Raxx didn’t respond, just turned away to stare at the roof of the tent.
“Things on your mind again?” Faye probed, rolling over onto her hip to face him and propping her head up on her hand.
“Definitely,” Raxx replied, his frown deepening further.
“Anything I can do to help?”
“No.”
“A problem shared is a problem halved, you know.” Faye smiled.
Raxx finally turned to look at her once more, cocking his brow with an exasperated expression. They stared at one another for a few long moments. When the handsome demon’s dark eyes flickered down to her mouth, Faye’s stomach flipped and her heart sped up.
It was no use denying her attraction to Raxx. Was he the man of her dreams? Certainly not, but she had long since given up chasing that fantasy. What Raxx was, however, was handsome, well-built and, despite his unusual way of showing it, possibly just as interested in her as she was in him. That was enough for now. If nothing else, it would serve as a welcome distraction.
Taking a quick, deep breath to still her nerves, Faye leant in. Her eyelids had barely fluttered closed before Raxx jerked upright. Faye yelped as she nearly fell forwards and her hand shot out to steady herself. Shame and embarrassment blazed through her as she scrambled to right herself.
“S-sorry I thought—”
“No, no, it’s—”
“I mean you were—”
Faye and Raxx both floundered for the right words to say. The shadow demon evaded her gaze and leant his body away from hers. Faye was mortified.
“It’s getting pretty late, we – or, well, I – should try to get some rest,” she muttered, quickly rolling over and turning her back on the demon. Faye clenched her eyes shut and bit down hard on her tongue.
“I’ll keep this enchantment going until you fall asleep.” Raxx remained seated upright. His body was tensed, almost curled away from her on the opposite side of the tent.
“Thank you,” Faye squeaked before burying her head beneath her blankets. As if she hadn’t been feeling idiotic enough already. Not only was she a coward who was scared of the dark, but apparently she was also a fool who threw herself at any unsuspecting man who showed her kindness. What would Raxx think of her now?
She had been so sure she was reading the demon’s signals right. She and Yorrin had had a reasonably successful long-term relationship. Ifhehad looked at her with that same intensity Raxx just had, Faye would have been certain an intimate moment would follow.
But what did she know about men? Surely most men wouldn’t look at a woman like that unless they wanted to initiatesomething? Faye berated herself silently. She really had to remember the most important thing – Raxx was not most men.
Chapter Seven
Nothing in Raxx’s living memory had ever been as awkward as the days that followed with the princess. They had been travelling for two days, barely speaking a word to one another, and tempers were frayed. Not only was there no sign of Lephas and Lori, but they were growing gradually more tired, cold and hungry. However, all of that paled in comparison to the tense, uncomfortable atmosphere that still lingered between them.
The princess had tried to kiss him. It had been most unexpected, but not unwelcome. Raxx had never been fond of women who were meek and mild mannered. He liked a woman who went after what she wanted.
He had almost let her kiss him too, until the raw, primal part of his psyche reacted unconsciously to a perceived threat. Whilst the forefront of his mind had been wholly focussed on the moment, somewhere his natural instinct had not forgotten the searing pain he had experienced last time he had come into skin on skin contact with Faye.
Raxx hadn’t meant to jerk away from Faye so violently. Even he recognised how bad it had looked and even if he hadn’t, the wounded expression on the princess’s face would have been enough to clue him in.
Though he was exhausted, he hadn’t joined her in the tent again. He hadn’t slept since, just paced back and forth, or sat in the cold and dark tent, staring into space whilst his mind turned over and over.
Earlier that morning, after another unpleasant sleepless night, Raxx had been relieved to finally see the morning sun glowing on the horizon. He had waited for Faye to stir, though when she did, she hadn’t spoken. Her eyes had been glazed and vacant from sleep and they had refused to meet his.
They packed up the camp in silence. Unlike previous mornings, Faye didn’t offer him food or drink, instead quietly helped herself before mounting her horse.
Raxx had never been so glad to slip away into the shadow realm. He stayed close by, but far enough away from the princess that he had been able to put the awkwardness to the back of his mind for the majority of the day.
Instead, he focussed his thoughts on tracking Lori and Lephas. He and Faye were a little west of the commander’s landing spot at the bottom of that cliff, but Raxx was confident it wouldn’t take him long to find Lephas and Lori’s tracks again. The sun had shone brightly all day, which had made it more pleasant to travel, and Faye had pulled her hood down. She sparkled like a diamond and Raxx had tried his best to ignore her shimmering in his peripheral vision.
They travelled all day, making excellent time. Faye didn’t request to stop and rest once, she simply stretched back and pulled any food or drink she required from her saddle bags and ate on the move. Raxx wasn’t hungry.
The shadow demon decided to air on the side of caution and camp up earlier than the fateful evening two days prior, not wishing a repeat of that night. Once the tent had been erected and the horse settled, Faye ate her dinner in silence, before excusing herself for an early night.
