Chapter Eight
AS MUCH AS he shouldbe paying attention to what Cian said in regards to the next memory they would be witnessing, Tor was still caught up by how he felt when he put his hand to the small of Raven’s back. How he had felt when he actually touched her for the first time. Because, setting aside her possessing Revna, he was certain he had done it before.
And certain he would not be able to get enough of it.
Not just that, but touching her confirmed that she had, in fact, been inside Revna every time he’d pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Every time he had spent hours enjoying her company. And it was a damn odd revelation. Yet his gift was never wrong. When he touched people, he could see and feel things others could not. He was grateful for it, too, because it had helped improve his mood from earlier.
Touching Raven had been like waking from a dream. Like he could see clearly again. Not necessarily remember her, but something similar. Like their dragons were reconnecting without them being the wiser. It had also been extraordinarily arousing. Just the warmth of her under his fingers. The gentle curve of her lower back. He imagined touching her bare flesh for the first time. Running his fingers along her spine. Holding her prone backside in place while he thrust deep inside her.
When Raven’s cheeks pinkened, and her breathing switched, he knew she followed his thoughts. Knew that, despite what their memory showed them next, she was fully aware of him. But then, despite having a sensual soul, she had never enjoyed the pleasure of lying with another. While at first, he wasn’t sure what to make of that, now he could admit he was pleased.
Immensely relieved, for that matter.
“I’m sure you are,”she muttered into his mind as they watched her tiny dragon frolic in the Vanaheim grove.“Lucky you, not suffering the same torture.”
While he had never lain with Revna, he’d had a woman or two before that. Not many because, frankly, it had never been satisfying. As though they were missing something. Now he realized why. They weren’t Raven. Because none of them had made him feel like he just had touching her. None had made him want to pull her close and never let go.
“My tiny self seems so happy.” Raven frowned at Cian, referring to his warning that something would happen soon that proved how much danger she was in. “I can’t imagine anything ruining that.”
Yet moments later, the wizard was proven right when it seemed like a dark cloud passed over the grove, and tiny Raven went still.
“What is that?” Tiny Tor joined her and frowned at the sky. “I don’t see any clouds.”
“Because there aren’t any.” A frigid wind kicked up. Raven began trembling. “I have to go now.”
“No, you should stay with me.” Tor shifted closer. “I can protect you.”
“No, I don’t think you can.” She shook her head. “Not yet. Maybe never.” Her frightened gaze went to him. “It’s okay. Bringing me here helped. Now I can move on.”
“That was too fast.” Panic lit his eyes. “People never move on so quickly.” Then sadness. “Don’t go. Stay longer so I can help you more.”
“There is no way to help me more, though,” Raven murmured. The memory faded, and with it, any sign of the Vanaheim cave or grove. “Not at that moment in time, anyway.” She looked at Cian. “What was that dark shadow? Because it felt familiar. Like I had come across it before and knew it was exceptionally dangerous.”
“Because you had,” he confirmed. “And you will remember soon enough.”
“Because like I sensed when I sent everyone off to protect their people, it’s almost time.” Raven narrowed her eyes. “Whatever that is, it’s coming for me, isn't it?” She narrowed her gaze even further. “Coming now that I’ve traveled back in time. Coming now that my location has been revealed.”
“Tá.” He looked at Tor. “You must keep leading her. Showing her.” He looked upward, whether at the mountain or sky beyond. “You will find this mountain much like the Keep was for Trinity and Vicar. A place of many truths.” His grim regard returned to Raven. “A place that will hold what comes for you at bay for only a short time. A few days at most.”
“Then we should keep moving.” Tor went to put his hand on Raven’s back again to steer her along, but she shot him a look.
“Don’t touch me,”she gave him more than he anticipated,“not until I work out the whole Revna thing.”She gestured that he lead the way.“Because obviously you and I are going to need to...progress eventually.”
What she didn’t say, but he felt, was her desire for more of what she’d experienced when he touched her before. An overwhelming need to taste what had been kept from her. Whether he had hurt her or not, she had a natural craving to experience matters of the flesh, and he didn’t blame her.
Even so.
“I was only being polite,”he lied, not sure where he was heading until his inner dragon prompted him to go up a tunnel that led away from the former Vanaheim cave. Though he should probably leave it alone, he couldn’t. Not with that blasted wizard remaining so close to her. Devoted in a way that set Tor on edge.“And we’ve more to tackle than just Revna if we’re to make any progress, as you call it.”
