Chapter 28
Ryvin
The cold waterstole my breath, but I pulled us both under completely, holding Ara with me for several heartbeats before emerging. I moved to the side and leaned Ara’s unresponsive body against the rocks. “Come on, wake up.”
I pushed the hair from her face and leaned closer, feeling for breath while I pressed my fingers to her neck. I felt the faintest flicker of a pulse. “Asteri, wake up.”
Warm breath ghosted my cheek and I pulled her to me, a burst of elation surging. I hadn’t lost her yet. I was certain she was doing better, but until she opened her eyes, it meant nothing. “Please, please wake up.”
I pressed my cheek against hers, feeling her skin against mine. I whispered in her ear, telling her everything I thought she’d want to hear. “We’re going to have a long, happy life together. We’ll see your sisters all the time. We’ll stay in Athos if you want. We’ll travel far away if you want. Anything. Anything you need if you just stay with me. Please, Asteri, please wake up.”
I pulled her close to me, holding her tight. I could feel her warm breath against my neck, feel her heartbeat against my chest. Then I heard the smallest sound. It was a little squeak or moan. Something I couldn’t quite place, but I knew it was Ara.
I adjusted, letting her fall against my arm and giving space between us so I could see her better. Her eyelids were fluttering, her brow furrowed adorably.
My heart felt like it was going to explode. “I’m here, Asteri, I’m here. I’ve got you.”
She grunted and made more squeaking noises that made my heart soar. I kissed her cheek and smoothed back her wet hair again. “Please wake up.”
“Ryvin?” Her eyes were open in little slits, but she was looking up at me.
“I’m here.” Joy surged through me, and I had to hold myself back from squeezing her in my arms. “I’m here. You’re going to be alright. You’re going to be fine.”
Her eyelids fluttered again, and she opened them, glancing around the darkened cave. The few fae lights flickered around us, but it was largely shadowed. I sent a few more fae lights into the air, creating a dazzling display like little stars above us.
Her lips parted. “It’s beautiful.” Her voice was gravelly, but she was speaking. “Where are we?”
“Do you remember what happened?” I asked gently.
Her eyes widened. “Am I dead? You didn’t kill yourself, did you?”
“No, no.” I smoothed her hair again, trying to reassure her. “We’re in a healing spring hidden under the oasis where Nona lives.”
She looked around again. “The poison?”
“You nearly died,” I confirmed.
“The spring cures it?” she asked.
I nodded, my throat suddenly too thick to speak. I couldn’t let myself think about what would have happened if I’d been too late. If the spring hadn’t worked.
She laughed, the sound musical. It made me join in and I pulled her into my embrace. She threw her arms around me, still laughing. “I’m alive. I can’t believe it. Thank you.”
“I can’t do this without you,” I confessed. “I thought I was going to lose you.”
“You saved me.” She leaned back and stared at me, her gaze penetrating and searching. “I came here to save you, and you ended up saving me.”
“I told you long ago, I’ll never let anything bad happen to you,” I reminded her. It was a promise I’d made her that I’d had to abandon too many times. I couldn’t keep it when she went off on her own, but she was strong and capable and I trusted her. She needed a lot less saving that she did when we first met. Every time she gained power and confidence, my love for her deepened.
She wasn’t the same woman I’d met in Athos. She was stronger, fiercer, braver. And I couldn’t wait to see how much more she’d become as she truly welcomed and developed the magic she’d been cut off from for so long. “But maybe you should be making that promise to me instead.”
“How about we agree no more monsters for a while?” she teased.
“I like that agreement.” I cupped her cheek, studying her. “I’d rather take you somewhere far away where I know you’ll be safe.”
“You know we can’t do that,” she replied.
“I know. But gods, Asteri, watching the life leave your body…” I blew out a long breath.
“I know how you felt,” she replied. “If my mother hadn’t had that antidote…”
“No more poison, then,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.
Tears fell down her cheek and she chuckled. “Agree. No more of that, either.”
I wiped her tears with my thumb, then kissed her cheekbones, hoping to send the tears away. She captured my face in her hands, then pulled, her lips meeting mine in a hungry kiss. I picked her up and she threw her legs around my waist, making me tumble forward slightly. She was pressed against the rocks on the edge of the spring, and I leaned into her, devouring her mouth with mine.
Our tongues clashed, and I felt her fingers reaching for my tunic. The sopping wet fabric was stuck to my body, making it more difficult to remove. I pulled away from the kiss, gasping for air and hurrying to strip my clothes. I tossed the sopping wet tunic outside the spring before removing my trousers.
Ara was working the fabric of her clothing and I stepped in, helping remove the clothes and throwing them with mine outside the spring. She was back on me the moment I released her soaking clothing from my hands.
I kissed her back with urgency, unable to shake how I’d almost lost her. I held her tight, unwilling to let her go. “Please, don’t ever choose me over yourself again.” I whispered against her ear. “I can’t lose you.”
“I can’t make that promise,” she said, her brow furrowed as she stared at me. “I would save you every time. You know that, don’t you?”
I did know that, because it was the same way I felt. I answered by claiming her mouth. She returned my passion with her own sense of urgency. The kiss demonstrated all our relief that the other was alive. I couldn’t get enough of her. I needed her.
She wrapped her legs around me again and a shiver ran down my spine as she brushed against my cock. Holding her tightly, I entered her, a groan passing through my lips as I did. She moaned into my mouth, then kissed me even more fervently.
The water splashed around us, cool against my hot skin. I leaned her against the smooth rocks and she lay back, her chest rising and falling as she sucked in rapid breaths. Her hands trailed against my chest and I grabbed her hips, thrusting deeper into her. Her eyes closed and she moaned as her hands moved to my arms. She gripped me hard, her fingernails digging into my biceps. The bite of pain sent a rush of pleasure through me as I continued to thrust.
Leaning down, I kissed her again, desperate to maintain closeness to her. She threw her arms around me, holding me down close to her. I continued to thrust, breathing in the scent of her hair mixed with the sulfur of the water. I kissed her neck and collarbone before returning to her lips.
She was tensing under me, her breaths hitching, occasionally halting as little shivers of pleasure overcame her. I could tell she was holding back, resisting climax. I was close but I wanted her to give in. “Let go, Asteri. Don’t hold back.”
She whimpered, then gasped before a series of tiny cries escaped her lips in rhythm with her exhales. Her back arched and she closed her eyes, the sounds growing louder with each thrust. I leaned down and nipped at her nipple, then moved to the other, alternating between gentle kisses and using my teeth.
Her whole body tensed and she screamed, her hips bucking as she finally gave in to her release. It sent me over the edge, and I groaned as I joined her in climax, finishing as she began to tremble, her body responding to the pleasure.
I lifted her from the rocks again, pulling her close to me so I could change positions, putting myself against the rocks. She relaxed into me, her body melting against mine. I kissed her brow, then her cheek. “I’m the luckiest man alive.”
She gave me a sleepy smile. “We’re both lucky.”
As she closed her eyes and took steady breaths, I said a silent prayer to the gods. They’d never responded to me, but if honoring them was something I could do to keep her alive, I’d do whatever it took.
“We should get back to the Oasis,” I said after we’d both caught our breath.
“It’s tempting to stay there, isn’t it?” she asked.
“I could do it, even if it meant dealing with Nona, but I don’t think you could,” I replied.
She was quiet for a moment, then looked up at me. I could see the sparkle of life in her eyes again. I wasn’t sure the last time I’d seen that look from her. “You’re right. I guess we better go defeat the king so we can go anywhere we want.”
I helped her out of the spring and we managed to get our sopping clothing back on. The walk out wasn’t nearly as long or tedious. I could walk behind this woman for the rest of my life and never get tired of watching her.
We were two steps out of the entry to the cave when Ara was tackled by Vanth. She laughed as he lifted her and swung her around in a circle. For the first time, I didn’t feel any jealousy. I saw friendship and love that I was grateful for. I knew if something ever happened to me, I could count on Vanth to support Ara.
I’m not sure what was in that water, but I was grateful.
Vanth released Ara. “I’m so glad you’re alive.”
“I’m happy to be alive,” Ara said. “What did we miss?”
Vanth glanced over at me, then looked back at Ara. “The fates left. Something about being needed for cutting a lot of threads.”
The joy hanging in the air around us faded, and I watched as Vanth and Ara tensed, their expressions hardening into those of warriors.
“Let’s go help them determine which threads they should cut, then, shall we?” Ara asked.