Lynch saluted with a stiff flick of the wrist and strode out whilst Miles peered back to the mirror – to his shadowed eyes and haggard cheeks.
When you want something, take it.
And perhaps, just for once, he would follow Dair’s advice.
A meadow beckoned,its knee-high hotch-potch of seedheads and dried stalks waving their welcome in the nimble autumn wind.
So Verity darted onwards.
But not alone.
For Miles held her hand. Green eyes blithe.
And barefoot, they rushed through the woven tapestry of sienna and saffron, skirted the dried thistles and jumped the crisp yarrows.
His grip was firm, skin warmed by the sun, and she laughed to the soft sky, happy as the swallows that swooped over their heads, the dried grasses a symphony of whispers in the breeze.
The world was theirs and theirs alone.
Effortlessly, Miles swung her into his arms, around and around, white skirts winged, Miles the core, the unshakeable heart around which everything spun.
Before he kissed her.
Soft and tender as a whisper – the hand to her nape belying deeper passions, claiming and caressing.
Toes slipped to the ground and she smiled into his fervid eyes. Kneeled and fell back to lie in the meadow grass that crunched beneath her, closed her own eyes and held out her arms.
Waited for Miles in this haven of hay and earth.
Yet he did not join her.
Such teasing. She opened one eye.
No Miles.
Just a lead-grey cloud swallowing the sun whole.
Frowning, she sat up, twisted, but of Miles there was no sign and a shiver seized her as a darkness that murmured of winter covered her eyes, the chill of impending frost.
She was…alone.
Grasses leached their saffron hue and the swallows fled.
She blinked. Felt a tear slide. Winter was coming.
Verity stumbled to her bare feet, shuttered her eyes before the darkness enclosed her and–
A whisper against her cheek.
Another.
Lips soft as a harebell.
And she frowned.
“Open your eyes,” a voice murmured, yet she shook her head. Had no wish to see the winter that surrounded her.
Yet the lips continued murmuring sweet promise before they settled on her own – gentle and divine.
