“Do you want me to stop touching you?”
“Yes.”No.
What was wrong with me? Was I that deprived?
“Liar.”
“Ah yes, because rabbits tend to seek out affection from wolves,” I said, fearful if I tried to defend myself I’d stumble on the words. Altair only bit into his lip, his thumb grazing my thigh.
“Oh, so you want me to be your villain, Little Void? Fine. That’s exactly what I’ll be then. But don’t pretend like you didn’t ask for it when you’re begging and screaming.” His words made my stomach flip, lighting my skin on fire. Stars above, what was going on? He leaned forward, our noses grazing before his cheek pressed to mine and his lips ghosted across my ear. “Because if I’m a villain, then I’ll be taking what’s mine.”
And then he was up, his long legs crossing to the door in a mere second.
“Wait, where are you going? We’re supposed to be planning for the mission!”
“Burner break. Five minutes, tops.” He opened the door, shutting it loudly behind him.
“What in the universe just happened?”
“We believe Azazel Altair propositioned you.”
No he didn’t. Not really. He was just messing with me.
“Yet, there you sit, frazzled and notably aroused.”
I am not!
“We agree with Azazel Altair. You’re a liar.”
Standing, I huffed and stomped to the kitchen, opening the cabinet where Altairthoughthe hid his chocolate drops. Climbing on the wooden countertop, I stood, grabbing the burgundy bag from the back left corner of the top shelf.
“I’m not horny, I’m hungry,” I muttered, shoving a few chocolates in my mouth.
Altair walked in five minutes later to the sight of me still standing on his countertop, my cheeks full of chocolate and Death sitting on my right foot.
“Well, at least I know what you do on the rare occasion I’m gone,” he said, his face serious despite the humor that dripped from his tone.
***
We plotted for hours.
Maitoza had given us four locations, four names, four scheduled times, and one secret phrase—as above, so below. Otherwise, we were essentially on our own the second we picked up the batches of haya tomorrow.
“So we’ll start in the Alzalam District, where we have two drops. Then we’ll move to the Almud District for the third. After, we’ll end in the Sham District.” Altair said, gliding his long fingers across the map. “How long does the shift last?”
“We don’t have to worry about a time limit. It can last a couple of days. My biggest concern is being newcomers in such small villages. We honestly got lucky that they hadn’t pushed more officials across the continent when we went to the market in the Farigh District.”
We stood side by side, leaning against the table and staring at my map. I’d placed markers where we’d do the drops, adding the names and times. While the Sham District would be the most dangerous, the Alzalam District presented an entirely different problem. The villages throughout that district were relatively small, with communities built to be far closer than those in the Sham and Naqi Districts. Something neither of us could begin to understand, really. When it came to the Almud District, we expected a relatively easy delivery.
“Well, at least we know that there isn’t a chance we’ll be recognized.” The words were meant as reassurance, but Altair hadn’t liked any part of the mission since the second Commander Maitoza suggested it, and his voice betrayed those feelings.
“Come on, say what you actually want to say. Give me the strategist’s opinion.”
He turned his face towards mine, his lips pressed into a thin line and his eyes half-lidded. “I think we’re being set up. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. Maitoza knows we aren’t suited forthis task.Canwe get it done? Theoretically, yes. Butshouldit be us? No. Absolutely not. If we get caught, she knows that I’ll be executed at best. I do wonder what she hopes will happen to you though. Does she expect that the stars will save you? Is she hoping you’ll leave me behind and be rid of me? I’m not sure. Regardless, this is needlessly dangerous.”
“Okay, fair.” I wished I could argue, but he was right. It didn’t make sense for the commander to send us. Definitely not together. “So then what do we do to make it less dangerous that we haven’t already done? We know where the official’s shires are located. We have a general idea of what to expect from the people in all four villages.”
As far as I was concerned, we’d done all we could, but Altair seemed to feel differently. There was a hesitance to him that I was so rarely exposed to. A vulnerable side he often hid away.
