Elora stood up and started pacing the room again, muttering to herself, and Jade had to roll her eyes. Keeping the first watch while everyone else slept upstairs was all well and good, but when your watch partner couldn't sit still?
Just annoying.
"Elora," she said, low and even. "Would you settle down? We're supposed to be keeping a low profile. The Wyrm's forces could be anywhere, and they're not likely to be pleased we stole Graydon out from under their bloody noses."
Elora whirled. "That's just it, Jay!"
Jade shot her a look, and Elora flinched.
She resumed, barely above a whisper. "We have Graydon back! I can finally tell him how much he means to me, but... how?"
Jade sighed, and Elora cut a look of her own. "You weren't there," she hissed. "You didn't hear him, on the Shattered Sea. It was the most beautiful love confession ever, better than anything I've read in any romance! How can I possibly follow that?"
She sank back into her chair, dropping her head in her hands with a groan.
Jade stared at the top of her head in straight-faced disbelief. They were on the run from the Mothers only knew what kinds of monsters, and Elora was, once again, fixated on her love life.
Then again... she glanced up at the ceiling as she could just make out the faint musical notes of Kit's snore, so distinct to her among all the other little sleeping noises.
If they didn't have love what were they even fighting for?
Jade looked back down again with a rueful chuckle. "Just kiss 'im, Lor."
"I caaaaan't," Elora whined, muffled against her arm.
"Hey. Sure you can." She leaned forward and tapped Elora's arm, causing her to raise her head. Jade leaned in closer.
"All you gotta do," she said, reaching out and brushing Elora's hair back behind her ear, "Is get in nice and close."
She scooted her chair forward until she was mere inches away from Elora's face. "Then make the big doe eyes like you like to do..."
Jade widened her eyes and fluttered her eyelashes. Elora giggled, and Jade's heart did a funny little thump at the sound.
Ignoring that, she smiled. "Work your wiles. Remind him of the strong, sweet, beautiful girl he fell for."
"Aw." Elora tilted her head. She looked touched.
"Then just say it. Say, I love you, too. And lay one on him."
Elora stared at her, momentarily wordless. Then she surged forward and pressed her mouth to Jade's.
Jade's eyes widened and then fell closed as Elora's lips moved against hers, a faint breath, a sliding pressure, and then a tiny flick of tongue undid her. She pressed forward, kissing back, tasting the sweetness of Elora's mouth, tasting her magic, she fancied.
Her adorable empress; and if she served Kit to serve the realm and she loved Kit and she served Elora to serve the realm, then...
Elora pulled back, finally. Her pale cheeks were flushed rosy in the candlelight, her eyes were sparkling...
...and Jade Claymore knew things had, without a doubt, gotten several degrees more complicated.
Send me a Ship and a Number and I will Write a Kiss
