He sighed and tipped her head up, so that they were only a breath apart.It was the most intimate she’d ever been with him, and her heart sped up as his gaze bored into hers.
“I hate the secrets between us.”His voice was heartbreakingly soft even as the deep resonance wound its way into her soul.“Tell me they’re for your protection and not because you don’t trust me.”
“They are.”Her voice caught, breaking the reserve she’d built to keep him at arm’s length.“I do trust you, Raiden.And I’ll let you help when the time comes.I promise.”
“Good.”He smiled at her.“You have to know how much it hurts to see you like this.You’re exhausted and stressed.Near breaking, Daya.I can feel it.That’s not the fierce, strong woman who saved my life.”
His voice was so sweet, his hand on her so gentle, she wanted to shatter and let him pick up the pieces.She’d been alone for so long.The lure of sharing her burdens, her life, with someone—with him—was more than she could take.
“Tell me the truth.Is it me?Is my presence driving you out on these long hunts where you’re stressing and not sleeping?I can leave.I’d never want to do that to you.”
“It’s not you.”
Silent tears tracked down her face, startling her to pull away from him.The few times she’d cried had been long ago, when her parents had died and then again when Draven had been taken from her.Wiping away the emotion, she stared at her wet fingertips in surprise.
Raiden’s fingers stroked her cheek as he brushed the tears away.His eyes were full of worry bound by something much stronger than casual concern.Her heart hammered at the sight of something sure to cause them both untold pain.
“Will you do something for me?”he asked.
She nodded, not sure what she was agreeing to, but unable to deny him.
“Give me one full day.When you wake up tomorrow, until the dawn of the next day.You need a break, and I want you to let me give you that before you leave again.We won’t talk about secrets, or the future, or my memory.”He smiled in the playful way she couldn’t help but adore and used the phrase she always used when he was in distress from his injuries or nightmares.“Just breathe with me.Will you do that?”
“Okay.”
A single day couldn’t change all that much, and the mountain could reach out to her if there was a problem.Her hand settled over the long scar on his chest.She didn’t want to miss the opportunity to spend a day together without interference from his injuries or her hunt.Just one day.
Chapter 8
SunlightglintedoffofEmber’s wings as she turned and dove through the air.Racing toward the ground, she caught her targeted prey in a vicious snap of her talons.Pushing through the dense underbrush, Raiden slowly made his way to her.
Ember cawed at him from the ground as he knelt.A twinge of pain slithered from his rib cage, where the poisoned injury had been, to wrap around his hip and down his thigh.The pain was more aggravated from their long walk than he’d anticipated.Thankfully, Daya hadn’t noticed.She’d been gone hunting so much lately that she probably assumed the exaggerated limp was simply slow healing and not a regression.
Refusing the offered food from her kill, Ember hopped onto his hand while Daya stored the rabbit in the game bag.Even the bird knew he was pushing his injuries further than he should.He could have sworn her beady eyes narrowed in critique as she peered at his side and then up at him.This time was important for Daya, though.He could rest when she left on her next hunting trip to make up for it.
“What a smart girl you are.”Reaching up, he gently ran his fingers over her, rivetted by the amber streaks in her red feathers that nearly sparkled in the bright midday light.“And gorgeous, too.”
She ruffled her feathers in a distinct preening motion.Daya made a derisive sound, eyes flicking to the bird in an annoyed frown.Ember only fluffed herself more.
Raiden chuckled at Daya’s expression.“Well, that must have been quite the comment.Care to share?”
Daya’s startled brown eyes snapped his way as she rose from the ground.He stared back, waiting patiently as she decided whether to confide in him or not.It was far from first time he’d observed the unusual interactions between her and the hawks.After two months with her, he was certain they could communicate.Curiosity plagued him, along with a bit of envy.
“Is Ember as feisty as I think she is?”He pushed a little harder.
Another moment passed before she gave in.“Probably more.”
Triumph swelled in his chest.Finally, she’d truly trusted him with one of her secrets.It was the tip of the iceberg, but it was a beginning.As his elation settled into a warm glow, he noticed that tension continued to bubble from Daya, vulnerability shadowing her eyes.
His glow dimmed.“Anaiah, you’re safe with me.You know that.”
“It’s not something I talk about.”
“Is your magic why you choose to live a solitary life on the mountain?”
“It’s a factor.”
A factor, but notthefactor.Magic was a threatening topic in Eldridge, more so for those who actually possessed magic and were forced to hide their gifts or face persecution.
