“How could you doubt?”
“I know you’d keep your companion if you could.” She shrugged. “I’m sure of that.”
His brows collided in a frown. “You’re more than my companion, Rain.”
“Yet you refused to kiss me.”
The thought of learning her mouth with his tortured him relentlessly. “If I kiss you,” he said, his eyes riveted to her lips, “I’ll never stop.”
They packed upand rode out with Rain in a restless mood. She’d always had some trouble understanding human emotion. Hers was human enough now as well, but she still felt as though she were learning, just as she’d had to learn to read and write, bow and dance, refrain from snapping others like twigs once she’d discovered she still could, and do all the things people did but that seasons did not.
Daric often defied her understanding, which made him even more appealing—and exasperating.
He wanted but wouldn’t take. He longed but wouldn’t act. He looked but wouldn’t touch. It was frustrating, infuriating, body-heating…
Rain blew out a tense breath, wishing Arjun’s rolling gait would soothe her as it often did. Nothing took the edge off her body or her thoughts. Things had certainly beeneasier before her betrothal had prompted her to show her true feelings to Daric—and revealed Daric’s in return. Knowing the desire was shared only made the craving worse, but she also wouldn’t trade the heady storm of sensations brewing inside her for anything. Liquid fire described it best.
Rain knew what would satisfy her—satisfy them both. Unfortunately, her prince was not cooperating.
Shebit down on her lower lip, nibbling it between her teeth until it felt sore and swollen. She supposed she wouldn’t love him half as much if he had no respect or honor.
“Finally.” Daric heaved a sigh from beside her when they turned a bend in the road and saw the Heights of Alder.
The cliffs didn’t roar with water as Rain knew they once had at the dawn of the continent, and the riverbed was mostlya dusty basin, but the ancient cascades still existed in the form of a glistening film that filtered down the imposing cliffside, leaving the craggy surface slick and mineral-stained.
On the positive side, the cave the book had mentioned was clearly visible without any rush of water to cover it. Sadly, it was midway up and completely inaccessible.
“How in the name of Braylian are we supposedto reach that?” she asked.
“Climb?” Daric suggested.
Rain snorted. “And break our necks?”
He looked at her. “What do you suggest?”
She studied the cliffside. “Climb,” she finally said, although she didn’t like it one bit.
“I’ll go,” he said. “There’s no reason for you to risk yourself.”
“I’ll go,” Rain countered. “You’re of more value. Astraea won’t marrymeand give water to Leathen ifyou’re dead.”
Daric’s head canted to the side as he rather harshly said, “Aldo might provide it instead.”
“Parr is half as rich as Raana in both wealth and resources. And don’t snarl at me. I didn’t ask to be married off.”
A dark, foreboding look crossed Daric’s face. Her kind prince was a lovely companion, but this intense man was someone who made her heat and shiver and ache. Although shetried to curb it, she always gravitated toward the heart-pounding and wild. In spirit, she remained untamed.
“We’ll both go,” Rain said. “I’d rather break my neck with you than live without you. In Parr. With Aldo,” she added for good measure. The mention of her intended had the desired effect: Daric stopped thinking clearly and agreed to her plan with a muttered curse.
They left their horsesand supplies at the base of the cliff, their mounts tied with loose ropes staked to the ground near some dry grass and the trickle of water that was the only evidence of the once mighty Falls of Alder. Not wanting to compromise their balance, they left everything behind except for a dagger each and a pouch to gather the bloodstone they needed.
The climb was difficult, terrifying, and slick. Rainwas sore and trembling by the time they were only halfway to the cavern, and she wondered how she could possibly scale the rest.
“Go back!” Daric shouted from above. “I’ll finish and bring you the stone.”
She gritted her teeth and climbed to the next decent handhold. “Back is as daunting as forward.”
“But it’s half the total distance,” Daric called.
