Tomaaz. He’s come home to see you,” Lovina crooned, slowing her pace.
The boy’s eyes widened. He scrambled to his feet and shot toward Tomaaz, like an arrow to a target. Flinging his scrawny arms around Tomaaz’s ribs, he burrowed his head into Tomaaz’s midriff.
“Whoa,” Tomaaz said, ruffling his hair. “I’m glad to see you too, buddy.” He hoisted him up off his feet and hugged him, then he strode over to Handel, placing a hand on his warm scales so he could mind-meld. “He seems to like you. Are you all right for us to sit here too?”
“Sure, Tomaaz. Welcome back to Dragons’ Hold.” Handel lowered his neck, his keen green eyes regarding him.
He
