73. Vera
Vera
Iwaded through the haze, water dripping from my clothes as I walked up the slope leading to the entrance of the hot springs.
Sitting on a large boulder was a block of soap.
I grabbed it and made my way back to Everett.
The water rocked back and forth against the solid plane of his stomach, steam curling against him.
My eyes trailed up his strong chest and the muscular curve of his arms before landing on that dual-toned gaze.
I took his hand and smiled. “Come here.” I led him to the waterfall at the back of the chamber, and the rushing water intensified in my ears. It sent up a plume of steam so thick, it was difficult to see through.
Stepping closer, I lifted my eyes to his as I raised the yellow bar of soap.
I slowly ran it along his chest, water and suds gathering on his skin.
The scent of eucalyptus washed over me. I put a hand at his waist to anchor myself as I lathered soap across his chest, his arms, his stomach, holding his gaze the whole time.
I was done hiding myself from him. No more running, no more pushing him away. I had to finally trust that what we had was more than enough, and his love wasn’t something I had to earn back.
We were just Songbird and Swift. That was what mattered.
As if he could read my thoughts, he gave me a tender smile and leaned down to press his lips to mine.
He cradled the back of my head and deepened the kiss, his fingers tangling in my messy hair.
My lips parted with a sigh, and he carefully guided me backward, legs pushing against mine, until both of our heads were plunged beneath the waterfall.
“Everett!” I gasped, laughing as he shook his head, sending droplets raining over me.
His eyes twinkled. “Afraid of a little water, sweetheart?”
Whispering a quick spell, I cast a shield charm above my head so that it blocked the waterfall and shifted its course toward him, instead. “Are you?” I said with a wink.
His face split into a grin as he ducked, grabbed me around the waist, and lifted me into the air. I squealed, water flying everywhere. When he lowered me back down, we were both breathless and smiling, and an unfamiliar pocket of peace settled over me.
He took the soap from me. “Turn around,” he murmured.
I raised an eyebrow but silently obeyed, spinning so my back faced him.
A moment later, his hands were in my hair, gently working soap into the roots.
I let out a soft moan that was swallowed by the waterfall.
His fingers moved down my scalp, massaging their way to the base of my neck.
Fates, it felt so good. My muscles relaxed, and my head fell backward on my shoulders.
He worked through the tangles, then pulled me back under the waterfall to wash the soap, dirt, and ash away. I sighed again, eyes fluttering shut, and he shifted my hair to one side so my neck was exposed.
“You’re so beautiful, Songbird,” he rasped, lips landing on the curve of my neck. A shiver went down my spine. “I could live a thousand lifetimes, and I’d never get enough of you.”
My heart swelled. I twisted around and rested a hand on his songbird tattoo, feeling his heart pound beneath me. “I’m just happy I get this lifetime with you.”
He kissed me again, this time with a tenderness that made my chest ache. When he broke away, I smiled up at him. “Your turn to turn around.”
He chuckled softly and did as I said. I took the soap from the ledge he set it on as he asked, “Are you sure you can reach?”
I smirked. Crouching down, I pressed my lips into the dip of his lower back, right above the water.
Satisfaction slipped over me at the sound of his sharp inhale.
I trailed up his spine and felt his muscles clench and flex at my touch.
His arm reached around to grab me, trying to tug me to him, but I tsked.
“I’m not done yet,” I said, taking the soap and raising it to his shoulder.
But what I saw marked into his flesh made the bar slip from my grasp. The soap fell to the water with a splash, but I was frozen.
A jagged red scratch ran above his shoulder blade, with black lines extending from the edges and darkening his veins. The lines seemed to move like smoke just beneath the surface. They pulsed at his skin, throbbing and blackening with every breath.
Everett looked over at me. “Are you okay?”
“Everett, your—your shoulder—”
“What about it?”
I hovered my hand above his left shoulder for a split second before pressing down. He let out a grunt of pain and flinched away from me. “What was that?”
“There’s a mark here. It’s red, with black lines in your veins.” I couldn’t stop my voice from shaking. “When did this happen?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t even know it was there.”
“Tell me you just got this today.” I spun him to face me, a sickening thought entering my mind.
I didn’t want to be right. I couldn’t be right.
“I—I don’t know.” His brow furrowed. “It’s been sore for a couple days, I guess, ever since...” He let out a breath.
“Since when?” I demanded frantically.
“Since the crypt. My shoulder popped out of place, and I thought that was all it was, but then…” His eyes met mine, and they widened. “Something landed on me. It had claws. I thought I kicked it off in time.”
“Everett, what was it?”
“A shadow wraith,” he whispered.
The water seemed to turn cold as it beat against us. I shook my head as if I could undo his words. “No. No, it can’t be that. Anything but that.” My chest squeezed as I clutched the back of his neck, desperately clinging to him.
“Everett, you’ve been infected.”