Songs of the Earth by Lexi Ander

seen."
"Very thorough."
"Very pissed off," I countered. "Do you still want to have children with me?"
"Oh, Tristan." He kissed my eyelids, making me hum. "Of course I still want to have children with you. If we begin while your lineage is still relatively unknown, and we're able to get a good infrastructure in place before the child is born, we can then expose the assassins. At that time, we should be able to keep you and the child relatively safe."
I held my breath.
"I don't see why we can't start soon. We'll have to do a lot of planning and start taking precautions immediately."
I carefully scooted up Ushna's body. I loved feeling his muscles contract as I rubbed against him. I wanted to look him in the eye without tilting my head.
"You know," I said, "Gregori's father, Kassian, was there when I was born. Maybe he knows why MacCuill came here, though I have my own ideas why he tried to take you. He might give us some information on the Magi Order. Are there factions? Who supports Kevah?"
"Maybe it would be best if Gregori were to talk to his father on your behalf," Ushna replied. "We might draw attention if we approach Kassian. Neither one of us has spoken to him in a while. We don't have a valid reason to approach him."
Ushna slid his nose over my mouth, across my cheek to my ear where the warm air of his breath caused goose flesh down my spine. His large hands skimmed my ribs down to the hem of my shirt. Lifting it slightly, Ushna ran his fingertips over my skin above the waistband of my jeans. My skin pebbled and another shiver worked its way up my spine. I went in for a taste of his lips. I couldn't stop the moan as his tongue touched mine in a slow languid kiss that stole my breath as it stoked my desire.
"I heard," Ushna whispered hoarsely when I pulled away for breath, "that making babies is a lotta work. Maybe… maybe we should get some practice in, you know, to make sure we get it right. I heard if you have baby-making down to an art, you have smarter babies." He couldn't keep the teasing light out of his eyes or the smile from his lips at his small joke.
Damn if I didn't love this man with everything in me. "Okay." I was ducking in for another kiss when a knock came at the door. I groaned and pressed my nose into Ushna's neck.
"Tristan? Ushna?" Gregori called from the other side of the door before he opened it and stuck his head in the office. "Good! You haven't started anything yet." I scowled at Gregori, which only made him laugh.
"An envelope was delivered for you guys. I'd have left it but she said you needed to see it right away. I really don't want to get on the bad side of a Goddess who continually manifests in this world."
I barely held in my snort. Reluctantly, Ushna maneuvered us into a sitting position. He was in the corner, one leg stretched out along the back, and one set on the floor so I could sit between his legs, leaning back against his chest.
Gregori walked over and gave the envelope to Ushna. Shuffling from one foot to the other he said, "I was thinking about what I could do to help with security."
"I thought your magic wasn't combat related," Ushna said.
"The Magi don't normally practice warfare. In the past, destruction magic was strictly sanctioned by the king. Offenders are reported to the council now. The discipline is studied by a few but not used. Most only have a primary affinity with Earth, but as Lycan's, we all do. I also have an affinity for the Earth but I'm proficient in all secondary disciplines, though my ability with those is weaker. I'm the only Magi in the last five hundred years to practice all four disciplines. Unfortunately, that also makes me the most sought after."
I felt as if I was playing catch-up all of the time. I hadn't really had a moment to sit down with my friend. Gregori's posture was slumped, and he had dark circles under his eyes, his beautiful red hair was limp and lanky, and his clothes were rumpled. He normally affected an air of carelessness, but those of