“What did Lady Barta want?” Jahree asked as Lanni joined him by the fireplace in the quiet of the sitting room. It was his night off, and he’d been relaxing, waiting for her. Lanni greeted him with a soft kiss, her lips lingering against his as if the touch could dissolve the weight of her day. “She wanted to know why I wasn’t at dinner tonight and what the delivery I got was all about.” Jahree raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly to look into her eyes. “And what did you tell her?” Lanni sighed, settling onto the chair beside him. “The truth—that I was giving a re-port to Captain Trema on how you’re doing with your magic training. And as for the package, it was a personal order. Something I paid for myself.” Jahree’s curiosity piqued, his brow furrowing slightly. “Can I ask what it was?” A teasing smile crept onto her lips as she stood and took his hand. “Come see for yourself.” She led him down the hallway through the house, her grip warm and firm yet playful. When they reached her room, Jahree paused at the threshold, a bit hesitant. Lanni stepped inside and turned to face him. “Come in,” she encouraged, her voice soft but in-sistent. Jahree hesitated for a moment longer, then followed her in. He glanced around. Her room was cluttered, though it had an organized—a mixture of weapons, books, and trin-kets strewn about. It was clear, however, that there was more going on here than just Lanni’s personal mess. “Sorry about the state of things,” Lanni said with an apologetic laugh. “My room’s become extra storage for the barracks lately.” Jahree’s eyes scanned the array of weapons stacked against the walls, the glint of steel catching the dim light. “Extra storage, huh? It looks like you’re gearing up for something serious.” Lanni waved a hand dismissively. “It’s precautionary. Nothing I can’t handle.” But her tone lacked the usual confidence she carried. She turned to a pile of books by the bed, picking up a few of them. “I really need to take these back to Sen-gan. I’ve been so busy, and I keep thinking about what Grandpa Mishtali would say if he saw this mess.” Jahree leaned against the doorframe, watching her with a curious smile. “He didn’t like clutter?” Lanni shook her head with a nostalgic smile. “He was fastidious about it. Even after my dad had a family of his own, Grandpa would come by and push him to tidy up.” “Was cleaning his addiction?” Jahree asked with a grin. Lanni laughed, but there was a glint in her eye. “No, not exactly. He was, well, ad-dicted to sex.” Jahree’s eyes widened, but he couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s quite the addiction. You, on the other hand…” He gestured to the stack of books. “I’d say yours is reading.” She gave him a wry smile. “Guilty as charged.” This type of addiction wasn’t a typical addiction. For mages like Lanni, certain activi-ties helped calm the magical energy within them, soothing the restless jitters that magic brought. They became dependent on the activity. She gestured to a large trunk near the corner of the room, its copper lining gleaming faintly in the low light. “That’s the package,” she said. “I bought it because of you.” Jahree stepped closer, inspecting the trunk. “Copper-lined?” he noted, recognizing its purpose. “That’s what’s different in here.” He glanced around the room, noticing that some of her usual magical trinkets and charms were missing. Lanni nodded. “Your magic resistance… it affects everything in here. I didn’t want my charms to get destroyed just because you were nearby. So I bought the trunk. It keeps them safe while you’re here.” Jahree was taken aback by the gesture. He hadn’t realized she’d been so cautious about him entering her room because his magic-nullifying presence might disrupt her care-fully enchanted belongings. The fact that she’d gone to such lengths—buying a special trunk just so he could come in without worry—was more than he’d expected. “I want you to be able to come in here anytime,” Lanni continued, stepping closer to him, her voice dropping to a softer tone. “In case you want to spend the night. Or the day.” She leaned in and kissed him again, her hands resting lightly on his chest. Jahree pulled back slightly, his breath uneven. “You’re too much of a lady for me to do that,” he said, though the kiss had clearly stirred something within him. His hands lin-gered on her waist, betraying the calm tone of his voice. Lanni’s smile turned into a mischievous grin. “That’s not what I’ve heard.” Her voice dropped into a soft purr that sent shivers down his spine. “You’re not like the other women I’ve been with,” Jahree admitted, his voice quieter now, as if confessing something deeper. “I hope not,” she whispered, her fingers trailing up his arm. Jahree’s brow furrowed as his thoughts drifted to something more serious. “It wouldn’t feel right, spending the night. We’re not even bonded yet.” Lanni looked up at him, her eyes soft but knowing. “The more time we spend togeth-er, the more physical we are, the faster the bond forms.” Her hands slipped under his shirt, her touch warm against his skin. “Skin-to-skin helps.” “Teach me,” he said, his voice rough with curiosity. “Tell me more about bonding. Why does it happen? How? What’s it like?” He pulled off his shirt for her, though he made no move to undress her, still unsure of how far to go. Lanni led him to the bed, settling beside him. “Bonding is… it’s like a magic hormone or something similar. When two people are attracted, it triggers the bond. That hormone allows magic to flow between them.” “But I’m not a mage,” Jahree pointed out. “You’re also not a dragon, but you don’t have to be,” Lanni replied softly. “I’m the mage. The bond only needs one of us to start. Once it begins, it grows, even when we’re apart.” “And what does it feel like?” Jahree asked, his curiosity deepening. Lanni smiled, brushing her fingers gently against his arm. “It starts slowly. You might not even notice at first. You’ll feel things—moods, sensations—that don’t make sense. And then, over time, it gets stronger. You might feel physical sensations… like a burn or a cut. Eventually, it’s as if we’re sharing each other’s emotions and touch.” Jahree shivered under her touch, and Lanni smiled as she continued. “Close your eyes,” she whispered. He did, and she began tracing her fingers lightly over his skin so gently it almost tick-led. “Without focusing, you wouldn’t be able to tell if I was touching you or myself.” A soft laugh escaped him as her fingers found a particularly sensitive spot, and he opened his eyes with a grin. “You’re ticklish?” Lanni teased, her eyes gleaming. “If we were fully bonded,” she continued, “I’d know exactly what you wanted—if you wanted me to stop or keep going.” Jahree’s breath hitched. “You can feel what I want?” Lanni nodded, her smile growing. He shivered again, the sensation of her touch send-ing electricity through him. “Do you want me to stop?” she asked, her voice low. “No,” he whispered, shaking his head. “Then, should I find all your ticklish spots?” Her voice was playful now, teasing, as her fingers danced over his skin. He grinned, leaning into her touch. “Not tonight.” “Why not?” she asked with a soft purr. “Would I need to remove more clothing?” “A lot more,” Jahree replied, his voice deep with amusement. Lanni purred again, leaning in close to his ear. “All?” “Not my left sock,” Jahree teased, his eyes gleaming. Lanni laughed, pulling back slightly. “You’re ticklish on one foot but not the other?” “Scar tissue,” he explained. “I stepped on some glass back on Tameria. It’s not bad, but it’s just not as sensitive.” Lanni’s playful expression softened as she stopped tickling him, a hint of concern crossing her features. “Are you sure it’s okay?” she asked. He kissed her gently. “It’s fine. Really. Just a reminder of a little accident. Nothing se-rious.” She relaxed, her smile returning. “Good,” she said softly, her fingers resuming their gentle caress. “Do I need to tickle you, then?” He asked. Lanni chuckled. “Good luck.” “You’re not ticklish?” “Not like you.” She grinned. “There’s only one spot, but I doubt you’ll find it to-night.” “Oh? And why’s that?” “Because you’re treating me like a lady tonight,” she teased. Jahree raised an eyebrow. “So you won’t tell me?” “Not tonight,” Lanni whispered, kissing him again. “But you’ll find it eventually.” She caressed him again, tickling him. She purred every time he responded. He kissed her, and while he didn’t find any place she was ticklish, he found plenty of places to make her purr. #fantasy #magic #dragons #hiddenlands