Tonight, we are not quiet. The sound of our bodies moving, our moans and ragged breaths, fills the woods with shameless abandon. Tonight, we have nothing to hide, and nothing to pretend to be other than each other’s.
CHAPTER 27
Evander’s armis tight around my waist when we wake. My back is pressed against his chest. His breath is hot on the nape of my neck.
But unlike before, when we woke violently thanks to Conri, this morning we’re greeted by a gentle dawn spilling across the land, carried on a misty haze. Cool dew has settled across the ground like scattered diamonds. It coats my shoulder, exposed from where the bedroll we unfolded and used as a duvet slipped off me in the night.
I blink slowly, unsure if I want to wake, or continue sleeping. I savor the deep aches in me as I wiggle my toes, tensing and relaxing my thighs in the process. The movement sets him to stirring.
Evander kisses my shoulder and grumbles sleepily, “Good morning.”
“It’s early yet,” I reply with a yawn.
“We shouldn’t waste the day.”
“We shouldn’t.”
Yet, neither of us moves. We continue to relish in these sweet, uninterrupted moments of simplicity. Of pretending that our obligations are not as overbearing as they are.
Finally, he pulls away. Our skin sticks from being pressed together for half the night, and him peeling away has cool air rushing in on my back. I groan softly, yanking at the blanket.
Evander chuckles and leans over, kissing my temple lightly. “We must.”
“It’s cold.”
“It is not, you are merely a little stove.” He stands, collecting his clothes. I roll onto my back to watch him, resisting another groan when his trousers rise over the pert curve of his rear. Evander catches me staring and smirks. I don’t look away, smirking back. “You know, early lykin would often go without their clothes, preferring to be as ‘natural’ as possible. I could bring back that tradition.”
I laugh and sit. If he’s getting ready then I should as well. “Do what makes you the most comfortable.”
He wraps his arms around my waist when I stand, pulling me close. A low growl rises up the back of his throat. “Perhaps I would enjoy it if you embraced the tradition, too.”
I snort and push him away. Evander releases me without a fight. “I would not be comfortable roaming naked.”
“And here I thought witches danced in the woods in the nude.” He begins collecting the bedrolls.
“Sometimes we do.” I finish dressing. “But only on particularly important days of the year. Otherwise I prefer not to accidentally brush a tender part against poisonous vines or brush.”
“Did you dance for the Blood Moon?”
I pause, my hands freeze midway through grabbing my crimson cape. “No,” I say softly, “my grandma had just died. I was still in mourning.”
“I’m sorry,” he murmurs. “I should have remembered.”
I shake my head. “You don’t need to remember everything about me. I don’t blame you for forgetting.”
“Iwantto remember everything about you.” He straps the bedrolls onto the bags with purpose, as if trying to also strap in the facts to his memories.
“Even if that hadn’t been the case, I wouldn’t have gone out on the night of the Blood Moon. Grandma warned me before her death that it was a night of great power for lykin, vampir, spirits, and more.” I force my voice to stay light so he knows that I’m not cross with him over forgetting about my grandma.
“Wouldn’t that mean it’s a better night to go out and perform your witchy rituals?”
I shake my head. “If I am opening myself to spirits and magic on a night like that, I might end up inviting some I don’t entirely want to meet. The Blood Moon isn’t a night meant for humans.”
“Well, speaking of spirits, where to today?” He shrugs the packs on his shoulders but doesn’t yet change into his wolf form.
“I could carry one.”
“You have your satchel, and I hardly realize these are here.” He shrugs. I frown. Which only makes Evander chuckle. “Really, if it becomes inconvenient I’ll change into my wolf form. These muscles aren’t just for show.”
