Chapter Sixteen

Loralie shook her head. "Even if I knew, I couldn't tell you. It's bad enough I revealed the cycling of power to you just now. This is knowledge only the Guardian should hold. It is of the old magic that was to have been put on ice with the defeated wizards."

"What happened to the side that won the ancient wars?" Det asked suddenly, surprising her.

"Well…Dranneth created the dragons and fathered all those royal black shapeshifting dragons, claiming Draconia as his land and his people. He is long gone from the lands, but his magic lives on through his progeny. I've heard that Gryffid retreated to Gryphon Isle and slowed time, choosing to live there with a colony of your folk and some of his gryphons, which he created, like Dranneth did the dragons. He has recently returned time to its normal flow on his island, according to the Draconians, and is still living peacefully on his island." She shrugged. "As for the others, they have all faded away into the various lands they called home and disappeared. My mother said they chose to forego their kind of magic, because it was too dangerous to the mortals that rose to inhabit all those lands. If any of the others still exist, I do not know of it. Though, of course, they were thought to be immortal. They could be anywhere, I suppose."

"My thought is that if those trapped in the Citadel are awakening, and if the protections ever fail, we will need those wizards of old once more," Det said, a grimace twisting his mouth.

"There are safeguards. More than one," she told him quietly. This was more knowledge meant only for the Guardian, but if she didn't get to tell Penny, Det could. "The wizards of old who created the Citadel planned for almost every contingency."

"Did they plan for a time when the Citadel would fall? What did they expect if that should ever happen?" he asked, his tone challenging.

"I don't know. I suspect my mother had that knowledge but never got to pass it on to me. There was a library that held the accumulated knowledge of the previous Guardians, plus the books handed down from the great wizards to act as guidance for the Guardians, but they were lost to the ice when my mother set off one of the many failsafes. I can't access them." She frowned. "There's a lot I don't know. A lot that was lost." Along with her mother, which was the most painful loss of all.

"We move tomorrow," Det brought them back to the matter at hand. "Given the mage's observations, is there a particular time that would be better for you?"

Loralie thought about it for a moment. "I think high noon would be the optimum time. Can you and your men be ready then?"

Det nodded decisively. "Absolutely. Though we won't have much cover. Still, everybody will come in by dragon, so it'll be fast enough. You're the only one who might have to walk if no dragon will carry you. I'll ask around and see if anyone is willing."

"No need," Gren cut in, speaking in both their minds, though Loralie wasn't sure Det realized that she could also hear his heartmate speak. "She will have a ride. One will arrive tomorrow just before dawn, who has agreed to carry her and watch her back."

"Gren said you have a ride, though he'd being a bit mysterious about it," Det said a moment later.

"Should I tell Detlif that I can hear you?" Loralie sent privately to Grennulf.

"I'm surprised he hasn't figured out that such a thing is easy for one with your gift of magic," Grennulf replied, not answering her question exactly.

"So, is that a yes?" Loralie asked, just to make sure.

"Yes, you should tell him. He will worry otherwise. A battle commander needs all information if he is to marshal his troops most effectively," Gren told her.

"I'm not sure I'm one of his troops or will behave according to his plans, but I understand your point. You have my thanks, Sir Grennulf," she replied politely. All she knew of dragons told her that they thrived on etiquette and politeness. She would not be rude to Det's heartmate. Not ever.

Turning her attention back to Det after a conversation that had only taken a moment, if that, she spoke. She wasn't sure what Det would make of her revelation. She probably should have told him this before, but the time had never really seemed right.

"I heard Sir Grennulf," she said as gently as possible. "I've been able to hear and talk with dragons, probably all of my life. It's part of my magic, I guess."

Det looked at her with appraising eyes. "I suppose I should have realized that. Sorry. I seem to be a bit dense when it comes to you." He shook his head.

"It's not surprising," she replied. "It's not like we've ever had a normal relationship."

She didn't want to get into that again. They didn't really know each other in the simple ways, though she knew his touch, his loving, and his character, more deeply than most. In the ways that counted, she knew she could trust him. At least as far as tomorrow's action, which was all she needed at the moment.

She ignored the little part of her heart that hinted she might need him in other ways too. She couldn't think about that private part of her that wanted him in her life. And in her bed.

She didn't have time for that kind of thing. She had enough on her plate with facing Gebel tomorrow at noon. She could die.

And if she prevailed against Gebel, she would most likely die when she shut down Skir.

So, the question remained. Did she really want to face the end of her existence without having made love to Det just one more time. One last night they could have together…in each other's arms.

They had all the makings of a love nest. He'd brought plenty of warm furs for bedding. They were as private as they possibly could be. Safe too, with Gren guarding the entrance to the cave. And as soon as they were finished setting up for the next day, they had nothing to do but sleep until morning.

Sleep…and make love? Only if they were both willing. After that kiss earlier, she thought maybe Det was willing, but was she?

"Maybe we should remedy that sometime," Det said, his voice dropping to a lower tone that warmed her insides.

"What?" She'd lost track of the conversation somewhere along the line.

"Maybe we should try to have a real relationship. Get to know one another. Learn about our everyday lives. Our pasts. What we want for our futures. Like normal people," he suggested, still in that low, sexy tone. "For the sake of our children, if nothing else."

Was he moving closer? Why did the space suddenly feel more intimate?

"I'd like that," she replied, watching, almost mesmerized, as he put down his parchments far from the fire pit.

Det turned back to face her and moved closer. He was no longer across the fire but next to her. Suddenly, her internal temperature spiked upward as the attraction that always simmered below the surface when she was near him rose up, not to be denied.

"I keep thinking about kissing you earlier." His voice dropped low, rumbling so close she could almost feel the vibrations on the air between them. "I've been wondering if I should apologize."

"Uh…" She didn't know what to say as the moment stretched taut between them.

"Because," he went on when she couldn't form a coherent thought, "if you enjoyed it as much as I did, I've been wondering if you might want to repeat it. And maybe…more." His arm slipped around her shoulders and drew her slowly closer. "I've never been able to forget you, Lora."

"I never forgot you either," she replied candidly, her words whispering out on a sigh as he brought her more fully into his embrace. "Kiss me, Det. I've missed you so much."

And then, he was kissing her. It felt like coming home after a long, arduous voyage. He was so safe. So warm. So solid.

The kiss turned molten almost immediately. The earlier kiss had been nothing as compared to this conflagration of need that seemed to be riding them both. She didn't care what motivated him. She didn't want to think beyond this spectacular moment with the only man she had ever loved. Would ever love.

No, she would not think of the past or the future. Right now, she wanted to live only in this moment. This amazing moment where she and Det were the only two people in the world, and all that mattered was the tempestuous desire that flamed between them whenever they were together. She wanted to ride the lightning bolt of sensation and feel the thunder of fulfillment that only he had ever given her.

She wanted to experience that wholeness again. Just once more. Before… Before whatever was going to happen tomorrow happened. They had tonight, and she wanted to live it to its fullest. With Det. Only with Det.

The pile of furs she had made into her bed wasn't far away. She no sooner thought that than Det lifted her into his arms, and a moment later, she felt the cushion of the dense fur against her back. Det was over her, their mouths still joined in the hottest kiss she had ever experienced.

His hands were busy removing their clothing. A piece of hers, then a piece of his, until they were both bare, and she felt the cool air of the cave on the places Det wasn't heating with his touch. The contrast was tantalizing rather than uncomfortable, which she would not have believed had she not been experiencing it.

Det's lips left hers only to go exploring down her neck, then onto her shoulder, then lower. He kissed and nipped his way across her chest, pausing on her nipples, teasing and exciting her tender flesh. She writhed under him, but he kept descending, laving her skin with his tongue and positioning her thighs to his liking.

Oh, dear sweet heaven, she remembered this. She remembered the way he made her forget all her inhibitions, all her worries and wonderings, and just made her live in the moment. In the sensation of his hands and mouth bringing her pleasure in the most wicked ways imaginable.

He spread her thighs and used his fingers to spread her wide before his tongue licked along her most intimate place. Then. he paused and sucked on the little nub that sent her straight into the stratosphere. He added a finger inside her to increase the pleasure and made it last a long time.

When she came down from that high, he was still there, grinning at her as she met his gaze. She felt her whole body flush with embarrassment. She'd just come apart at the seams… But he hadn't. His devilish gaze told her without words that he wasn't nearly through with her yet. There was more to come. Lots more.

He rose, his hands going to her hips as he placed his knees inside hers, spreading them even wider. Sweet Mother of All, she wasn't sure she would survive any more pleasure. It had been so long. So very long…

"Det…" she gasped as he came down over her, his hardness brushing the place that wanted him most.

"I'm here, Lora. Where I've wanted to be all these years. With you," he whispered back, his tone filled with longing, if she wasn't mistaken. Could he really mean those words? Had he pined for her the way she had for him?

The thought was ridiculous. He was such a handsome, successful man. No doubt he didn't lack for female company. He hadn't been celibate all these years, as she had. No way.

Then again, he did seem a bit desperate. Just like her, in fact. His need seemed to echo her own and she could see the strain that holding back brought to his features.

He'd always been a considerate lover. The few times they'd been together, he'd brought her climax after climax before joining her in primordial bliss.

"I can't wait," he panted, moving closer still, letting just a bit of his weight onto her bare body. "It's been so long. I'm sorry to rush."

"Don't apologize," she told him in a breathless rush. "Come to me, Det. Make love to me."

As if freed by her frenzied words, he joined with her in the most intimate of ways. His hardness claimed her softness above and below. His cock into her pussy, his mouth to hers in a mindless moment that joined them body to body, soul to soul.

In that moment, she felt fulfilled as she hadn't since that long ago day when they'd last been together. She'd missed him so much. She'd been so incomplete without him. Missing a part of her self. A vital part that could only be found when they were together.

She loved him so deeply she couldn't find words to adequately describe it. Moreover, she had never stopped loving him, even when she'd been forced to choose a solitary route to protect him and their children as best she could. Maybe she'd chosen the wrong path. Maybe not. She might never know for certain. What she did know was that here, now, she was with him, and all was right with her world for just this tiny moment out of time.

Her love was strong. As strong as it had been all those years ago when it was first formed. It had withstood the tests and trials and remained true. As her heart had remained true to him. Her Detlif. Her one and only love.

Det began moving, slowly at first, then increasing his pace as he began to almost lose control. It didn't matter. She was with him every step of the way. She was just as hungry for him, just as frenzied. She needed him so very, very much. Had needed him all these years. It was a blessing that she could be with him again this way after all that had happened. All that she had done. All that her choices had brought to them both. And to their children.

She couldn't voice the love she still felt for him. She wouldn't do that. But she could show him in her response to his lovemaking that she was still deeply in love with the only man who had ever won her heart. And her body.

Loralie had never been with another man and knew she would never give herself like this to anyone else. Det owned her body and soul, and she would be true to him to the day she died. Sadly, that day might come sooner than he realized, but she wouldn't dwell on that now. Now she had him inside her, and he was driving her toward a climax so fast she could hardly catch her breath.

She cried out his name when she came, and he wasn't far behind. They climaxed hard. Together. As it should be.

He held her throughout, and he tucked them both under the covers before they could get cold. They didn't speak much, sleeping together. He held her in his arms all night, waking her twice more to make love again and again until, finally, they fell into a deep, healing, restorative sleep.