Page 54 of On Burning Paths

She turns her chin up. “I’m just trying not to be afraid. Trying to be someone different. That’s who I need to be tonight.”

Unable to help myself, I pull her close. “You don’t need to be anyone different. You’re perfect just the way you are. It’s our responsibility to protect you. To protect what’s ours.”

Surprise flashes across her face. “I’m yours?”

“And we’re yours. Aren’t we?” I ask, heart hammering.

Have I read too much into this? She’s nice. Maybe she’s this nice to everyone.

She smiles. “Yes, you’re mine.”

My whole chest aches.

“And,” she begins then hesitates before continuing, “sometime in the future. When we’re all relaxed… I’m ready. Ready for whatever comes our way.”

“Ready?” I ask, and then everything shifts into place in my mind.

Is she saying…?

She nods, her cheeks red. “I wonder if, without all the fear and worry, our relationships might change… advance.”

I understand her drift. “Maybe. Maybe tonight. Maybe just in the future.”

She smiles, tucking hair behind her ear. “Good. Because there are some things I might not mind experiencing, no matter how the Trials end.”

“We’re going to be okay,” I say, and I hope that it’s true.

Hope that at some point I can give her a beautiful experience. But not just a good first time, a good rest of her life.

“Don’t worry, I know you’ll keep us safe.”

Relief makes me pull in a deep breath. “Good. Then, trust us. This will work. We’re all going to make it out of this.”

She sags against me, dropping her cheek onto my chest. I hold her close, knowing I need to get moving, but stealing this minute anyway. Because no matter what we do now, night is coming, and I’ll fight to my death if it means these people have a chance.

They’re mine, after all. And I’ll never let someone take what’s mine again. Never.

17

Nyx

Thorian takes the bowl first. He drinks, considers, and passes it to Fenric without expression. “It tastes right. I think we hit the right amount of water and the berries.”

Fenric lifts the bowl.

“A small sip,” Thorian presses. “Remember, I’m a demi-god. You can’t drink it the way I do.”

Fenric takes a small sip, and his brows lift slightly. "It’s actually really sweet," he says, sounding mildly surprised. "Not bad." He passes it to Talon.

“Don’t try to show off. You’ll end up dead,” Thorian tells him sternly.

Talon grins, but only tips the bowl a little, swallows, and hands it to me. "It's fine," he says. "Honestly better than I expected."

I look down at the liquid sloshing gently in the bowl, then take a sip.

I nearly spit it back out, but manage to keep it in my mouth and swallow down the painfully sweet drink. It’s so sweet my teeth seem to scream in protest, still vibrating in my skull, even with the liquid in my stomach. My face feels weird. Screwed up in horror.

Thorian bursts out laughing.