Page 141 of Foundling

“What if I want everything, Leita? All that you are, including your trust?”

“You have it.” Kissing between his horns, she hooked her chin over the crown of his head. “I’ll do whatever it takes to prove it to you.”

“This is a very good start.” Only mates flew like this, and it was the highest honor of a Savrakae to carry that which was most precious to them between their wings. “I can think of a few other things, off the top of my head.”

Leita chuckled. “Name them.”

“I want to knock that old citadel down for you, with the whole city watching.”

She was silent a moment, leaving Attalus to check their bond to see whether she was surprised or angry or both. He was relieved to find she felt only surprise.

“All right,” she agreed.

“I want Slinky’s life extended to as long as she wants.” His little companion had become such a joy and comfort, he could hardly imagine the palace without her. He’d never forget how she’d hunted for him in those long days within the cave. The marten deserved to live a long life, gorging on as much cheese as she wished.

“That should be doable, so long as she agrees. Not all creatures wish to live longer than they’re meant.” Leita squeezed his shoulders to soften the blow. He knew she spoke from experience.

Attalus touched one of the forearms wrapped around his neck, offering comfort. “It will be her choice, but I want to offer it, at least.”

He felt her nod against his head. “What else?”

“I want your promise that you won’t leave me behind again.” This condition came a little softer, a little more hesitant. It was what he wanted most of all and would prove most important for their future.

“I promise,” she said without pause. “If I could make a pact with you, I would.”

“No pact. Just trust, agae. That’s all I ask.” While it might seem simple or small, Leita’s trust wasn’t easily given. Attalus didn’t resent her for it, even if he’d railed against the consequences of not having earned it entirely.

Attalus had witnessed plenty of matings without trust. That path led to jealousy, betrayal, and possibly worse. He refused to squander his chance at happiness with Leita, determined to have all of her. It didn’t have to be today or even tomorrow. A little bit over time, more every day. He just needed to know that it was possible.

They flew in peaceful silence for a few moments, the late-summer breeze helping keep them aloft. His mate was a pleasant weight along his back, an anchor against the swirling tide that’d threatened to pull his life under.

He hadn’t known it was possible to care for or love anything as deeply as he did Leita. Such tenderness was a vulnerability, not something anyone could afford within the Droplets. His hearts had been wounded too many times, his life rendered meaningless both by loss and by choice. A hollow life wasn’t worth mourning, no great loss, even when it was his own.

But now, sailing through the faelands’ skies, Attalus had everything to live for. The land might not be familiar, its people strange, but they were his now. And so was the precious woman on his back. She had already made his life worth living, and he flew into his new future happily, knowing he’d spend it beside her.

“For all my life, I hoped for an azai,” Leita said suddenly. “It didn’t matter to me who they were, just what they represented. Not being alone.”

His hearts ached for her, the Leita flying with him now and the Leita who’d been a scared little girl all alone. “You’ll never be alone again,” he assured her, gripping her hand tight.

“I’m glad it was you, Attalus. That the Twins, the fates, whoever it was, chose you. They were right.”

Her words and love for him thrumming through their bond nearly shot Attalus out of the sky.

“I changed my mind, I have one more condition.”

“Oh?”

He began to spiral downwards, out of the air current. “For a mating to be true, it must be consummated in the Savrakae way.”

An adorable little squeak caught in Leita’s throat. “You mean…?”

Tightening the spiral, Attalus came to a midair stop, using an updraft to help him hover not too high off the treetops.

“Oh, yes, agae.” He peered at her over his shoulder, curious if she’d refuse him. It’d been a tiring few days, and he wouldn’t begrudge if she wanted to return to their comfortable bed. Still, his hopes were higher than the two of them.

His blood sang when she nodded, a shy excitement glittering in her eyes.

Her stained-glass wings unfolded from her back, a breathtaking display of iridescent blues and purples. In an instant, they were a blur behind her, and Leita unlatched from his back to circle round to his front.