“Give the man some coin, sweetheart,” I said in Korwahk, Teetru jerked like she’d been pulled from a trance even though her eyes were on Diandra and me. She nodded and jumped toward the merchant, opening the drawstring leather pouch she carried that was filled with Lahn’s coin.
I grabbed Diandra’s elbow and turned her away from the stall, looking back and smiling at my entourage.
The night before a large travelling band of merchants had approached and through the night set up on the outskirts of the Daxshee. This morning, the people of the Daxshee fell on it like it was the day after Christmas sales.
So, of course, I gathered my girl posse of Diandra, Narinda, Sheena, Nahka, Oahsee, Claudine, Sabine, Anastasie, and Nahka’s two BFFs who had been adopted by the troop, Char and Vuntus and away we went… shopping.
Being queen, and followed by Bain who carried weapons, was huge and muscular and barked orders, I or my girls got to go to the front of any stall that caught our fancy.
It was awesome, I was having a great time, the vibe in the air was excited and I was happy. I was happy because I was with my friends. I was happy because I was shopping, something I loved to do. And I was happy because they were happy, giggling, talking and buying.
But mostly I was happy because Lahn would be home tomorrow.
* * * * *
Needless to say, I made my decision.
Magic or not. I had the power in me or not. Savage nation or not.
I was staying.
This was because, here, I was queen.
This was because, here, I had awesome clothes.
This was because, here, I held beautiful magic.
This was because, here, I had great friends whose friendships had been tested beyond anything I could ever imagine and held strong and true.
And this was because, here, I was in love.
Perhaps not with the man of my dreams, but with a man that was more man than any I’d ever encountered. He was savage, no doubt about it. But, to me, he was unbelievably sweet.
And he thought I was a woman beyond his dreams.
And that worked for me.
* * * * *
I pretty much knew I had been denying the pull of the crazy, Korwahk world for awhile.
And I had been denying, too, the strange connection that held strong as steel between Lahn and me throughout the weeks we’d been together, the dramas and the heartbreaks.
But after he defeated Dortak and celebrated with me, I knew.
I knew I was in love.
What would happen the next day would only prove it irrefutably.
* * * * *
He had woken me with a gentle, “Wake, my Circe,” whispered in my ear.
When my eyes fluttered open and my head turned to take him in, I saw something on his face I’d seen once before – when he was looking at me after I sang to Mahyah.
God, that look was beautiful.
“What?” I whispered back.