“Calamut.”
My mouth dropped. “You took wood from a calamut tree? They could havekilledyou!”
“They could have,” he said, “but I didn’t take it from them. I asked them for a piece oftheirwood.”
“You asked for it, and they gave ittoyou?”
“Theydid.”
“Why would theydothat?”
He removed the bow he’d given me from my limp grasp before pulling the other bow and quiver off my back. I could only stand and gawk at him while he worked. “The calamuts enjoy skewering things, but deep down I think they’re just romantics atheart.”
“Likeyou.”
He smiled at me as he lifted my shirt up over my head. Corson had taken me many times, in public and not so public places, but never once had I feared something would eat us as I had with Todd. I knew he would keep usbothsafe.
“Like me,” he murmured and bent tokissme.
I completely forgot about hunting as I wrapped my arms around his neck and went to the forest floor with him. I made sure he knew how much I loved mynewbow.
ChapterThirty-Nine
Wren
Corson’s shoulder brushed mine as he leaned forward. When we’d finally disentangled ourselves from each other, I’d been eager to break in my new bow. Now, we sat next to each other on a tree branch, our legs dangling over it. I kicked my feet over the open air, feeling more alive now than I had in fourteen years. Not just because of Corson, but because I also took a moment to appreciate that Iwasalive when so manyweren’t.
I didn’t think I’d ever paused to recognize the fact so many had been lost, yet I was blessed or lucky enough to remain. I acknowledged it then as I inhaled the wintry November air, relished the warmth of Corson’s body, and listened to the clicking branches swaying overmyhead.
I was alive, and it wasglorious.
Lifting my face, I basked in the noon sun. When I lowered my head, I focused on Corson as he gazed over the side of the branch and my heart swelled with loveforhim.
Neither of us had spoken of love, I didn’t know if demons talked about it at all, and it had been years since I’d spoken the word out loud to another. I’d never believed I could feel like this for someone, but Corson had me thinking about a future I’d long ago stoppedconsidering.
Surviving a day in the Wilds was a great achievement. It felt like tempting fate to contemplate what tomorrow would be like, never mind a week or two from now. However, yesterday I’d found myself imagining what a child of ours would look like before abruptly shutting thefantasydown.
I could not bring a child intothisworld. I’d been greatly relieved when my period arrived last week, yet I’d experienced a twinge of sadness over it. Our firstoopsmight have been my only chance forababy.
Corson scratched a chunk of bark off the trunk with one of his talons. Once removed, he broke the bark apart, held a piece out, and released it. Leaning forward, I nearly burst out laughing when I spotted Hawk and Vargas standing under us. The bark bounced off Hawk’s head, and he rubbed itabsently.
Corson dropped another chunk onto Vargas’s head, who did the same thing as Hawk. Corson’s grin widened when he released another piece on Hawk before dropping two more onto Vargas. When they tilted their heads back to look at us, Corson released the pieces that remained inhishand.
“Asshole,” Hawk muttered as he darted to the side to avoid the falling debris. Vargas wasn’t as fast and took two bits of bark to thecheek.
Corson laughed as he wiped his hands on his thighs. He’d once told me adhenes were mischievous, but it was rare he exhibited that trait. There were times like this though, when he let down his guard, and his face lit with delight over irritating his friends, that I glimpsed it in him. If things ever became settled, and there were no more craetons to worry about, I suspected Corson would take great joy in pulling pranks on hisfriends.
“Your heads were too big to resist,” Corson called downtothem.
“That’s what all the women say to me too,” Hawk retorted, and Corson laughed while Vargas and I shook ourheads.
“Move along now, we’re hunting in this area,” Corson said with a wave ofhishand.
“I’m going to start hunting assholes in trees,” Hawk replied, but he and Vargas strolled out from under the tree. They moved deeper into the woods until they disappearedfromview.
Resting my head on Corson’s shoulder, I inhaled his fiery scent. When his hand slid over mine, my heartbeat picked up with anticipation. One look or touch from him and my body readied to do what he asked of it. His hand slid over my thigh and down to grip my knee. Sex in a tree would be a first, but I had no doubt he could pullitoff.
A doe stepped from between the bushes across from him. “Sorry, demon,” I murmured. “That will havetowait.”
