Page 178 of A Legacy of the Light

“When I go back, I want to help you find the Seelie who live in the human world. For answers.”

Tavish stiffens behind me. “Elsie, it’s dangerous. Father sent me because I’m a prince, and they will only answer to royalty. That’s no slight to you, or your intentions.”

The words are on the tip of my tongue, ready to tell him that I am royalty, or at least descended from it. But they disappear as fast as they came.

“I just want to help. I can’t go home and pretend this isn’t happening. I can’t sit back and do nothing. So please, Tavish,” I turn to face him in the bath, lying my body on top of his, “Please, let me help. In any way I can.”

I watch indecision and conflict flit across his face while he considers my request.

“Okay, little warrior. We’ll work it out.” And he kisses me.

◆◆◆

We lie in bed with only the dying flames for light. Tavish refused to allow me to get dressed after the bath, and our naked bodies are tangled together underneath the sheets.

“You still have a question to ask me, you know.” I feel the rumble of his chest against my back.

“I know. I’m saving it.” I nuzzle in closer to him. “Don’t worry, I’ll ask it before we never see each other again.”

Tavish props himself up on one arm and rolls me onto my back. “Elsie . . .”

“We need to talk about it, Tavish.” I take his face in my hands. “I won’t ever have closure for us if we don’t at least say goodbye.”

He closes his eyes and leans into my touch. “I don’t know if I can.” His voice betrays the emotion he’s trying to keep under lock and key. His eyelids flutter open, the black edge of his irises dance, and the golden depths of his eyes sparkle with sadness.

“Goodbye doesn’t seem enough. To say I will miss you doesn’t seem enough. You came into my world, a shell of who you could be. I have watched you grow, and heal, and become who you were meant to be. You’ve completely captivated me Elsie, body and soul. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like in that palace without you. To not find you in the library with Finneus looking so content. Or watch your eyes light with wonder when something clicks into place while you train with Reyne. Or see how alive and free you look while riding along the shores of my kingdom. A kingdom that should call you their queen.”

He pauses, a breath shuddering out of him. “I can’t stop thinking about what we could’ve been. If things had worked out differently. But it’s over. This is all the time we get. I don’t know if I can say goodbye to you.”

I catch the lone tear that tracks down his cheek. “I think you just did, Prince.”

Tavish huffs a short laugh and looks down at me. The words neither of us can say float and weave around us. The connection between our souls speak them instead.

He lowers his head, and the moment his lips touch mine the tears I held back flow freely. Tavish kisses me, tenderly, and with all the emotions he can’t bring himself to confess.

He moves so my legs are wrapped around him and he slides a hand down my body, slowly caressing my skin as he moves lower and lower. Heat simmers, different this time. This heat is deeper, more meaningful. It’s beyond desire and lust.

Tavish growls low against my lips when he finds that I’m ready for him. He strokes my clit. Once. Twice, then slips two fingers inside me, so slowly that I arch into him and groan for more while he continues to take my lips with his.

He teases and strokes until I’m whimpering and begging for him to take me, to claim me in every possible way.

“My beautiful little warrior,” he moans as he slides into me. As he slides home. Tavish thrusts into me deep, over and over again, never taking his eyes off mine. He lifts me so I’m sat astride him and I wrap myself around him and rock my hips, changing the angle.

“Tavish,” I gasp against his neck.

“I know. Come for me, Elsie. Come for me.”

And I fall. I fall hard and fast, with Tavish right behind me.

Chapter 43

We’re awake, and eating breakfast in the main room of the inn not long after the sun rises. Tavish sits so close to me that our elbows, knees, or arms brush when one of us moves. Reyne watches us closely from the other side of the table. A sad smile plays across her mouth, as if she knows what happened between us last night and what we need to do now.

We say goodbye to Mac, thanking him, and we are back on our journey to Claver within the hour.

Halfway through the morning, the sky opens in a downpour, making the journey harder than yesterday. We push as long as we can but, eventually, we need to let the horses rest. Reyne and I huddle together under the branches of a tree in an attempt to hide from the rain, but we’re soaked to the bone. The guards with us try to hide their amusement as they watch on.

When we stop for lunch, I’ve completely lost track of the time, and Tavish chuckles whenever I ask him if he knows what time it is. At least the rain has stopped, and I take the opportunity to change into some dry clothes from my pack attached to Mabel’s saddle. Once I’m in something clean and dry, my mood shifts and the journey becomes a little easier. We’ve mostly been in forest again today, but every once in a while we pass a village or a break in the trees that shows me a new vista.