You don’t, she thought.It is TRUTH.
“Are you sure?” he asked again, pulling her closer, hand shifting to the band of her pants. “Anything between us would need to remain a secret while you’re in my unit. At least for now.”
She shrugged, pressing her hips into him, her heart pounding as she reached around his waist. “Fenn, I’ll take you any way I can get you.”
“Gods, Rynna.” His hands gripped her ass, and in one swift motion, he lifted her onto his hips and spun to pin her against the rough bark of the tree. “I…”
“Guide Fenn!” Bran’s voice pierced the air from below the canopy. “Guide? Are you up there?! I think I’ve got it!”
“You’re not even close!” Elara’s voice followed, sounding exasperated. “He’s not even close, Guide Fenn! But I have a couple of questions! Where are you?!”
A deep laugh reverberated in his chest, vibrating through her body as his head fell beside hers, resting against the tree.
“Of all the times to start training you all in Source power.” He pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, though his body remained pressed firmly against hers. “I’m sorry, Rynna, but I think I’m going to have to leave you ‘hot and bothered’ up in this tree.” He grinned mischievously, grinding into her just a little harder. “But if it’s any consolation, I’m equally hot...and very, very bothered.”
“Fenn!” She groaned.
“We will pick this up later,” he growled, carefully lowering her to her feet before disappearing from view.
“Fuck, yes,” she whispered, sinking to her knees, slick between her thighs, and shaking with need. “Fuck, yes.”
Chapter twenty-four
“Stop.”GranHestaraisedher arm in front of Elara. “We’re almost there.”
All thoughts of her moment up in the trees with Fenn the previous night vanished as Rynna’s focus snapped back to the mission.
She turned to the Unit Leader. “Scout Formation Two?”
He nodded. “Find where they’re holding the children, get a general count and location of the bandits. I’ll stay with Gran Hesta and find a defensible position we can fall back to if needed. We’ll regroup there and decide how to engage the enemy.”
Elara’s lips parted, and her hands fidgeted at her sides. “You’re not coming with us?”
“You’re all more than capable of scouting non-Hollow-born fighters. Get in, get out, and look for my markers. We’ve drilled this a thousand times.”
“If we can sneak up on that old tomcat, we can do this.” Bran grinned, reaching out to gently bump Elara’s shoulder.
“It took us half a day just to get close enough without being mauled!” She swatted him on the head.
“Yeah, but we got him eventually.”
“The cat didn’t want to kill us.” Taren adjusted the throwing knives strapped to his belt. “This will be different.”
“Exactly!” Elara began, but Rynna cut her off.
“They’re counting on us,” she said, her gaze shifting toward Gran Hesta, whose brow only furrowed deeper.
“And we can do this.” She paused, glancing back at the group. “Besides, you two are the best at sneaking. I’ll be stuck with the loudmouth over here.” She tilted her head toward Bran.
“Hey!” The boy protested, only to immediately slap his hands over his mouth and hiss, “I can totally sneak!”
Elara’s shoulders relaxed slightly. “Yeah, we’ll be fine,” she said, her voice steadier now as she looked to Taren.
“Just stay low, stay quiet, and follow my lead,” he said.
Elara’s eyes narrowed, and she nodded.
Then, without another word, the two Novices took off in a silent sprint toward the west of where the village would be.
