“You can't,” he concluded softly; ruefully.
“I want to,” I whispered. “But that's the problem, isn't it?”
Verin made a soft sound; one of acceptance. “How long?”
“How long for what?”
“How long until this spell wears off?” Verin snarled.
“Oh,” I breathed the word. “I don't know. I'm guessing it depends on the will of the target, and I'm also guessing that we both have fairly strong willpower.”
Verin grunted.
“A few days, maybe a few weeks.” I shrugged. “Or even a few months. I don't know.”
“But it will be apparent when it fades?”
“I would assume so.”
“I'll go,” he said crisply. “I'll give you three months. If I feel the same after that, I'm coming for you, Spellsinger.”
I blinked at him. “That sounded like a threat.”
“It is.” Verin grabbed my waist and yanked me against him.
His kiss was shockingly tender. Verin moved slowly over me, lips brushing lips and tongue teasing. I felt his vibrant, nearly-violent need vibrate through the tension in his body. He resonated with energy like a strummed guitar and my body hummed back. It felt as if we were aligning ourselves; getting in tune with each other. And I knew that when we found the right chord, we'd make beautiful music.
But not yet. Maybe not ever.
I eased back, away from Verin's kiss and out of his arms entirely. His hands slowly let me go, uncurling as if they ached. His expression looked shaky; likely a mirror of mine. A low rumble flowed over his parted lips and his eyes flashed. The Blue Dragon tensed; ready to pounce.
I held up a hand to ward him off. “Go. You said you'd give me three months. But come back either way, Verin. I want to know if this real. If it is, if we can face each other and feel love without magic behind it, I swear that I'll find a way to make this work.”
“And if not?” He asked. “There was attraction before, Elaria. I told you that I glimpsed a future for us together. If this returns to that potential, then what? I lose you because our relationship hasn't had time to mature?”
“You'll lose me because I wouldn't be what you wanted,” I reminded him.
“What if you are?” Verin snarled as he cast out a fist helplessly. “What if I still want you but I don't love you... yet?”
I inhaled deeply and let out a shaky breath. “I don't know. I guess we can talk to the others about it.”
“Talk to the others?” He huffed.
“My life is already shared,” I reminded him gently. “The only way it works is if everyone has a say. If we're in love, I don't think they'd stand between us, especially not since it would be a direct result of you saving my life. But if we're just attracted to each other...”
“Then there's no need to make room for me in your life,” he concluded.
I nodded. “And I think you'll feel relieved if that's the case.”
“Relieved?” Verin laughed bitterly. “The thought of going home to my empty bed and lying in it without you makes me want to rip something to pieces. Every bone in my body aches to take you; to hold you up against that wall and make love to you right here. And you say that I may have days or weeks or even months of this to look forward to? Do you honestly believe that won't change me? That desiring you like this won't leave an echo in my heart even after it fades?”
“I hope for both our sakes that it doesn't,” I said grimly.
Verin snarled and bared his teeth.
“I only say that because I can't betray them, Verin,” I growled back. “I won't. If they say no to us, that's it. I won't fight them.”
Verin roared, spun, and slammed his fist into the wall. The stone didn't crack or crumble, it was pulverized. A cloud of gray dust billowed up and when it settled, a fist-shaped hole was left in its place. He swung back to face me and snarled.
I slapped him and shouted, “Calm the fuck down!”
Verin blinked, eyes wide with shock. His chest rose and fell savagely but he seemed to get control of himself. “I'm sorry.”
I grunted. Then I rolled my eyes. “Damn it, now you've got me doing it.”
Verin chuckled; just a tiny sound, but it slowly became a full-blown laugh. Then I joined him and we laughed until we cried.
“You two all right?” Darcraxis stood at the end of the alley with his arms crossed over his chest.
The other men waited behind him.
“We're fine. Just give us a few minutes, please,” I said through my giggles.
They shook their heads at us but left. Verin and I turned toward each other and our amusement faded.
“Why won't you fight for us?” He whispered.
“I didn't say that I wouldn't. I said I wouldn't fight them if we only had an attraction. But if what we have is more than that, I will.”
“I will hold you to that promise, Elaria,” Verin declared.
“Come here.” I held my hand out to him.
Verin took my hand but instead of moving toward me, he pulled me to him. I shook my head at him. Damn obstinate Dragon. He grinned, knowing exactly what I was thinking.
“If we end up together, I'll need some kind of concession,” he murmured as he lowered his face to mine. “Something that evens the scales.”
“Scales, eh?” I teased.
“Yes, I know all about them.”
“So do I, but my scales have to do with singing.”
He lifted his brows as if that hadn't occurred to him. “You can sing my scales anytime.” He winced at his own pathetic joke.
“That was awful.”
I laughed as I lifted my face to his and took that joy into our kiss. Possibly our last kiss. I was glad it held happiness and maybe a little hope. I ran my hands over his body while I had the chance; memorizing the muscles in his back, twitching at my touch, and then the
