The Dragon's Heart: Unspoken Passion

Totheworld,PrincessIlariaofCaelwynisabrideofduty.Toherheart,sheisawomandesperatelychasingtheloveofthehusbandwhowillnotlookherway.Allsheeverwantedwasforhimtocare;forhimtoturnhisgazetowardherwiththesamefervorshecarriedinherheart.Nomatterhowmanytimeshepushedheraway,nomatterhowcoldthesilencebetweenthembecame,shenevergaveup.Notoncedidsheallowherselftoseehimassomeoneunworthyofherlove.Toher,hewasalwaysworthit.Andwhenloveatlasttookroot,whenitbloomedagainsteverystormthattriedtotearthemapart;whentwoheartsfinallyfoundeachotheranddaredtobeatasone...fate,ascruelandmercilessasitis,remindedthemthattherewereforcesevenlovecouldneverconquer.--EXCERPT--Levanpressedhislipstohertemple,hislipstremblingasthoughthekissitselfmightshatterhim.Onehandcradledherfacewiththekindofgentlenesshehadnevershownanyone,whiletheotherthreadedweaklythroughherhair,tryingfutilelytosoothethesobswrackinghiswife'sbody.Hisbreathbreakunevenly,hiseyeswereshuttight,asifbyclosingthemhecouldpretendthismomentwouldnevercome.Asiftheworldmightletthemstaythiswayforever.Asiftherealityofitallcouldbediscardedjustsothattheycouldlivehowevertheywanted.Helethismouthfallagainsthercheekandlingerthere,tastingthesaltofhertearsasthoughtheywerehisown.Hedidnotmoveforalongwhile...becauseifthissorrowwasthefinalpieceofherhewasallowedtocarry,hewantedtoetchitintohisverysoul.Hewantedtorememberthewaysheshookinhisarms.Hewantedtorememberthesoundofhermuffledcries.Hewantedtorememberthewarmthofherskinpressedsodesperatelyagainsthim.Hewantedtorememberherashiswife;hisbeloved.“Live,mylove,”hewhispered,hisvoicerawandbreaking,thewordschokingoutofhimlikeaprayerhecouldbarelyforcepasthisthroat.Heburiedhisfaceagainstherhairsoshewouldnotseethetearsspillingfreelydownhischeeks.“Evenifit'sfarfromme…live.”