It was a struggle to hold my sword over my head as my soldiers cheered over my victory. My arm trembled with the effort. Soldiers rushed in, slapping me on the shoulder and embracing me, in a way that was completely unprofessional. I was in a daze, but once I came back to reality, I called for everyone to step back.
"We have to deliver the prince's body back to his father," I said, gesturing for people to step away from Cisco. A path cleared through the crowd and Baruuk met me at the center of the crowd.
"You did well, Lura," Baruuk said, a smug grin on his face. "Now I know where your true loyalty lies."
"I did as you asked. Now send his body back to Espazota. His death will mean war," I said pointedly, "But delivering his body to King Darius will confirm his death."
Baruuk cocked an eyebrow. "Already taken care of. A horseless carriage is waiting to send his body home."
"Please allow me to transport his body to his father," I requested. "It is the least I can do... for an old friend." Baruuk's gaze darkened. I couldn't tell if he was suspicious or simply disapproving. "You have created a diplomatic nightmare," I said, my tone unrelenting. Baruuk's assured grin faltered. "You couldn't be trusted to end this alliance cleanly," I growled. "Now I have to clean up your mess."
"Your loyalty to me is more important than any war," Baruuk said, his voice trembling. For a moment it caused me to doubt myself, but I would not allow my twisted love for him to affect me anymore.
"And I've proven my loyalty," I insisted. "But I cannot allow our people to suffer for your petulant nature. Permit my legion and I to meet King Darius. Darius knows about our friendship. I'll fake grief and frame it as an accident."
An air of doubt surrounded Baruuk. Hopefully he doubted himself and his plan, rather than me. Surely I had proven myself to him. If he still doubted me, if this was all for nothing, I would surely lose my mind.
Baruuk narrowed his eyes. "Don't let me down," he said, then walked away.
With my mind, I lifted Cisco's limp body off the ground. The crowd parted for me, and I carried Cisco's body to the waiting carriage. When we were both inside, and the door was closed, I shut my eyes and let out a shaky breath.
I had done it. I had been the victor. I hadn't allowed my feelings for Cisco to get in the way of what I needed to do to prove myself to Baruuk and my people. But the lancing pain I felt in my chest as I'd slid my sword into Cisco's body lingered. I slumped on the carriage's interior bench, and rested my head on the wall behind me.
"You can stop pretending to be dead," I murmured as the carriage ambled down the road toward the mountain pass. It was all I could do to stay conscious. Diverting energy away from maintaining my presence in the moment was a challenge.
Cisco groaned as he sat upright. His hand rested on his stab wound. I hadn't been able to fully heal him, or else I would have entered hibernation, and everyone would have known I had healed him. "Sorry I couldn't heal you fully," I muttered.
Cisco pushed himself up onto the bench beside me and also leaned his head against the wall behind us. "It beats dying."
One corner of my mouth twitched upward. When Cisco's hand rested on mine, I opened my eyes to see him wearing a lopsided grin. It was a relief to see life glimmering in his eyes. The sight of his smile soothed the pain in my chest. Cisco would be okay. And since I'd spared his life, hopefully our people would be okay, too. At least for the time being.
"A warrior saving a prince's life with a kiss is something out of a folktale," Cisco said, smiling to himself as he returned to resting his head against the wall behind us. "When the truth comes out, that kiss will become legendary."
I grimaced, but despite the grim reality that awaited me and the world in general once news of Cisco's resurrection got out, the thought of our kiss taking on a life of its own, of our story being passed on from generation to generation, brought a smile to my face.
Cisco's hand caressed my face, and I turned to meet his gaze. His eyes stared at me with an intensity he usually saved for battle, but which was achingly tender. That look drew me in, and I found myself leaning into him. "Please tell me that won't be our only kiss," he murmured. It seemed he feared for the future of a world that would keep us apart.
My heart pounded in my chest, and my eyes focused on his full, soft lips. I remembered the feel of them tugging on my lower lip and sighed.
"Not our only kiss," I whispered. "Not if you don't want it to be."
Our noses brushed against each other, and Cisco's breath was hot on my lips. "I'd never be satisfied with just one kiss. Not from you."
Despite the sense of falling, that downward tumble into a bottomless pit, the uncertainty with what the kiss would mean to him or what the future held, and the fact that we may never kiss again, I brushed my lips against his. Just that gentle sensation caused my face to flush. I pulled away, feeling embarrassed by how I craved more.
A look of panic befell Cisco, like he feared that was all I'd ever give him. It hurt me to see the fear I'd caused, but I did what he did to put me at ease — I offered him a smile that told him this was not the end.
Even with the threat of war looming like a shadow over our bond, when I pressed my lips against his once again, we both found peace. Choosing love had saved both of our lives for the moment, but even if we both lost our lives in the ensuing battle, choosing love had saved our humanity, too