Emily lay in bed and watched Cimmeris sleep, curled up on his side. She stretched her hand out and ran her fingers through his hair. It was getting too long now. So long that it had gotten in the way of her seeing those beautiful brown eyes as he lay atop her.

The previous night may have ended in some sexual frustration and sadness on both their parts, but Emily wouldn't change it for anything. She and Cimmeris connected on another level and would have those memories to help them through the lonely nights to come.

Cimmeris had proven that all his talk of sexual prowess was not a lie. For the most part, he was honest, so that hadn't shocked her. What had, was her response to his relentless passion.

Emily hadn't lied when she said that she was a quiet lover. That's how things had always been for her. She'd have a good time, and climax, albeit quietly, but she’d never felt like she had tonight.

With Cimmeris, everything was different. She’d found herself struggling to keep her voice down, knowing that the house was full of unsuspecting innocents who didn't need to hear her scream Cimmeris' name at the top of her lungs. Her desire to talk to him during their intimate moments was also weird.

Shaking her head, Emily got out of her bed as quietly as possible. The longer she stayed, the harder it would be to go, and, with the way her center was throbbing, she might be too tempted to wake Cimmeris up and mate him right then and there, better judgment be damned.

She stood and stretched, a soft yawn overtaking her. She and Cimmeris hadn't made love, but she still felt a gentle ache in her muscles from the pleasant way they’d writhed against each other. She thought of taking a shower before heading down for breakfast, then decided against it. She knew what she'd end up doing. Her body was taut with unresolved sexual tension, and the last thing she needed was time alone, naked, with Cimmeris only steps away.

Cool it, horny monster, she thought, smiling to herself.

Emily may have been unusually horny, but at least she was feeling something. Most days she walked around like a machine. Smiling and making small talk was second nature to her. It felt good to feel alive, to have someone outside of her stimulate her.

Tiptoeing, Emily slipped out of her bedroom. She went downstairs and found Zara slumped over the kitchen island, playing with the salt and pepper shakers. Emily didn't want to alarm her; she looked to be in her own world, so she called out to the younger woman.

"Hi, Zara."

Zara turned with a smile on her face. "Em. It's so good to see you."

Emily hugged Zara before she sat down next to her. "Is it? You look sad."

"What do you expect? You're leaving."

Emily smiled at Zara's pout. "I am, but I doubt all this emotion is for me. What happened with you and Narchis?"

Zara sighed. "Again, you're too good at your job." Zara leaned back in her seat, folding her arms. "Narchis is on board with me going to Brevia."

Emily cocked her head. "What changed his mind?"

"You did."

"Me?" Emily asked, her eyebrows rising.

"Yup. Your generous offer to let me stay in your house and have tutors come over means I'll have a much more flexible schedule. I can come home more often."

Emily nodded. "That's right. Also, you're more mature than the average mage academy student. So, you'll progress faster. Add that to the fact that you only have to learn the basics and what you're interested in focusing on; I can see you being gone for only a year."

Zara leaned forward, a tentative smile on her face. "Really? I could do it in such a short time?"

"I don't see why not. The typical course for a mage lasts four years. The first two are all about basics and gaining skills in all the specialties. Since you want only to learn things that apply to you, you don't have to do it all."

Zara released a shaky breath. "That's great. The idea of actually leaving Narchis finally hit me this morning. And it sent me into a bit of a panic."

"Don't say that," Emily said, pinching the bridge of her nose and squeezing her eyes shut. "I have to leave Cimmeris in a couple of hours, and I'd like to think it will be a smooth goodbye."

Zara patted Emily's hand. "Sorry I said it. But you're strong. You'll be fine."

Emily sighed. There it was again, that word "strong." She'd gotten used to just being herself, flaws and all, but now that she was going back to the cutthroat world of diplomacy, she'd have to put up her walls again, and relearn how to take the punches.

"I have to be strong."

"What happened between you and Cimmeris last night?" Zara asked, a mischievous grin taking over her face.

"As if I'd tell you." Emily scoffed.

"Why wouldn't you tell me?" Zara asked, her eyes wide.

"Because all you'll do is tease Cimmeris about it. And I won't have that."

Zara pouted, and Emily chuckled. "That won't work on me."

"Whatever," Zara said, huffing. "I'll let you have your little privacy. Just tell me this, are you mates now?"

Emily smiled sadly. "No. That's something we want to save for when we're together permanently."

"But the protected sex was good, right?" Zara prodded.

Emily stood and walked to the cupboard, pulling out a box of cereal. "As I said, I'm not telling you squat."

Zara rolled her eyes, then left the kitchen as Emily quietly snickered.

* * *

Cimmeris woke up and turned to his left, hoping to draw Emily close for a cuddle. When he reached out, all he found was cold space, and his eyes flew open as panic set in. He stood up and tried to put on his t-shirt, but dizziness overtook him, and he had to sit back down again.

"She wouldn't leave without saying goodbye," he told himself.

Once he felt better, he put on his shirt, then looked around. The suitcase Corrus had gone out to buy for Emily yesterday was gone. Had it been there the night before? He couldn't remember, but he couldn't miss a chance to say a proper goodbye.

As Cimmeris ran down the stairs, he saw a man pick up Emily's suitcase, which was by the door, and carry it outside. His heart dropped to his feet, and he struggled to pull breath in as his lungs burned with the effort.

Emily had left. Without a goodbye. Did she regret what they’d done?

Just as Cimmeris dropped down to a sitting position on one of the stairs, Emily rounded the corner and jerked back with a small scream. She was dressed in her pajamas, and her face was pale.

"Don't scare me like that," she said.

Cimmeris put on his best smile and walked over to her, pulling her into a fierce hug. The last thing she needed to hear when she was about to leave was that he had doubted her. Cimmeris berated the insecure boy in him for rearing his ugly head.

"Did you have your breakfast?" he asked.

"I did, but now I need a shower. Transport is already here."

Cimmeris nodded. "I can help with that."

"I'd rather you didn't. The idea of being naked with you in a shower is more than I can handle right now. Last night we were clothed, and I was already on the brink of ecstasy."

"What did I tell you, Em? You've got a great lover on your hands."

Emily rolled her eyes and brushed past him. "I was going to let you stay with me as I got ready, but now I think I'll pass on that."

Cimmeris reached for Emily's wrist and stopped her ascent. "I've got a better idea."

"What?"

"A massage."

She shook her head slowly, and he saw the protest on her lips.

"Look, I'm not just good at sexy stuff," he said. “I give great massages. You'll be fully clothed, and nothing will happen beyond that."

Emily huffed. "I'm really worked up," she whispered.

"Me, too, but it'll help you relax. I promise." Cimmeris looked down. "I just want to do something nice for you before you leave. I realize that we haven't been on a date and I haven't gotten you anything."

Emily stepped down and raised his chin with a finger. "Time with you is more than enough, but a massage might help me calm down. Come on 'magic hands'," she teased, as they walked back to her room.

* * *

An hour later, Cimmeris walked a freshly showered and relaxed Emily downstairs. There, the rest of his housemates sat in the kitchen having breakfast.

"Emily," Veilios said, standing up, "I'm going to miss your charm."

"Not this again," Penum whined. "I thought we already did all that touchy-feely stuff yesterday."

Corrus shoved his cousin and smiled apologetically at Emily, who chuckled.

"Yet again, I have to agree with Penum."

Penum pointed at Emily and grinned. "That's why I like you."

Narchis walked through the door of the house and into the kitchen. "Everything's set. I'm afraid it’s time for you to say your goodbyes, Emily."

Emily surprised everyone by hugging Narchis first and whispering in his ear. Cimmeris forced his jealousy down and reminded himself that she was his mate and had already promised not to get involved with anyone else, no matter how lonely she got. Emily was a woman of her word, and he looked forward to watching her keep it until she returned to him.

Emily hugged each of the team members, but, to Cimmeris' surprise, Zara refused a hug.

"You know you won't see her for a while," Cimmeris warned.

Zara sniffed. "I know, but a hug will make me cry even more, and I'm too cute for that. So..."

Emily chuckled. "I understand, Zara. We'll talk soon."

Cimmeris then walked Emily to the door. He faced her with a brave smile, but it was all bullshit. Deep inside, his dragon was warring with him, yelling at him for letting their mate go.

"I love you," Emily said.

"I love you, too," Cimmeris said, before leaning down for a gentle kiss. He heard a distinct "oooh" sound from Penum, but he ignored it. In these last few moments, he wanted to show Emily that he would be strong for her, that his love for her wouldn't fade.

Emily pulled away and cupped his cheek once more, using her thumb to stroke down his face.

"I'll see you soon, and, when I do, I want your hair trimmed. I miss looking fully into those big brown eyes."

Cimmeris chuckled, then nodded. Whatever Emily wanted, she would get. He stepped away from her, opened the door, and watched her leave. She waved as she got into the car, then fixed her gaze forward as they drove off.

Once the car was no longer visible, Cimmeris walked into the house, straight past his teammates’ worried faces, and up to his room. There, he allowed himself to break down, gasping as he struggled to breathe. Nausea bubbled up within him, and he fought it down.

His mate was gone, and he didn't know when he would see her next.