“Okay.”Sadness tainted her tone. This was heavy for both of us.
It was yet another stop on the endless network of rivers that gave this kingdom its name, so the town was busy enough stillat this time that we wouldn’t stand out. I set us down in a stand of trees on the edge of the small town, and as I released her, she stumbled. Her legs were unsteady from my hold.
I clutched her around the waist, and she looked up into my eyes, her breath catching. Our faces were so close, and I couldn’t stop. I’d been scenting her for too long with her wrapped in my arms.
Our noses met, stroking along one another in an almost kiss. My entire body lit with the hint of the touch, and an ache settled into my stomach. One I knew I could never feed, because the need for her could not be satisfied.
I inhaled a breath from her mouth, and it was almost a taste of her.
She pulled back, wrapping her arms around herself. “We should go into town before it’s too late and we look suspicious.”
“You’re right.” I brushed a hand down my chest, taking the tunic she carried to put on.
We made for the first inn along the riverbank. It was the smallest by far, but also the most out of the way. We found the innkeeper asleep on his chair. The tavern itself was empty but for two drunk fae who were also dozing. I had to nudge the male to wake him.
“Do you have a room?” I asked, trying to conceal the urgency.
“Full, squire,” he said and was settling back into slumber before I could respond.
“The Goddess hates me,” I muttered as we left and went to the next.
The second inn had a busy tavern at the front, and I had a bad feeling just from the volume of evening patrons that they would be full. The innkeeper shook his head as I approached the bar. He didn’t even wait for me to ask. Frustration of another kind mixed with my sexual frustration, getting me more and more worked up with each no we received.
“I’m about to sleep in a damn stable,” I growled while leaving the sixth inn.
“At least the night is nice.” Her fingers brushed mine as we walked, and I glanced over at her. She was radiant in the moonlight, her dark hair such a contrast to her alabaster skin. With freckles like constellations. I’d never noticed how many she truly had. I’d never allowed myself this close to her for so long. I etched them in my memory because soon enough, that’s all I’d have of her.
“You’re not still cold?”
She shook her head, looking up at me through her lashes. “It’s not as windy down here.”
“I guess it’s not.”
We walked in silence for another minute.
“Do you think we were meant to meet?” she asked after a time.
“How do you mean?”
“I guess I mean, do you think the Gods want us to suffer?”
“What would—why would you think that?” I wasn’t sure I was following her logic.
“My sister said we were meant to go to the Night Kingdom. That our destiny lies there.” She gave a slight shrug. “I guess I’m just trying to figure out what kind of cruel joke meeting you on the way to meet my husband is.”
“I don’t think the Goddess plays jokes. Although I’m not sure what I believe anymore.” After all the corruption I’d witnessed, it was hard to believe there was any divine intervention.
“The Goddess hates those who are devoted to Seraphic, so maybe this is a joke.” She huffed and blew a strand of her hair off her face.
I laughed. “Surely you don’t believe in God-on-God retribution.”
“Something has to explain what a disaster my life currently is.”
“Okay, I guess you have a point there.”
“Faolan?”
“Yes?” I asked, but her eyes went wide and she shoved me.
