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RAFFERTY
“Paulina should have been back by now.” I study the shadows cast as the sun sinks slowly in the sky, every moment that passes simultaneously pissing me off and causing concern. It’s been well past an hour. And if not her, Fin and the others. They all knew where we were going, so the fact that they’re not here—is troublesome.
If they don’t show back up soon, we’re stuck at least a day’s walk from camp, in a forest crawling with damned souls and tears in the Veil.
“Maybe she’s late?”
I glance over at Ember, who sits beside the water. Her fiery hair is loose around her shoulders, and her dress, still damp from earlier, clings to her body in ways that have me seriously questioning whether or not I should just pin her against a tree and fuck her until we’re both senseless.
However, given the aforementioned damned souls, that would potentially be a disastrous distraction. Which is why, after that soul-stealing, cock-hardening kiss, I chose to seek distance—for now.
“She shouldn’t be late.”
“Does anyone else know we’re out here? Fin—”
“Fin was on a scouting mission when we left. He and Tommie both knew where we were going as well, so them not showing up either is—”
“Problematic,” she finishes.
“At best,” I reply.
“Is it possible they just got busy?”
“Unlikely.” I turn back to her. “We’re going to need to get to high ground.”
“You don’t think they’re coming?” Copper eyes wide with concern, Ember watches me.
Truth is I’m terrified enough for the both of us. Should Ember need to run, she won’t be able to. Which leaves her completely vulnerable if we’re attacked. “I don’t know. But we need to make sure we’re safe until they do or until tomorrow when we can walk back.”
“Walk back? How far is it?”
Crossing the distance between us, I kneel down and lift her from the ground. Her weight is slight, though carrying her does render me a bit slower should we need to fight our way back. “A day,” I tell her. “We can leave at dawn and make it back by nightfall.”
“Rafferty, I can’t walk that far.”
I force a grin. “Then I suppose it’s good I can carry you.”
She doesn’t smile, just closes her eyes and leans against my chest. I can all but feel her fear, her frustration likely because she regrets ever having left the camp. But even as it was likely a foolish choice to come out here, I won’t regret it.
Because tasting her in that water was the freest I’ve felt since we met.
Since the trees here are so large, most of them boast massive trunks that meet their branches with a large enough space for a person to fit comfortably. “Can you climb onto my back and hold on?” I ask her.
She nods, and together, we situate her against my back. Legs wrapped around my waist, she clings to me as I begin to climb. It’s easy enough, though, by the time I reach our destination, my arms are sore, given the impressive height.
“This brings back not so fond memories,” she tells me as I set her down and take a seat across from her. My legs span the length of the space, so I put one on either side of her, caging her in.
“Had the Oillipheist not shown up, I like to think it would have been a fond memory. Our first night sleeping together.”
Her cheeks flush. “I suppose you’re right. Though, spending the next day thinking you were dead was hardly the highlight of our escape.” She shivers, and I hold out my arms.
Without hesitation, Ember slowly crawls over to me and nestles, back against my chest, her slight body between my legs. It’s fucking perfect. More than I deserve.
Kill her. Take her energy. Go to the camp. You can move faster without her.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, attempting to shove the dark thoughts down. Even after our kiss, it had been a struggle to maintain my hold, though I meant what I told her the other day in that tent.
I really am starting to not care should loving her cost me everything.
