“Have you always worn your hair long?”He focused on pulling the strands tight to her head as he began weaving her hair.
“Since I was a little girl.I loved it long and refused to cut it.I was out in the woods with my father most days though, so braiding it was functional more than stylish.”
“Was he a hunter too?”
“Yes.He taught me so much.I never wanted to be anything else.”
“Mmm.Are those his musical instruments in your chest at home?”
A beat of silence stretched before she responded.“It took years after he died before I could take them out at all.I rarely use them, even now.”
“How long has it been since he passed?”he asked gently.
“A very, very long time.”
Finishing the braid, he tied it off with a tiny strip of leather.Reticent to let her go, he propped his chin on her shoulder and embraced her loosely from behind.His hands settled lightly on the outsides of her legs.Instead of pulling away from the contact, she tilted her head to make room for him.Her arms weaved through his until their fingers twined together, silently asking him to stay.
“I bet he’d like it if you played them more,” he murmured.
“Probably.”Sadness marred her tone.
“I understand.It took years before I was able to use my mother’s sword without feeling a weight in my chest.That blade is heavy in more ways than one.”
Daya pressed her head against his in a sweet gesture of empathy.“The one with the amethyst stone is your mother’s sword?”
“Yes.I think that’s why I got the strongest memory flashes from it early on.There’s a lot of emotion attached to it.Using it regularly… I’ve been able to piece together some things.”He sighed.“I’m sorry, anaiah.I promised you no memories would interfere with our time today.”
“You can’t help when they come.”
“I know.But this time is meant for us.Sacred.”
She went so completely still that his spine began to itch with a familiar nervousness.It was on the tip of his tongue to question her about her thoughts, but he buried the instinct.He’d meant the words, and his promise to her the night before.Giving her a quick squeeze, he let her go and rose, biting back a grunt of pain as he got to his feet.
“Dance with me.”
He pulled her up to her feet and led her to the other side of the fire where there was more space.Settling her back in his embrace, he began to sway with her.
“Raiden.”
“Daya.”He matched her deep tone and met the resistance in her eyes head-on until she quit fighting and flowed into his arms.Dipping his head close to hers, he pitched his voice to a gentle tease.“Don’t worry, it’s easy.Like a hug, but with movement.”
Exasperation escaped her in a scoff.
“I saidhug, not kiss, anaiah.You’re safe.Although…”
Shaking her head, she laughed and finally relaxed enough to fall into sync with him as he moved her in slow circles.
“What am I going to do with you?”Her affectionate tone tripped his heart.
What indeed?
Looking into her eyes, he felt his stomach tighten.He bent his head close to hers, until their breath mingled in the air and their hearts beat in pace to a desperate, heart-wrenching song.
“I have some ideas,” he murmured.
“We can’t.”
“We can.”
