I force myself to look away so I can keep track of where we are this time; I don’t want to get lost later. After what has to be at least a mile of weaving through trees, Lor finally comes to a halt alongside a rushing river. The impact site is obvious. A decent sized crater disrupts the surrounding greenery like an open wound.
Lor is already pulling out a cloth sack and spade. There’s nothing I can do to help with this part of it, so instead I start plotting.
Trying to look casual, I stick my hands in my pockets and slowly walk around. I check the nearby areas to see if there are any distinguishable landmarks, widening the perimeter of my circle as I go. There’s a grouping of boulders near a small ravine that looks treacherous and I grimace, making a mental note to make sure we don’t go that way.
I try the opposite direction, walking along the river as it curves away from Lor’s fallen star. I push through the thick foliage, then stumble when I nearly face-plant into a serene pond. The river takes another turn here, but it’s created a small, secluded oxbow lake alongside it. My eyes widen as I take in the picturesque setting. There’s even an open grassy area along one side that’s been dried by the sun already.
It’s perfect.
I’m giddy with anticipation as I swing my backpack off and unload my supplies. I stamp down some of the overgrown grass, then spread out a blanket and weigh it down with a couple rocksand my pack. I flop down, and am instantly surrounded by grass with a clear view of the clouds above, tree branches fringing the edges of the sky. I nod with satisfaction and jump back up, snagging the last thing I need from my bag.
I scope out the rest of the areas surrounding Lor’s crash site just to be sure it’s safe, and then make my way back to her. The cloth sack filled with the newly collected stardust is set to the side of the turned up earth, and she’s walking around with her hands on her hips, a look of fierce concentration on her face.
29
A SURPRISE ENCOUNTER
Ro
“Got it all?” I ask.
Lor barely glances at me as she nods absently, her gaze tracking across the dirt one last time. I snag her bag of stardust and loop it over my shoulder, then grin as I let the wicked glint of my demon enter my eye. Lor’s gaze widens as she takes a step back, but I dart forward and snatch her wrist. I spin her around, folding her arms across her chest and banding one of mine around her to hold her in place.
“Not so fast, Starfire,” I murmur.
She shivers against me and my entire body heats.
I light a small fireball and hold it out in front of her, then slowly bring it closer to her body. Lor presses her back into my chest; we both know I would never hurt her, but it’s human instinct to recoil from danger.
I dance the flame across my fingers, then turn my palm up and let it rest in the center of my hand. Her breathing starts to slow again as she settles, and I grin with wicked satisfaction.
I snap my hand closed, fisting the fire to put it out and Lor jumps in my hold at the sudden movement and her heartratespikes again, higher than it was before. I can feel it in her wrist where I’m gripping her against me, and see it in the pulse thrumming in her neck. I tighten my grip on her as I lean down again.
I want to consume her, but first I want to catch her.
“Run, little starchaser,” I growl into her ear.
As soon as my hold loosens, Lor darts out of it. I cackle with glee as Lor sprints away, her hair flowing behind her. I enjoy a good chase, but that’s not the purpose of today, even though Lor might think it is as I take off after her.
I laugh as I catch glimpses of her silver hair flashing between the trees. Thanks to my earlier casing, I know the paths she’s likely to take, and I catch up to her within minutes.
Lor is breathing hard and her pupils are dilated, but she grins when she catches sight of me dashing through the trees to her left. She ducks to the right, towards the river, and I whoop with wild abandon. I’m right behind her, within lunging distance, when she looks over her shoulder and stumbles. It’s exactly what I was waiting for, and I pounce.
I twist to take the fall with Lor landing on top of me, then we roll through the ferns and undergrowth until I have her pinned to the spongy moss beneath me. I flip her onto her stomach as she lets out a breathless laugh.
“Ro,” she says, panting. “What?—”
I unfold the black bag I’ve been hiding, and whip it over her head.
She shrieks, her hands flying up to grapple with the edge of the bag, but I snatch her wrists and tug them behind her back. Lor’s chest heaves and I lean forward, hovering over her.
I savor this moment, more satisfied and excited than I’ve ever been as my demon side thrills in the capture. Leaning down, I lick a long, slow stripe along the side of her neck where the skin peeks out beneath the bag.
Lor shivers, and I groan at the feel of her tight body against mine. My blood heats as it thrums through me, and a heady euphoria sweeps my inhibitions away.
“You wanna play?” I whisper against her skin, sending goosebumps scattering down her neck as I stroke my free hand down her arm in a deceptively gentle caress.
Lor swallows hard as her breathing picks up.
