Danna

She clung tightly to Prior and pressed her face against his chest.

“Sweetheart,” he whispered. “What is it?” She hiccuped, realizing she was crying again. “Did you really think I wouldn’t find you? I will always find you. You can send me away when I do, but even Seshi couldn’t fly you far enough away that I wouldn’t.”

“I,” she swallowed, “I killed Cole. Well, Seshi did, but only because I said so.”

“Ah,” Sir Tristan said, leaning against a rock. “Well, that’s a great loss.” She stared at him wide eyed.

“Ignore him,” Prior whispered. “Tristan made his first kill at six years old or something, he’s a terrible example of how to cope with this sort of thing.”

“I was ten, actually,” Tristan said. She blinked.

“Really?” She said. He nodded.

“We were on our way to the resistance camp after our parents had been killed,” Tristan said. “There were a group of bandits that jumped us. Athena and I both got our first kills that day.” He frowned. “You get used to it, but it doesn’t get easier. But you can take solace in knowing that he wanted to hurt you, and now he can’t.” Danna looked at the Colonel of The Queen’s Guard and nodded. It was like he’d known precisely what to say.

“Thank you,” she whispered and Prior kissed her gently.

“She is overwrought,” Seshi said. “I did not make you watch, Little Rider, I knew you could have born that.” She exhaled. “Is your queen angry? We had agreed not to start a panic?”

“We didn’t stay long enough to find out,” Prior admitted. “But probably not.”

“It takes a lot to anger Lisette,” Tristan said. “And she’s quick to forgive.” Seshi nodded. “But, we can arrange a more dignified introduction, I’m sure.” The dragon laughed and Danna smiled at that. She looked up at Prior.

“Do we have to go back right away?” She whispered.

“Of course not,” he said. He nodded to Sir Tristan who nodded back and rode off in the other direction. “Tristan will tell them we’re safe, and we can stay out here as long as you like.” They walked back into the cave. “What do you need?”

“Just you,” she whispered. And it was true, she felt as if she’d been torn apart and Prior’s inherent peace and stability was helping to stitch her back together. He kissed her and she ran her hands under his coat to take it off.

“Danna,” he said, “what just happened, you’ll have a lot of adrenaline,” he drifted off as she kissed his neck.

“Hmm,” she muttered and pressed him to his back and straddled him. “If only there was some way to burn off that adrenaline.” He exhaled, he was clearly trying to hold himself together. He cupped her face.

“Love,” he whispered, “no.” She swallowed.

“No?” She said and leaned back. He shook his head.

“I won’t let you hide in me,” he exhaled, “that’s the line for me.” She blinked. “You can feel whatever you want, do what you need to do, but not with me.” She blinked at him and rolled back.

“You confuse me,” she said. He sighed.

“You have your scars and I have mine,” he said gently. She looked at him, he’d talked about his family, but never about the other parts of his life this way.

“She used you,” she whispered. He shrugged. “Oh, Prior, I’m sorry, I didn’t even think of that,” she rested her head on his shoulder.

“I understand wanting to escape those feelings, Danna, I do,” he swallowed, “I just can’t be that escape for you, not with sex, don’t ask it of me.” She let him stroke her hair.

“Alright,” she said. “So what is the appropriate amount of time after I feed my former lover to my dragon before you will have sex with me?” He laughed. “One day? Two?”

“Will this be happening again?” He teased. “Do you have many former lovers who deserve to be a meal for Seshi?” She smiled wickedly.

“A few,” she said, “I imagine it being a line I’m willing to cross will make you consider a few things.” He laughed harder and kissed her. “I didn’t think that I’d be using you. I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright,” he said, “I know you didn’t mean it that way, it’s just something I know I’ll never want again.” She kissed him. “Are you sorry?”

“No,” she said, realizing that he meant for Cole’s death, “not really. I’m sorry for the person he could have been. He was intelligent and driven and brazen, and if he hadn’t been so rotten and empty he could have done wonderful things.” She leaned against him again. “I never understood what he wanted with me, except that I told him no.”

“I don’t know about that,” Prior whispered. “I wanted you as soon as I saw you. You’re extremely wantable.”

“Just not in this moment,” she teased and kissed him again.

“Not quite in this exact moment, that’s true.” Danna rested against him.

“My father wanted this so much,” she said, “I thought he had lost his mind by the end, but he wanted to me to be a rider and a warrior, like our ancestors. That being real, that’s the thing I’ve never really been able to accept.”

“I wish I could have known your father,” Prior said. She smiled.

“He’d have liked you,” Danna whispered, “words like, ‘sturdy,’ and ‘thoughtful,’ probably would have come up.” Prior laughed. “Will the merchants come for me?”

“No,” Prior shook his head, “you’ll be under Tristan and Athena’s protection, you’ll be fine.” She nodded and kissed him softly again. “Did you really doubt that I would come for you?”

“Not really,” she smiled, “I did panic a bit,” he kissed her softly and gently.