The Rising (The Rising #4) - Kristen Ashley Page 0,81

did not fight his hands reaching to her, his fingers sifting into her hair, holding her head to him, or the very ungentlemanly act of touching his tongue to her lips, insisting they open.

On a sweet mew, she gave him this, and if all had not been lost before—when he had to admit it was—it was lost then, he was lost, when he had her taste.

He was lost to anything but deepening the kiss, angling his head to do so, drinking more.

More of Bronagh.

More of her spirit and sweetness.

More of life.

When his body had responded to the point he’d desire to take the kiss somewhere else, he broke his mouth from hers and whispered against her lips, “We must stop.”

“Hmm?” she hummed dazedly, and he felt her weight in her hand at his chest.

He grinned against her mouth and watched as her eyes slowly opened.

That was life too.

“I’ll take dinner with you tonight, honey,” he murmured. “And vol-au-vents filled with stew for lunch tomorrow.”

She snapped into focus and gifted him with relief and excitement filling her eyes before they got wet.

He pressed his mouth to hers and pulled away, saying, “Now we must change for dinner.”

She suddenly shot straight, he lost the feel of her hair, but she gained it as she smoothed it, then smoothed her skirts at her front, and said nonsensically, “Yes, quite.”

“Yes, quite, what?” he asked, unable to remove the teasing thread of his tone.

“Yes, quite, I shall meet you at your chambers to go with you to dinner and…and arrange for us to go on an outing tomorrow.”

“Please allow me,” he murmured.

“Of course.” She touched her throat and her eyes grew somewhat wild.

In turn, he grew concerned he’d been too forward.

“Have you not been kissed, Bronagh?” he asked gently.

“I, yes, well…” She smoothed her hair again. “Well, yes, but not like that.”

He fought his grin.

“You’re very pleased with yourself, Alfie Henriksson,” she snapped when she saw his struggle.

“I am, indeed, very pleased, Bronagh.”

She huffed.

He chuckled.

She stared.

He took her hand.

“Thank you,” he said softly.

She grew adorably awkward again.

“My pleasure,” she mumbled.

“I do not know how to—” he began.

Her hand twisted so she could hold his fingers in hers tightly. “We will find our way.”

Alfie nodded. “Dinner, honey.”

“Oh, right.”

He smiled at her again, squeezed her hand and then let her go.

She hesitated, rubbing her lips together while gazing down at him, then nodded and began to move away.

When he lost sight of her, he looked to the fire.

“Alfie?” she called.

He twisted to look at her around his chair.

She was at the door, her hand on the latch.

“You’ve made me very happy,” she said.

And then she rushed out the door.

Alfie stared at it for some time after it was shut.

He then turned and stared at the fire for more time.

Finally, he took his sticks, hefted himself up and made his way to his chair.

He set the sticks across his lap as he wheeled himself out of the room.

He had only one thought and it was the only thought on his mind since Bronagh’s words were spoken before she left the room.

This thought was that he had it now.

Absolutely.

He had it.

You’ve made me very happy.

A new meaning to life.

139

The Drawing

Queen Ha-Lah

Riding through Sky Bay to Lowgate

AIREN

“I should not be here.”

I was riding at Serena’s side on the way to Lowgate, along with a grand procession of guards. A procession that included all of our husbands.

And in Serena’s case, her lover, Chu.

As well as, considering he felt it imperative to make up for time lost and thus was frequently found close to his little sister, Jorie.

We were intent to perform the ritual that would draw down more power.

Elena had suggested that we should more than likely do this ritual amongst ourselves, only the Sisters of the Beast (and Serena, who we had all adopted, so really, we felt she was one too) in attendance, but the men would not hear of it.

Elena then shared that it would not hurt that they were there.

“It’s just too bad it won’t be just a sister thing,” she had finished on a mumble.

I agreed.

However, my husband was on edge, and if being close to me assuaged that in any way, I would give him that.

“Elena thinks it important you are at your fullest power,” I told her something Elena already had. “You leave to go to Dunlyn after the wedding. There is much danger for you there. I believe it will help her in her worry with you far away performing perilous deeds, that