Page 74 of Warrior’s Mate

"I hate that you understand that."

"Occupational hazard."

She looked at him. "How many decisions like that have you made?"

"Enough that I stopped counting them individually. That was a mistake."

"Why?"

"Because if you stop remembering they were decisions, they become procedure."

Maelis absorbed that. "I don't want this to become normal."

"Neither do I."

Outside the partition, someone called for blood-matching volunteers. A child cried. A transport announcement repeated twice.

Maelis reached across the small space between their chairs and took Kaiven's hand.

"I meant what I said," she told him.

"About loving me?"

"No, about the fact that your personality is exhausting."

He stared at her until the corner of her mouth lifted.

"Yes," she said. "About loving you."

Kaiven turned her hand over and pressed his lips to her palm. "I know."

"Do you?"

"I'm learning to believe what you tell me instead of what fear tells me."

The humor left her face. "That may be the most attractive thing you've said all day."

"More attractive than declaring my love during an active battle?"

"Far more. That was dramatic."

"I was under stress."

"Clearly."

He smiled, then grew serious. "Maelis, when this is over—"

"It isn't going to be over soon."

"I know. When this day is over, then. When we are somewhere with a door that closes and no one needs either of us for an hour, I want to talk about the bond."

She did not tense. That mattered.

"Talk," she repeated.

"Talk. Not assume. Not declare. Not inform you that biology has completed paperwork on our behalf."

"Good. I dislike paperwork I didn't authorize."