This is only the beginning…andIhave no idea how much harder things are going to get.
30
THERON
By the time we find a place to stop for the night, the light is already fading.
The mountains behind us are turning purple in the distance, their jagged peaks softened by shadow, and the forest below is thick and dark with the scent of pine and damp earth.
I choose a small clearing near a narrow stream—nothing fancy, just a patch of relatively flat ground surrounded by tall trees that break the worst of the wind.It’lldo for our purposes.
IShiftcarefully soElowencan climb off my back, then stretch out my shoulders, working out the lingering strain from the flight.MyDrakeis restless beneath my skin,—still keyed up from the excitement with theEmperorHawkand the long flight that followed.Hedoesn’t like being grounded—not when she’s so close…not whenElowensmells so hot and ready.
I ignore his desire and get to work.
We don’t bother with a fire.Thenight is cool but not cold, andIdon’t want to risk drawing attention out here—not this close to the mountains and whatever else might be lurking between here and theSacredRiver.Instead,Iunpack the provisions and handElowena piece of bread and some dried meat.
“It’s not much,”Itell her, sitting across from her on a fallen log.
“It’s fine,” she says softly.
She looks tired.Notjust from the journey, but from everything—the fear, the magic, the strain of the curse.Hercheeks are flushed, and her lips are slightly parted, like she’s still catching her breath even though we’ve been on the ground for a while now.
My eyes keep returning to her lush mouth…remembering that kiss.Gods,Iwant to kiss her again—so fucking much!
I drag my gaze away beforeIcan get myself into trouble and try to concentrate on my food.
We eat in silence for a while, the only sounds the quiet rustle of the trees and the soft trickle of the stream nearby.Thewater glints faintly in the fading light, reflecting the first hints of stars above.
“You did well today, little one,”Itell her after a bit.
She looks up at me, surprised.
“I nearly fell off a mountain.”
“You didn’t,”Ipoint out.“Youkept going.Yougot the feather.”
A small smile touches her lips.
“With your help.”
“Still counts,”Isay.
She ducks her head a little at that, and something warm settles low in my chest.Ilove her shy little smile…the way she can be a woman full of courage one minute and a bashful girl the next.
We finish eating and rinse our hands in the stream.Thewater is cold enough to sting, andIwatch as she shivers slightly, drawing her robe more tightly around herself.
“Get some rest,”Itell her.“We’llhead for theSacredRiverat first light.”
She nods and settles down on the bedrollIlaid out for her.I’mluckyI’mable to take whatItouch inDrakeform with me, or we wouldn’t have either provisions or blankets right now.Itake my own roll a short distance away, putting just enough space between us to be decent…but not nearly enough to be safe.
I still want her andIcan feel that she wants me too.ButIknow we need to be careful—we can’t cross that line, or we might go too far.
I can’t risk changing the color of her eyes.
I lie down on my back, staring up at the darkening canopy overhead.Thestars are just visible through the gaps in the branches—faint and distant.Normally, the quiet of the forest would calm me but tonight, it does nothing.
BecauseIcanfeelher.
