11
I woke up slowly, feeling a wonderful warmth all around me. For two days, my rest had been just a doze. So, when I’d lain my head on the bed of leaves last night, I’d fallen asleep like a log.
I propped myself on my elbow, looking at the golden-leaves tiara I had placed in the sand after loosening my braids before falling asleep. Given the days spent under the scorching sun, I likely already had a tan line on my forehead, so I chose to leave it there.
I sat up, hugging my knees. Amlach’s bed was empty, his short robe left on the leaves. I sharpened my sight and saw him in the water, near the boundary between the lagoon and the open sea.
I watched him swim parallel to the beach. His strokes were strong, and he kept his head underwater most of the time.
I suddenly snapped out of my thoughts and scolded myself again for staring at him so long, so intently.
I tied the sheath of my dagger around my waist, grabbed the bag made from my tunic, went into the forest to relieve myself, and then washed at the small waterfall’s pond.
I picked more berries and fruit for breakfast, taking the opportunity to study different tree species and memorize their locations, then returned to our base camp.
“Good morning.”
I jolted, stopping three steps away from the tree trunk in front of the stone circle where some embers still burned among the ashes.
Amlach came toward me from the shore, smiling brightly and walking confidently, like a leader. For a brief moment, my eyes lingered on his wet, slightly hairy torso, which looked as if it had been sculpted to emphasize every muscle and dimple.
As I realized my eyes were following the thin line of brown hair that went from his navel to beneath the hem of his trousers, I abruptly turned toward the forest.
“What’s wrong?” Amlach asked, and I heard the rustling of the leaves as he grabbed his tunic.
“You’re naked,” I said, breathless and furious with myself.
“ Half naked,” he clarified, and I heard him rub his hair with his tunic.
My fingernails dig into my palm. “Please, put your robe back on.”
“Don’t tell me a bit of skin shocks you, Elf,” Amlach mocked me. “Surely it’s not the first time you’ve seen a man’s chest.”
I pinched my suddenly burning eyes closed. I did not reply.
I sensed his eyes studying me. “Or it is?”
I drew a deep breath. “Elves are different from humans. Or witches. We always wear a robe when we soak in the hot waters of the thermal baths at Aegel’s Palace or swim in the beautiful river near our home.”
He made a disapproving noise. “I didn’t think you were so prude.”
“We are not,” I hissed. I exhaled through my nose. I needed to tell him, or he would never understand my discomfort. “We only show our nakedness to our mate, to whom we give our entire body.”
I felt Amlach’s gaze sweep over me from head to toe, so intense that I had the impression the fabric of my tunic was disintegrating like a sheet of parchment in the flames.
“Well, I’m not an elf,” he responded sarcastically. “I’m a human. And it’s way too hot to wear this stinky robe any longer than necessary. You should get rid of those leather pants,” he added, and I could tell he was grinning. “In a few minutes, it’ll feel like being in a sauna, trust me.”
Too bad my tunic had side slits to avoid hindering me in battle, and I had cut the front to make a bag. I absolutely couldn’t walk around with my legs on full display.
“Amlach, please,” I ground out. “Our eyes cannot tolerate nudity from anyone other than our mate.”
He approached me, stopping behind. He was much taller and so close. He towered over me with his mere presence. Strong, masculine, sensual.
Forbidden.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him lean down to speak in my ear, and I tried not to shiver when his breath brushed my cheek.
“Then don’t look at me,” he whispered.
Livid both because of his audacity and my body’s reaction to his voice, so deep and infused with erotic promises, I suddenly spun around and growled, “How am I supposed not to look at you if we are going to work together?”
I shot him a deadly look, only to notice he had put his robe back on. I let out a relieved sigh, and his smirk grew wider. I should thank him, but instead I glared at him.
“Work on what?” he asked, amused.
I shouldered around him and sat on the tree trunk. Amlach settled onto his bed, propping himself on his elbow, as I placed our breakfast bag on the sand between us and opened it.
“We’ll build a raft,” I announced, tearing the coconut in half with my hands. “And with it, we’ll leave the island and head home.”
I sensed Amlach’s glower on my face as I put the coconut shell aside and started chopping the pulp.
“Or we could stay here.”
My eyes snapped to his, and my heart skipped a beat from the intensity of his stare.
Then Amlach reached out to pick a tiny wild strawberry and gazed at it as he twisted it between his fingers.
“Away from the feud between our peoples. Away from the wars to come. Away from death.” He watched the sea.
“It’s so peaceful here.” He turned his face toward the sky, closed his eyes, and sighed. “And so bright.”
I felt him. My kingdom was filled with a magical aura that made everything more vivid. Still, there were times when it seemed to me that Mornon’s ancient darkness returned to overshadow me and reach Calien’s Crystal.
But this island seemed immune to all the evil still looming north of the Lands of the East. And the more I let its beauty surround me, the more reassured I felt, something I hadn’t experienced in so long.
“Don’t you have a family waiting for you? Or a woman?” I asked.
“No.” He popped the strawberry into his mouth, then leaned back with one arm bent behind his head, wearing a distant expression. “Never had anyone.”
I felt sorry for him, and for the first time, I wondered what his story was. Perhaps, in the next few days, he might tell me.
“I can’t stay, Amlach,” I said quietly.
I missed my parents. And Araton, even though I was angry with him.
I missed the wild scent of Aegel’s woods and the smiles of its citizens.
Moreover, I was the heir to the throne. I couldn’t abandon my people so easily.
I couldn’t abandon the Crystal, despite the inviolability of the temple where it was held.
I had to come back. Soon.
And soon, Amlach and I would return to each other’s lives.
Why did the very thought of us parting make my fingers tingle from the senseless urge to cling to him?
“I know,” Amlach replied softly.
A heavy silence fell between us, broken only by the sound of the waves and the occasional calls of the seagulls flying between the islands of the archipelago.
“Come on,” Amlach suddenly said, standing up. He fastened his dagger’s sheath to his waist and then bent down to pick a handful of berries from my bag. “Let’s go find some nice sticks for our raft.”
He winked at me with a crooked smile, popped a blueberry into his mouth, and headed toward the forest.
I shook my head, allowing myself to smile. Then, I took two pieces of coconut, bit one as I rose to my feet, and followed him.