Chapter 31
Thirty-One
Armienti sat by the warm, crackling fire as Autumn prepared their supper. He clutched his broken wrist in the makeshift sling she’d created for him out of the cape he’d stolen from Dante.
He deserved the symbol of status—not Dante, his brother. So, in his eyes, it wasn’t stealing but taking back what should’ve always been his.
Embarrassment swelled through his body. He struggled to breathe as his thoughts raced to the issue at hand.
Their abilities had suddenly vanished, and he couldn’t believe he’d kissed Autumn. It was forbidden on so many different levels. But he couldn’t help himself. He found her irresistible.
Since the incident , she hadn’t uttered a single word or looked his way for hours on end. Her eyes seemed to skip around the cave, avoiding him.
“Are you seriously never going to talk to me again?” he asked as she held two pieces of fish to the fire, cooking them on both sides. Water melted between a hole in the ice she’d carved near the exit of the cave.
He continued when she didn’t answer. He wasn’t surprised. “I mean, come on, you’re a pretty, young woman. I can’t imagine this is your first time being kissed. Caleb, Dante, and what was that human coward’s name, Iain?—”
“I don’t want to talk about this right now,” her eyes rolled as she rested a hand on her hip. “But dinner is ready, so go wash up.”
“Are you serious?” he asked. When she didn’t answer, he groaned, trudging his boots to the door of the cavern and wiping his good hand in the snow. He smeared snow over his mouth and wiped flakes against his black skin-tight sleeve.
When he returned, she walked over and handed him his fish, staring at him for a moment too long as if she wanted to speak.
“I can’t believe you’ve been keeping count of the guys I’ve kissed. It’s kind of creepy.”
She sat on the opposite side of the fire and ate her piece of fish. His ears and neck burned with shame. Yes, he’d been counting out of jealousy.
“It’s not that I’ve been keeping count, it’s just?—”
“You know there’s a human phrase for a situation like this one,” she chewed and swallowed her piece of fish.
“And what’s that?” His ears perked up.
“ It’s complicated . So please, can we just leave it at that?”
“I guess,” his chest welled with an agonizing emptiness. Once again, he royally screwed up. He wished he could take everything back, but it was too late. He was such a fool to trust Valdez and get them into this horrible situation.
A long awkward period of silence followed.
“You know, I’ve kissed a few females in my day, but none of the kisses I’ve ever had in my life were as satisfying as the one I shared with you,” he admitted. “I wish I could erase them all. None of them truly mattered and none of them compared. I love you, Autumn.”
She choked on the piece of fish in her mouth before swallowing. Her eyes grew wide as she rose to her feet and tossed the bones into the fire, causing the flames to spray.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you expect me to say,” she hugged herself. “You’re laying this on me after a horrible day where I broke your arm and our abilities vanished into thin air. I’m so confused.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I just want you to know the truth about my feelings for you. I can’t help the way I feel, and I want to know that I at least tried.”
She crossed her arms, racing toward the door. He grabbed her hand and slid his fingers through hers, but she pulled away.
“I’m sorry, I need to be alone. I can’t handle this tonight.”
Autumn walked into the darkness, her go-go boots sliding against the elements. She hugged herself, running her arms along the length of her body for warmth. Stars sparkled in the sky and the triple moons cast long liquid shadows over the snow. The storm had let up a bit, but knowing its track record, it wouldn’t be for long.
She couldn’t believe Armienti’s admission, although she’d always suspected he had feelings for her, even when they were back on Earth.
The silver-spired snow globe he’d handcrafted for her birthday said it all. His longing glances and the way he always went out of his way so they could cross paths was so not a coincidence. And he’d saved her life more than once.
But what did he expect from her?
She loved Dante, although the chances she’d see him again grew slimmer by the day. Maybe she was fooling herself into thinking he’d be able to find them. Maybe it was a fantasy that they would end up together again. Maybe she was just being plain stupid. Or maybe she was lonely.
Yes, the kiss was nice, but she refused to entertain the possibility of there being another one. Her heart ached for her husband.
The sky began to pelt snow and ice. Walk officially over, she shivered . She headed back to the cave to find Armienti lounging by the fire, cradling his broken wrist in the makeshift sling she’d created for him. He glanced at her with his brilliant sapphire eyes.
“You know, if it was up to me, I would’ve let you finish school, if that’s what you wanted. You could have followed your dreams.”
“Some dreams aren’t meant to come true,” goosebumps prickled along her arms. She was so tired of being cold and miserable all the time. The weather on this planet was unbearable.
“I would’ve made sure yours did,” he came to a stand and drew closer to her. His boots slipped over the rocks. “I had so many plans for us. We’d travel and see foreign worlds, we’d eat exotic foods, and you wouldn’t have to deal with being a royal if you didn’t want to. It would’ve been your choice. Your life would’ve belonged to you. The reason I trusted Valdez is because I knew it would get me closer to you. I was willing to take that chance, no matter how impossible it seemed.”
Armienti continued. “I didn’t want to see the same thing that happened to Maeve happen to you. I knew eventually it would. Eventually our lifestyle would put your life in danger and swallow you alive.”
A chill skidded down her spine. Her frozen lips moved. “What do you mean?”
He shook his head. “Why am I not surprised Dante omitted the finer details of what occurred?”