They stayed at the Court of Waves for three days, during which they did very little but laze around in bed. Every night, they ate dinner with Aine and her courtiers, but there was not much political maneuvering. It seemed even the Lady was on holiday.
One day, Aidan took Rowan swimming at a secluded beach with the clearest turquoise water she had ever seen or imagined, and they stayed there until long after nightfall, making love on a blanket under the stars. It felt like paradise, a time outside of time before reality could intrude.
But finally, they had to return to the Court of the Heavens. They planned to stop at Lord Kennet’s palace before going home, so Aidan could bring greetings and gifts from Aine to his father. Then, things would return to normal, but Rowan thought it might be a new sort of normal.
She and Aidan had been close before, so their relationship was not terribly different, but there was more trust and less awkwardness now, and she felt more comfortable with her role, less ashamed of how much she wanted him physically, and less afraid of how her affection had grown in other ways.
The changes were apparent when he returned to his dragon form, and she climbed onto his neck for the flight back to their home Court. She felt no hesitance at running her fingers through his fringe, and he showed his enjoyment freely, arching his back and making a rumbling sound, almost like a purr deep in his throat. When they were safely in the air, she laid her cheek against his scales and idly stroked his neck.
“That tickles,” he grumbled, and she laughed.
“I’m surprised you can feel much of anything through your scales,” she said, running her fingers experimentally over one of the slender horns protruding from his jaw.
“You are very distracting. Just wait until we get home,” he said, and even in her mind, his voice had gone a bit low and rough.
“Oh, really?” she purred. “And what is going to happen to me then?”
“I might just ignore all of the no doubt pressing reports awaiting my attention and carry you to the bedroom like a kidnapped bride for the express purpose of ravishing you.”
“Hmmm. That sounds terrible,” she said with a chuckle, but she did stop teasing him. It did feel a little unfair.
“In all seriousness, Teague has told me how far you’ve progressed in learning magic. I may have to take over your instruction myself and finally teach you all the transformation spells I know you’ve been dying to try. Then, we’ll be able to fly together.”
She felt a thrill of excitement at this idea, the thing she had been most eager to learn, but she couldn’t resist prodding a little. “And is flying all we will do together?”
“I suppose you’ll have to wait and see,” he said in a voice that told her that the wait would be more than worth it.
And then, time slowed to a stop as an arrow zipped through the sky and buried itself into one of Aidan’s feathered wings. He gave a startled roar that made her ears ring. “Hold on!” was the only warning she got before he dove. She had her arms around his neck in a vise grip as they streaked toward the ground so fast that tears streamed from her eyes. She didn’t dare open them, knowing she would only see the ground approaching at a terrifying speed.
His throat constricted, and there was an odd sound, a shrieking roar that ended in a crackling boom. She smelled brimstone and realized that he was breathing fire, just like a dragon in a storybook. Then, she felt the whirlwind, and she opened her eyes in sheer surprise.
Feathers swirled around her, blocking her vision, but she felt the reassuring strength of his arms, and they were suddenly on the ground with barely a bump in a sphere of air surrounded by a raging inferno. With a sweep of his hand, the fire died, the ground cracking as it froze. The landscape around them was a lifeless plain of ash, and Aidan’s face was a cold mask of fury as he set her on the ground.
“Ward yourself and stay right here,” he said, and all she could do was nod. She set the shielding spells as soon as he stepped away, and then hugged herself, worried for him even more than she was afraid for her own safety.
He wore black, as usual, but she could see a spot of dampness on his upper arm where the arrow had wounded him. Now, he stalked through the charred remains of the forest that had once stood here, looking for something. Clues, she assumed, to whoever might have attacked them.
It was really a miracle it hadn’t happened earlier, she mused even as she shivered, her eyes darting around, just waiting for another assailant to rise out of the smoke.
But finally, Aidan returned, his expression grim. “Did you find anything?” she asked, hating the way her voice trembled. His face softened.
“Yes. I found out what I wanted to know. Everything is going to be fine,” he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll have to make a gate. I need to see my father right away.”
She nodded and watched as he cast the magic. It was a complicated spell, and she could see that it took a toll on him. He stood back as the portal shimmered into being, and she put a hand on the small of his back. “Aidan, are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” he said, putting an arm around her waist. “I used several powerful magics in quick succession, but I’ll be back to normal in just a few hours. I’m just glad you’re safe. Are you ready to go?” She nodded, and they stepped through the portal together.
***********************
He brought Rowan to the same bedroom she had used when she first came to Lord Kennet’s court. It felt ominous to her in a way she couldn’t put her finger on. “Stay here. I’ll return as soon as I can,” he said, his expression set. “I need to have a talk with my father.”
Despite the alarm bells ringing in her heart, all she could think was that she was glad she wouldn’t have to witness what was sure to be a terrifying argument. Though she had known that Aidan was magically powerful, she had never seen him use it offensively before. He could’ve flattened London with a spell.
She wasn’t afraid of him; she knew he would never harm her, or anyone, if he could help it. But she was afraid of Lord Kennet, and with how angry Aidan had been when he left, she was worried that a fight between them could turn explosive. However, an hour passed and then another, and she heard no booms. Nothing seemed to be happening at all, and she felt a strong urge to pace the halls. She would’ve started reading, but she knew that she wouldn’t be able to concentrate.
Luckily, just as she thought she might scream with frustration, the door opened and Aidan entered, trailed by Fenella. The handmaiden’s eyes were wide, but it didn’t seem like fear. His face, however, was both angry and desolate. Rowan went to him immediately. “What happened? What’s wrong?” she asked.
He put his arms around her in an almost desperate embrace. “Nothing. Everything is fine,” he said, not very convincingly, but she didn’t have time to protest. He kissed her once, hard, and then looked into her eyes. His were wide and shining when he spoke. “I love you,” he said, fierce and fervent, but before she could even react, he kissed her again, and everything went black.