Do I regret it?
No.
No. Because I’m starting to think he’s right. That we really are inevitable.
‘We should get a little more sleep,’ I say, but I still don’t move, my lips remaining just a whisper away from him.
‘If that’s what you need,’ his voice rumbles. ‘It’s probably best.’
‘Probably,’ I whisper back.
But a moment later, his mouth is on mine and all thoughts of sleep are forgotten.
Chapter 41
Ifeel the smile on my face before I wake up. The ease. As if this is how I’m meant to rise each morning, next to Kyor, our limbs entangled. It doesn’t even matter that there’s no room in the bed. It’s not like I would want to be anywhere other than curled up against him, even if there was space.
‘How are you feeling?’ he asks as his fingers trail down my arm.
‘I’m pretty sure I should be asking you that,’ I respond. ‘How’s your shoulder?’
He crinkles his nose. ‘A little painful, but I’m sure we can come up with a way to take my mind off that, right?’ His eyes glint as he presses his lips against my neck. Kiss by kiss he travels lower and lower, until his mouth is against my collarbone, and then lower still.
‘How about we just stay in bed today?’ he murmurs as his hand wanders over my stomach. ‘We deserve a day’s rest, don’t you think? Not that it’s easy to do that, lying next to you.’
His mouth is moving towards my breast, but before he claims any more of my skin, I sit upright.
‘We need to find the others,’ I tell him. ‘We need to keep moving.’
Kyor winces slightly as he pushes himself up to sitting. ‘You’re doingwell, Rose,’ he says. ‘Your powers haven’t gone haywire in days. I’m sure you’ll be fine to rest for one day. Your body might even thank you.’
I bite down on my bottom lip, considering how I should reply.
He’s right that my powers have not erupted unexpectedly, but it doesn’t change the fact that I had a vision only last night. And what I saw is the exact reason we can’t drag our heels.
This trip isn’t just about me; it’s about William, even if Kyor can’t know that.
‘It’s better that we don’t push our luck,’ I say to him. ‘Are you okay to get food and supplies while I go and find Caz? Then we can meet Benny and say goodbye before we head off.’
I still hate the thought of going on without my friend and have refused to consider the possibility that, without him, Caz might decide she wants to stay here too.
‘Okay. If that’s what you want to do, then that’s what we’ll do.’ He leans forward and kisses me, and the ease of the action is enough to make my heart surge with pain as much as passion. I hate that I can’t tell him about William. That it’ll always be there between us, like this vow he’s taken with his father.
But it has to be.
This is enough, isn’t it?
As I shift my feet off the bed, there’s a knock at the door, telling us that the laundry has been done. Stark naked, absolutely shameless, Kyor crosses the few steps to the door, opens it, takes the package and brings it back to the bed.
‘Where shall we meet later?’ he asks as I pull my clothes back on. ‘You want to head to the stables?’
‘Sounds good,’ I say. ‘Although maybe we should pick up some food first. Something hot for Ruben. It doesn’t seem fair that we got a comfy night and a meal while he was stuck in the stables.’
‘You’re thinking of Ruben this morning?’ Kyor asks, raising an eyebrow.
‘I’m thinking of my friend,’ I tell him, ‘who spent the night roughing it so he could keep an eye out for potential horses.’
‘Fine,’ he grumbles. ‘There’s a market street where weshould be able to pick up some hot things. If I remember right, there might be a couple more taverns there, too. I’ll grab most of our supplies from the landlady here, but if it’s all right with you, I might get another hour’s sleep before we go.’
