He moved over me with unhurried precision, savoring the moment before claiming it. Anticipation stretched tight between us, electric and almost unbearable. When he pressed forward just enough to test the boundary between us, my breath fractured.
“Tell me to stop,” he said quietly. This time, he meant it.
I couldn’t.
Instead, I answered by drawing him closer.
He entered only slightly, slow and deliberate, and the sensation stole the air from my lungs. It wasn’t pain. It wasn’t even pleasure yet.
It was promise.
His mouth captured mine before I could make a sound.
I wanted him. Entirely.
And just as he began to move, a knock sounded at the door.
It was soft, but impossible to ignore.
Frustration came first, then panic.
We paused, and Daemon’s head snapped up. Like teenagers who’d been caught, we rushed to get dressed. Daemon went to the door.
I peeked out from the doorframe, my hair a mess and probably in need of new underwear.
It was a Fae woman.
“Hello there,” she said, bursting with excitement. “Lyralei told me to come get you for the festival.”
“Festival?” I echoed, thrown by the abrupt shift.
“To celebrate the last fifty years and the beginning of the next.” The woman’s smile widened. “There will be music, dancing, and enough food to feed an army. Everyone attends. Even the Memory Keeper.”
“We wouldn’t want to intrude,” Daemon began.
“Nonsense. You’re guests of honor.” She stepped back, gesturing for us to follow. “Come. The preparations are almost complete. Let’s head down before it begins.”
I glanced at Daemon, uncertain. He shrugged, his expression resigned but not unwilling.
“When in Vaelthorne,” he murmured.
The woman led us out into the forest, the sun high in the sky.
“You two are in for a treat. The festival happens once every fifty years during the Day of Veiled Night. The Veilblossoms are ready to bloom.”
“What is the Day of Veiled Night?” Daemon asked.
“Oh, yes. Let me explain. Once every fifty years, the Veil naturally condenses and covers the sun. The rays still reach us, but they pass through an unusual amount of Veil energy on their way down. This causes any vegetation grown from Veil energy to bloom. It’s quite the spectacle. You’ll see.”
The guide continued speaking about the preparations and the event, but I got lost in my thoughts.
My mind remained anchored on Daemon’s promise, on the impossible weight of it and the even more impossible hope it kindled.
We’ll protect you.
Lanterns floated unlit along the paths as we walked. Music drifted from deeper in the forest. Fiddles, drums, and harmonizing voices filled the space. The air smelled of roasted meat, honey, and something sweeter I couldn’t quite place.
Our guide delivered us to a wide circular clearing in the forest. Stands run by villagers lined the outer edges of the circle. In the middle stood a massive stage where musicians played lively music. Tables filled the space between the stands and the stage. A path on the far side of the clearing led to what looked like a large roasting pit.
