Elora raised a brow.“I’m a scorned woman, I don’t get tired.I get even.”
Cassie turned and kept walking.“That doesn’t make any sense.You’re not scorned because Cush hasn’t done something worthy of scorn.”She held up a hand to stop her best friend.“He’s rocked your world in the bedroom a million times because he’s ticked off that you keep putting yourself in danger.I’m not saying it’s right, but it hardly deserves scorn.”
“Then what does it deserve?”Elora asked, lips pursed.
Cassie considered her words.“Purposful anticipation.”
Elora’s smile formed slowly as she realized what Cassie was saying.“Wow, Cass, marriage has made you a little tease.You’re saying I should keep him waiting as punishment for smothering me?”
“Not punishment,” Cassie shook her head.“Just a gentle reminder that he’s not the only one who can play that game.”
“Tempting,” Elora nodded.“But, I’ll be honest.I can’t really resist him, hence why he keeps getting away with it.Dude has bedroom prowess.”
“TMI,” Cassie said quickly.
Elora ignored her.“Hence why I’m on this little excursion.He can’t seduce me if I’m not around.Besides, proving to him that I’m capable of taking care of myself will be much more satisfying than denying him something I completely enjoy.”
Cassie threw her hands up.“TMI, again.”
“Your fault,” Elora pointed at her.“You brought up the spicy stuff.”
She wasn’t wrong.Cassie sighed and shifted her pack, ignoring the tug in her lower belly.The baby hadn’t made itself known physically, but her body felt ...different.Fragile wasn’t the right word.On edge.Aware.
Elora hopped over a fallen log, landing lightly.“We should stop soon.Eat something.”
“You mean you’re admitting that you’re tired and your rage can’t be the only thing that keeps you going?”
“Cassie,” Elora warned.
“Fine.”Cassie dropped her pack and flopped onto a mossy rock.“Five minutes.Then we keep moving.”She didn’t know why she was so driven to keep going.She was exhausted, too.
Elora sank onto the log across from her.For a few breaths, neither spoke.The forest settled around them, thick with pine and earth and that strange, humming tension.
Cassie rubbed her palms against her thighs.“We’re idiots.”She could admit it, out here where no one else but her best friend could hear her.
“Obviously,” Elora said.“But we’re committed idiots, so that’s something.”
Cassie laughed despite herself.“Our Chosen are going to kill us.”
“Oh, Cush absolutely is,” Elora said.“Murder.Immediate.Then resurrection so he can scold me properly by seducing me until I’m begging, then denying me, then killing me again only to repeat the whole process.He’s diabolical.Explains why I’m so attracted to him.”Her smile softened.“Trik will punish you probably in a similar fashion, but instead of denial, he’ll just sex you until youwantto die.”
The ache in Cassie’s chest pulsed, but her friend’s words helped her ignore it, mostly.“Sex me?I think you’ve hit your head one too many times in training.”
“Sexing, it’s likesexting, but without the phone and in person,” Elora said matter of fact like.
Cassie blew out a breath with a laugh.“I highly doubt that’s going to be his reaction.He’s going to lose his ever loving mind.”When he finally realized she was gone, that is.
Elora shrugged.“He drove you to this.Just like Cush did.We only did what we had to do.”She sounded like she was trying to convince herself.
Cassie swallowed.“It’s more complicated than that.”
Elora nudged her foot with her boot.“Isn’t it always?”
Cassie dragged in a steady breath.The air felt thick, like it wanted to hold her words in place.Her throat tightened.
“Elora ...there’s something I need to?—”
Elora shot upright like a wolf on alert.“Oh gods.You’re dying.”
