She flinched at the thought, but she kept her composure otherwise. “I told you that Heartborn don’t really count for much.” She didn’t mean that he didn’t think much of her, but obviously Veronica didn’t think anything of her.
They were in his house by then, and Nick shut the door with a gesture as he turned to face her, not moving away from the doorway. There was half the room between them, since she had walked in toward the living room. With another gesture he stopped her as the bracelets on her wrists, all given to her by him over the last few months, began shifting and sliding up her arms in a tight caress against her skin. “You count to me.”
Zara turned slowly and smiled gently at him as she took a few steps back toward him. “Do I?”
She had taken to wearing clothes that were closer to Ironborn fashions in the time she’d spent with him, and so her summer dress had metal clasps behind her neck and at her sides. She could feel them moving at his command, beginning to unlatch themselves. “You don’t doubt me as often or as much as you make me think you do.” He stepped closer to her and kissed her once. “I know it’s mostly because you like to hear things, not just feel them. But I turned down Veronica this morning because of you.”
Zara kissed him back passionately as her clothes fell to the floor, all the hooks twisted so that they wouldn’t hold any longer. Just that tiny bit of Lightborn power, and he could tell that she was almost desperate for some time alone with him. “I didn’t know it was possible for me to feel this strongly about another person.” She growled softly as she kissed him several more times. “But I do.”
He let his own clothing fall around him and pushed her back against the wall harshly, the metal that was still around her arms binding her against the wall playfully. She could feel the power within him itching to be used, making him stronger than he had been the entire time she’d known him. “You’re about to feel exactly how strongly I feel about you.”
Zara squirmed playfully, her skin sliding against the metal behind her as she waited with anticipation of what she desperately wanted at the moment. Once he was close enough to touch her again, she kissed him just as harshly as he had thrown her. I love you, Nick. As much as she thought it wasn’t possible, she actually did.
He caressed her from waist to neck before he kissed her again. I know you do. At that point, the metal wrapped itself around her completely, and for a very long time, both their cries resounded, amplified, through the sheet-metal halls of his house.
* * * * *
By evening the news about what the New Council had decided went through all their people, even the outcasts like Aura and Ziem. As a wolf, Aura could hear things that other wolves didn’t want her to hear, when they were also in wolf form. It was easier to keep secrets as humans, when the mind wasn’t so open. Ziem spent a lot of his time as a wolf as well so that she wouldn’t feel so lonely, and she was grateful for that. Ziem came in from outside with a meal for them and set it down in front of her so she could start in quickly. She was always starving, which made her believe that she had to have all boys inside of her or something. So what’s it like out there?
Chaos. He said simply as he licked her neck once and then sat off to the side to let her eat. And there’s more sex out there than in every whorehouse I’ve ever seen combined. It’s crazy.
Yes, well, I guess that’s what happens when people prepare to go off to war. She took another large bite from the carcass beneath her and licked the blood off her lips. Did you get any news? Are you going?
No. He sounded a little sad about it, but that was only because he was a horrible liar. I had kinda hoped they would wait until after you popped, but it’s alright that they didn’t. My place is here with you.
She licked around her muzzle to clean up before she moved closer to him and buried her face into his fur. You don’t have to stay here for me. Just sneak out and go. I know that’s what you want to do.
No, it’s not. He returned the kiss, and laid down on his side to look up at her. I’m gonna stay here with you and the pups. I’m not leaving you. Certainly not now.
Aura collapsed on top of him and then bit at his fur playfully as she remained on top of his body. Aren’t you getting bored?
No, you do pretty well at keeping that from happening. He said with an inner laugh that came out as barks. And if I do get bored, I’ll go outside and break something. It works out pretty well for me, most of the time.
So you’re liking it wolf-style?
After not having it for thirty years? Yeah. I could get used to it. He looked up at her with his hazel eyes just as sarcastic as they were when he was human. You need to quit second-guessing yourself, baby.
She licked his face several times. I guess I’m just afraid. Before I was afraid to make a decision, and then I made a decision and it backfired on me. I’m afraid that now that I’m your wife, something will happen and things will fall through.
We’re about to have at least three puppies. They’re the only thing that’s gonna be falling anytime soon.
The puppies were constantly moving inside of her when
