“The Contest was days away at that point. Your life was on the line!!” she shouted. “Besides, when something bad happens to me, you freak out and become uncontrollable. And this wasn’t even bad! This was somethinggood.”
My blood pumped as my temper rose, and I became aware of the privacy around us. Being alone with Emma was always dangerous. All it made me want to do was rip her clothes off and plunge into her. Arguing only made it worse. “It’s a visitation from a goddess,” I said. “You don’t understand what that means in our society.”
“I do. It means I’m marked for death. But so what? I already knew that from the hag,” she shot back.
“I don’t want you todie,Emma.” The pleading helplessness in my voice was evident. So many signs were piling up, foreshadowing Emma’s end, and I couldn’t bear it. This was torturous.
Emma’s face softened. She reached up to brush back my hair, and said, “If Milonna wills it, I’m okay. I want to do what’s best for the Arcanea, not for myself.”
I hated she was like me in that aspect. I wanted her to be selfish, to hoard her life and shrink from the path Milonna had called her to. Mostly because I didn’t want to give her up, but also, because I wanted her to live, even if it wasn’t by my side. If Emma rejected me, so be it.
But regardless, she needed to stay alive.
“I will not have you dead.” I reached out and took her face in my hands. Overcome with passion, I kissed her. Emma did not resist the kiss, only pressed into me and fisted her hands in my shirt, as if this was her way of apologizing.
My tongue entered her mouth, and Emma moaned. I wrapped my arms around her and drew her close— she felt so small and frail against my wide form that I held back, fearful I may crush her. Her needy hands yank me closer, and I felt our bodies press against each other, both of us pulsating with undeniable need. Her breasts crashed against my chest, and as my fingers caressed her thigh, I felt her shiver.
Despite myself, I found my hand inching up under her skirt. She gasped, and I pressed my fingers against her panties, which were wet.
Hm. Looked like arguing turned her on, too. I didn’t know if that was fucked up or hot, only that there was so much passion in the room it felt like it was hard to breathe.
These school uniforms were brilliant. They made for easy access. I moved aside her panties, and shuddered as my fingers graced the soft area between her thighs. I rubbed her lightly there, and her head lolled as she enjoyed the heavy moment.
I’d never touched a woman in this way before. It made the wolf inside me go mad with want. We were cloaked under a fog of desire that made it hard to keep our thoughts straight. I couldn’t process words, only feelings and emotions. Everything was Emma, and I was becoming so wrapped within her essence that my mind found it hard to escape.
Just as I was about to enter her, Emma slumped. I thought it might be from pleasure, until I realized with horror she’d passed out. I caught her just before she hit the floor. “Emma? Emma!”
All the sexual tension in the room had evaporated to be replaced by my panic. I carried her to the bed and asked, “Onawilke,what’s going on? What do you need?”
“Water,” she said. I went to the mini-fridge and pulled out a bottle. I handed it to her, and she sipped from it slowly.
“Are you okay? Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t feeling well?” Gods, had this been my fault? I should’ve taken things slower.
“I was lightheaded after the group conversation,” she murmured. “I went to lie down.”
And I’d followed her in here to yell at her. What a jackass I was. “I’m so sorry,onawilke. What can I do?”
“I just need sleep. I’ve been up late most nights.” She yawned.
“Doing what?” My mind wandered.
“Just... studying. My classes are hard this semester. I’m exhausted.”
Emma nuzzled against my side and closed her eyes. She curled into me, and I stroked her red hair until she faded off into dreamland.
I didn’t have classes the rest of the day, so I stayed with Emma until she woke up later that afternoon. She remained at my side, sleeping soundlessly against my chest. When she asked for food, I insisted she remain in bed while I got something for her supper, though she seemed too weak to take down anything but soup. She went back to bed shortly after that.
I let her rest as the nighttime hours closed in. My stomach was knotted with anxiety. I felt like there was something Emma wasn’t telling me— something that was affecting her health.
A million terrible thoughts flooded my head. What was she too afraid to tell me?
I needed to be there for her. And I needed to find out what she was hiding, so I could do something to help... that is, if it was within my power to do.
Though I couldn’t shake the nauseating feeling that whatever was wrong with Emma had something to do with me.
Chapter Six
Emma
