With King Eyvor's men hot on their heels, Ava and Liadan flee to the ancient forests of Elloris, where they raise their daughter (and her dragon) within the hallowed halls of an elven ruin, the temple of Erinyel. As Ava frowns over plans of conquest, Liadan stresses over her role as a new parent, while Ethne and Lysa provide emotional support. Don't miss the seventh installment of this lesbian romance series!
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"What in hell is Ceana doing here?" Ethne demanded without preamble. She was speaking low so that Ceana and Fionn would not overhear, and her slanted eyes glared hatred at their backs.
Liadan had been speaking to Ava and both looked around to find the Sparrow Knight gazing at them crossly.
"I thought you'd be thrilled," said Liadan. "She has taken Fionn off your hands, has she not? Fionn is so distracted, she has not thought to slap you for your vile use of her - not that she would."
Ethne scowled. "I should be thrilled that the same woman who did try to slay me barely the week before shall now ride at my back and watch me sleep at night?"
"Who hasn't tried to slay you?" Liadan playfully returned.
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"How will entering this dusty old temple protect us?" said Lysa, who had stepped forward and was peering apprehensively inside the great yawning doors.
"You are forgetting why we came here in the first place," said Ethne. "This is hallowed ground, Lysa! Don't you recall the elven legends? No man may shed blood inside one of these places - and no woman either."
"What about monthlies?" Lysa joked, but the joke was delivered flatly, as if she were trying to enter a playful banter with Ethne but just didn't have the heart after recent events.
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"What's the matter?" whispered Lysa, whose voice had become hushed and intimate after their kiss. Her concerned eyes danced up and down Ethne's trembling arms, which bulged with muscles around her, and she smoothed her little hand over Ethne's cheek, as if to calm her.
"Can't you see how desperately I need you?" Ethne whispered back.
Lysa frowned in sympathy, her little thumb smoothing over Ethne's bottom lip to catch a tear. "Hush, my knight," she whispered and kissed Ethne on the lips. "I shall not leave you. Not for a long time to come." She smiled mischievously.
Ethne laughed through her tears, and they kissed.
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Sitting in a chair opposite Liadan as she breastfed their tiny daughter beside the fire, Ava would watch Liadan sewing and try not to laugh, but it was so - odd - to see such a large woman with such large fingers and bulging arms, sewing dainty little pants and socks. But Liadan was quite good at it, and because Ava couldn't sew a kerchief to save her life, she daren't mock her wife for having a skill so valuable.