Shuryntus wrapped Kalli's arm, pressing it carefully but firmly, trying to stop the bleeding. He was shocked to see that his Phoenix barely noticed the blood, or the pain. Her attention was caught in the sight of the Dragon, who had taken to personally thanking the men who had manned the rescuing ship.

"How did you find us, Ry?"

"Just lucky." Ry looked up into the sky, half-blinded by the sunlight. "That idiot Methron thought he could kidnap two Dawns and have no one notice. He also thought he could get away in this clunky wreck before anyone could catch him." The guard shook his sandy hair from his eyes, grinning wolfishly into the Phoenix's face. She was actually looking at him now, studying every detail of his face, like she'd never seen him before.

"What exactly did Lord Braliin think taking us hostage was going to accomplish anyway?" Kalli rubbed at her wrist, the tight bandage itching her skin.

"Stop scratching that, stupid bird. I'm sure it was some kind of political motive." Ry grinned, baring his teeth like some wild cat. "It wasn't a very good move, I can tell you that."

The Phoenix Dawn glanced back at Ry before returning her ice-blue gaze back to her wife. The Dragon was speaking at length to one particular sailor. "It could have been, had anyone but you been my guard, Ry. And don't tell her I said this, but Raenel was horribly helpful too. That woman's quick as a serpent, and just as lucky."

"And her bite's almost as poisonous," Ry grinned savagely at his Raenel, who stood guard over the captive Braliin. The sun made a golden glory of her waist-length dirty-blonde hair. She looked like something wild and slick, draped in leather boots up to her knees. There was a horrible kind of delight in her face as she tormented the traitor. "I'd hate to be Braliin right now."

Kalli laughed, her eyes shining with tired mirth. "As would I. Thank the Phoenix for you both." She held her injured hand up carefully. "I'm I free to go, my dearest Healer?"

Shuryntus chuckled softly. "Just be very careful with that leg of yours. Perhaps you should ask the Dragon to help you back to your chamber." His face was so utterly bland when he said it, Kalli turned to stare at him, wondering if he was being serious. "What?"

"Nothing."

"Well, the way you were staring at her, I thought you'd been looking for an excuse."

Laughter exploded from Kalli's throat, catching them both by surprise. "You're right; I have been." Before Ry could respond, the Phoenix was calling her wife over, demanding that she rest. "The captain will understand, Dragon, that you are also injured and in need of rest. Besides, I need help to my rooms."

Maellyn looked a little surprised, but held out one pale hand to her wife, pulling Kalli to her feet with an unexpected gentleness. "I apologize, Captain Zluliss, but my wife is right. We are both in dire need of rest. You will excuse me for the remainder of the night?"

The sailor smiled, bowing low. "As you wish, Dawn Dragon. Your guards and one of my boys will be stationed at the bottom of the stairs, just in case you need anything. Good evening, Phoenix, Dragon."

Mae wrapped her arm around Kalli's waist. The Phoenix leaned heavily on her wife, but only half from pain. Being that close, Kalli could smell her skin, could hear her breath. The very presence of her distracted her, her heart laboring under the closeness.

They made it down the stairs and down the short hall without incident. Maellyn set her down gently on the edge of the bed. "Oh poor Kalli," the Dragon mourned, running her fingers gently over the injured arm.

"It doesn't hurt that bad; it'll heal before we get back, I'm sure."

"You took this because of me, didn't you?"

Kalli watched as Maellyn settled on the floor in front of her. "Oh, it wasn't your fault, Mae. It was either you or me; it was my choice to push you out of the way."

"Stop acting so damned tough. You had me worried sick."

"You worried?"

Mae turned her face away, a soft blush painting her cheeks. "Of course I did!"

Kalli smiled, the glitter of it shining through her eyes. She was at a loss for words, her mind centered around the feel of Mae's fingers on her arm. 'She's beautiful. She's beautiful and she's in love with me.' It hardly seemed real, after so many years of feeling alone…

"Mae…" She touched the fingers of her uninjured hand to her chin, lifting the Dragon's face back to hers. There were no words that could be said that hadn't; Kalli pressed in close to her, seeking out Mae's lips with hers.

The Dragon's lips were soft under her own, exciting a kind of fire that scorched through the Phoenix's veins. Running her free hand down Mae's side to her hip, Kalli massaged her skin through the roughness of her breeches. Kalli kissed her way down the smooth skin of the Dragon's neck, enticing soft moans from her Mae. 'My Mae. Yes, now she is my Mae, for real.'

The Dragon pulled her a little too close, a little too hard, dragging gasps of pain from them both. Mae winced as she pulled away, her hand going to the long brush on her stomach. "I'm sorry, Kalli. Did I hurt you?"

"It was worth it." The Phoenix answered, winking at Mae as a thin line of cherry red ran across the Dragon's nose. Kalli giggled, mercilessly prodding the Dragon's prudishness. Mae reacted with a kind of playful, outraged embarrassment that melted the normal chilliness of her disposition. She was so easy to tease, so easy to love. Mae was beautiful.

And in that moment, life was perfect.

One more...