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My God, she was beautiful.
Yelena entered her rooms after her guards had left, shuttering and locking her windows against the chilly wind before starting a fire in the hearth.
"That's better," I commented.
She turned. I was lounging on one of her chairs, my foot propped up on the table.
As I played with the valmur statue she gave me Yelena looked at me as if her birthday had come early.
"How did you-"
"Fool your guards?" I cut her off. "They're not very good. They forgot to check the ceiling for spiders."
I couldn't help it; I grinned.
Her expression changed. "This is dangerous."
"I knew falling for you was dangerous, love," I said, completely ignoring what she was hinting at.
"I meant coming to Sitia. Being here in the Magician's Keep with guards just outside my door." She gestured wildly.
"It's only dangerous if they know I'm here," I countered. "According to them, I'm just Ambassador Signe's lowly and dull-witted aide." I stood, my clothes clinging to my frame. Stretching out my arms I commented, "See, I'm not even armed."
I tried to look innocent, but Yelena knew better.
"Should I guess how many concealed weapons you have or should I gust strip search you?"
"A strip search is the only way to be absolutely certain." My deep blue eyes were dancing with delight.
She took three steps and was wrapped in my arms, right here where she belonged.
I couldn't think. After months of misery, living wit out her I was intoxicated by her smell, her voice, her vibrancy for life.
During our trip to the bed, she found most of my weapons: my knives strapped to each forearm, my darts and throwing stars in my belt, a switchblade on my right thigh, and my favorite short sword that I had stashed in my boot.
I had more knives folded into my clothes, but as soon as her hands touched my skin our game ceased to matter.
With Yelena lying next to me I felt complete. I felt at home.
I let the euphoria drag me into a happy dreamless sleep.