Bedelth the Orange (Dragonwall Series #5)

Chapter 28 - A Rooftop Party

Kastali Dun

Claire whirled around at the sound of muffled curses. Moments later, she saw why. Talon was balancing, arms lifted, hand full of flowers, at risk of toppling off the step stool and onto the table of refreshments beside him. He secured the final garland into place, grumbling and growling, before jumping backwards off the stool. He staggered back several steps, whipped his hands on his pants, as if to rid himself from this whole trying experience, then rounded on her. She pressed her lips into a firm line to keep from smiling at his display.

"Remind me again, my queen, why people from your world choose to subject themselves to this sort of thing?"

Her hands covered her mouth to suppress a giggle. "It's a bachelorette party, Talon, it's meant to be fun."

"I am speaking of your insistence against magic," he growled, stalking towards her. A huff left her chest. The sight of a massive Drengr stalking its prey was frightening; the sight of Talon doing it left her heart pounding. She found herself scampering backwards, away from him until her hips collided with the battlement surrounding the rooftop garden. The tallest garden in all of Kastali Dun. The most beautiful place she could think of to host a party like this. And what a party it would be!

The sight of it stole her breath, seeing the finished product. The garden was already magical. Paired with massive garlands erected on trellises, hanging lanterns, shimmering golden tassels, an archway, and a whole area with giant silken pillows around a low table, the place looked like something from a dream.

They'd done it entirely themselves. She'd wanted it to be a surprise for their friends, but she couldn't have done it without Talon's help. Together they'd schemed for days, sneaking in everything they'd need. The only other person who knew about it was Tess. She'd recruited the head woman early on, to ensure they'd have enough food.

It wasn't the party Talon complained about, but the manner in which she'd insisted on preparing for it.

"Magic makes this up too easy, Talon," she reminded him. When she'd told him this earlier, he'd hemmed and hawed then, too. "I want our friends to know how much they means to us—how much effort we put into this for them. Besides, it's all part of the whole experience." She innocently tilted her head, filling her expression with mock hesitance, going so far as to make her chin quiver as she added, "Are you not enjoying my company?

"Impossible woman," he huffed, bracing his hands on the battlement behind her, caging her in. The heat of his body, the closeness, the familiarity between them, quickened her heart. He dropped his head level with hers. "You know I enjoy every moment with you."

He brought his lips to hers. It was a claiming kiss, pressing their bodies together. Heat seared everywhere he aligned to her. She felt a little groan rise up in her chest before he swallowed it with his mouth.

He pulled back, almost too quickly, to regard her. "You know," he said, "had you allowed magic, we could have finished in half the time, leaving the rest of the afternoon for...other pursuits." He bucked his hips against hers, letting her feel exactly what pursuits he meant.

A little gasp fell from her lips, uncontrolled, as tingles raced up her spine.

It had been punishing, the days leading up to their bonding ceremony. Each harder than the last. Not just for how busy they were, for the stolen kisses they were forced to share between moments, but because when they did come together, it took everything to keep from plunging past the point of no return.

Talon had always been adamant that they seal their bond as part of the ceremony. It felt rather old fashioned to her, reminiscent of medieval consummation of marriages. But the Drengr tradition was revered, and she respected that. There would be a ceremony in the throne room, a large celebration to follow, and then Talon would whisk her away from the public, to the privacy of their bed.