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Chapter 18
Bardhyl
Ilie awake, on the floor on blankets while war plays on my mind, and my heart clenches at what is at risk. I consider the idea of us four just leaving everything behind, not endangering our lives. It won’t be easy, but it’s a direction forward. It’s safer.
Except leaving behind the rest of the Ash Pack is not a unfeasible option. We have friends we consider family, and there is no way Dušan will walk away. Which brings me back to how in the world we overcome Mad when we are outnumbered. Not to mention, Meira’s at risk, and the woman is so stubborn, she won’t remain behind if I command her.
I grind my teeth, exhaling loudly at the thought. No matter how I look at this, I don’t know how to keep her safe. There are no guarantees we’ll win this battle, but I can’t bring her down with us. So, once Dušan wakes, he and I need to talk. We have a fucking problem and I need it to be resolved before we take on Mad.
“Can’t sleep?” Meira’s soft voice finds me in the early morning light barely illuminating the room.
I glance over at the bed, where she stares down at me, smiling. Sleep still clings to her eyes, her dark hair a mess, and she’s yawning. When I look at her, I see everything I’m not, everything I wish I could be. I’m no fool. I lost my innocence long ago. Killing does that to you, but Meira is different. So how the fuck am I meant to risk her life?
“Not really,” I answer.
Carefully, she climbs out of bed trying not to disturb the other two snoring away. She doesn’t bother covering herself, coming to me naked, like a beautiful apparition. Those gorgeous curves undo me.Shit!My gaze trails over perfect tits, her tiny waist, the small thatch of hair between her legs. She’s everything I desire in a woman… soft curves and swells, her scent intoxicating, and a damn temper to match my own. Everything about her is tempting. She’s smart and quick-witted, rushes headfirst to protect those she’s loyal to. I adore everything about her.
She kneels beside me.
With her naked and my erection hardening, the problem is keeping my head on straight. Last night after Dušan claimed her, she fell asleep in his arms from exhaustion. I finished off the food, by which time Lucien and Dušan had gone to bed with her.
Now, she leans in close and kisses me, the softness of her breasts on my chest. My breath catches in my throat. The enticement to lift her and place her over my hips suffocates the air out of my lungs. I long to bury myself deep inside her, to have her ride me.
I’m only a male, for fuck’s sake. A horny bastard who can’t get enough.
“Morning,” she whispers, her breath warm on my ear, sending blood rushing down to my cock. “I need to go to the toilet,” she says.
I almost burst out laughing. Here I am getting a hard-on, and my girl is bursting. “Of course, angel legs. Let’s get dressed and I’ll go outside with you. There are some old clothes in the cupboard.”
What should have happened never does, though now I have more purpose to make this a quick trip and return to claim her while the other two remain asleep.
It doesn’t take long before we’re out in the tunnels. Meira’s hand is in mine and my ears are alert, and even though I am still horny as hell, just being around her gives me a sense of peace.
It’s deadly silent. Only the sound of wind whistling through the passage, and the scents reveal no intruders. By the time we reach the main tunnel, the faint trickle of light from the opening in the distance guides us forward.
“If you were a gambling man, what are our odds of defeating Mad?” Meira asks, which makes me wonder if I wasn’t the only person unable to sleep last night.
“My confident self says there’s no doubt we’ll eradicate him.”
“But…” She glances over at me, her hand stiffening in my grasp. She’s worried, and how can I blame her when we still don’t have a proper plan that goes beyond sneaking in and trying to get Mad alone? A plan riddled with holes that might get us killed.
“Nothing ever goes as smoothly,” I admit. In truth, that’s where my head is at, unable to see a clear path to end this quickly.
Meira takes my response as doom and gloom, and she looks ahead, shadows gathering under her worried gaze.
“Hey,” I say, turning her to face me. “You will get out of this if I have anything to do with it.”
“Just me?” She’s quick to catch my mistake.
“I’m not going to mince my words, angel legs. I fear for your safety, and I would feel a damn lot more comfortable if I knew you were somewhere safe while the three of us went in for Mad.”
She stares at me blankly, and I expect an explosion, but having her say nothing is worse. I can handle a verbal spar, but what do I do with silence? I know she’ll keep her vow if I can get her to agree, but she’s so stubborn.
“Say something,” I prod.
She shrugs. “There’s nothing to say. That’s your opinion. It’s not going to happen in this lifetime, but nice wish.”
Her mocking tone… is more of what I expect. Still, I find myself grinding my teeth at her headstrong determination. The fault is mine in telling her about my thoughts, and now she’ll suspect any plans I put into place will leave her behind.
