The Northwest Isle was nearly a day away, but already Jessica could see the thick, dark clouds looming above it, heavier and more ominous than the clouds which covered Castle Trodain. She leaned against Angelo, his chest warm and solid against her back, and murmured, "Dhoulmagus has to be there."
He rested his cheek against her hair. "Undoubtedly."
"And this will all finally be over."
"One way or the other." His arms tightened around her. "We could die tomorrow."
Jessica forced a laugh. "If that's an attempt to get me into your bed tonight..."
"No." He laughed, too, and she felt him kiss the back of her head. "Not that I'd complain if you chose to, but...no, I was thinking that whatever happens will be worth it, because of you."
"How terribly romantic."
"I'm serious."
I know you are, she thought bleakly, and pulled away so she could face him, arms crossed. "Well I, for one, have no intentions of dying. I'm going to avenge my brother, and I would hope you'd be as determined to avenge Abbot Francisco."
"Of course I am," he said, and she could tell he was confused by her reaction. "But..."
She pressed the tips of her fingers against his lips. "Then think about what we'll do after Dhoulmagus is defeated."
For a moment, they stood that way, until he reached up and caught her hand. He wasn't wearing gloves; his skin was warm and surprisingly soft against hers. "We?"
"I thought it might be fun to travel." She twined her fingers with his, anchored him, let him anchor her. "Though it would get lonely by myself."
He was smiling now, a soft expression which, a few days ago, she wouldn't have thought him capable of. "You haven't had your fill of travel yet?"
"I hardly think chasing a murderer compares to traveling for pleasure. But if you're in that much of a hurry to return to Maella Abbey..."
"No hurry, I assure you."
"Good." She let him pull her back into his arms, kissed him with an eagerness which might have held a hint of the fatalism she'd just chided him for. Because they truly could die tomorrow.
And it truly would be worth it.
Written for 101 Kisses. Theme: #53 - Balance (yin-yang)
