His jaw hardened.
As if in answer, the last of the flames gave one last twinkle…and then went out, leaving them in darkness.
Cruxan could still see Crystal, though he knew she would not be able to see him. Not without the fire’s light.
“C-Cruxan?” Crystal called, her eyes searching for him, even as her body shook.
He cursed.
“Female,” he growled, going to her. “There are no more excuses. I need to warm you or you will freeze.”
When he touched her skin, he cursed again. His tunic, even her own tunic under his, was soaked through completely.
It would be a miserable night for her. A dangerous one too, if he couldn’t bring her internal body temperature up. The night would only grow colder.
“You need to undress,” he said, already knowing she would put up a fight.
She sucked in a breath. “No.”
“Crystal,” he bit out, desperate for her to understand. “This is not about us. Your skin is like ice. Your coverings are soaked through. They will suck away any warmth that Icouldgive you.”
“Absolutely n-not,” she replied, though her teeth chattered as she said it.
“Female,please,” he murmured, cupping her face. Despite her protestations, she pressed her cheek into his touch, feeling his warmth. She gave a little groan at it and though Cruxan felt his blood heat at that sound, sex, for once, was not in the forefront of his mind. His only concern was protecting her from the storm, from protecting her from the cold. “Ineedto take away your suffering. Please let me. I have never begged before in my life but I am begging you now.”
That realization humbled him.
Another violent shudder racked her body. It was only early night. How much colder would it get before the morning suns rose?
The sky boomed again, loud and unforgiving, and his female let out a little frightened noise that tore at his chest.
“Please,” he whispered to her. The sky lit up with red lightening streaks, briefly illuminating the both of them. She looked so pale, her lips drained of their pink color. Her eyes latched onto his face in that moment before darkness returned. “I can keep you warm, if you will only let me.”
He watched as she bit her lip but her teeth clattered so much that she was forced to release it.
“F-f-fine,” she finally said, her shoulders sagging in defeat, while relief went through him. “B-but my c-clothes stay on.”
Cruxan pressed his lips together, but didn’t say anything on the matter. Immediately, he lowered his body and she turned into him with reluctance.
“Vrax, female, you are freezing,” he said quietly, her form pressing into his bared chest.
“I’m s-sorry,” she clattered out.
“I told you to stop apologizing for things that do not require one,” he said gently.
He positioned her so that she was pressed close to the side of the mountain, the overhang helping to protect her. He blocked any rain that made it past with his back and he pressed close, shielding her with his shoulders.
His arms came around her next, tightening around her back. Her whole body shivered, head-to-toe, but she tucked close, jamming her head underneath his chin, absorbing the warmth of his neck.
She groaned again, finally registering some of his heat, it seemed.
“Iam sorry, female,” he murmured. “I did not expect the storm to be this violent. I should have prepared more.”
She shook her head, but didn’t say anything in reply. It took energy for her to speak and she needed all her energy focused on getting warm. With that thought, he pulled her closer, nudging her more deeply into his neck.
But it quickly became apparent that what Cruxan said was true. Her soaked clothes weren’t allowing her to retain any warmth and Cruxan knew that Crystal realized that too.
“Female,” he murmured after another moment.
