45. Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter forty-five
Ieasily locate the west-facing access point in another huge tree, and we double-up again.
The silent stand-off with Zenn lasts an hour before he's ready to break it, throwing up a shield first. "Nice move back there, using my sister against me," he says wryly, with no trace of the anger I expected.
"I don't know if I should be furious or impressed. "
"Definitely the latter." I toss back with a grin. "Especially considering I did let you off the hook this morning."
He huffs, eyes dancing, like he's trying to stay annoyed and failing. "We both know that was only because of this little plot you two cooked up. Well that, and you were in pain. It's ok, though. I'm sure I'll get over it eventually."
I lean forward and prop my chin on my hand. "Well, I'm not sorry, so you're not getting an apology. Maybe a cuddle will make you feel better?"
Zenn laughs at my exaggerated pout, dropping his head until his face is inches from mine, breath hot against my mouth when he whispers, "I don't know.
I think it might take more than that." The promise in his words has me biting my lip, wishing we were somewhere a lot more private.
He tracks the motion, and for a second, I think he's going to kiss me, until he repeats the maneuver from earlier, and I wind up in his arms again.
His legs stretching out on either side of me, we pass the hours talking about nothing important or in stretches of easy silence, leaving me time to ponder the magic I now have to accept exists within me and what it's going to mean when I eventually get back to Raviaz.
It simultaneously feels like forever and no time at all when we slow down and level out.
The platform in front of us grinds to a halt, and Hendrix shouts. "We're here. No more fucking mountains."
"Ready to get back in the saddle?" Zenn asks, helping me into the straps of my pack and rolling up the bedroll.
A groan is all I can manage, remembering I'm travelling with three seasoned rangers who are probably fine to ride through the night, only sleeping for an hour or two here and there, likely out in the open on the hard ground.
The thought of seeing Aven lifts my spirits, though.
Being away from him has been like missing a piece of myself.
I don't know how the others coped when they've been attuned for much longer and spent a lot more time with their Amps.
The late afternoon light has me squinted as a familiar shape slowly comes in view, approaching from the left.
Because of course he led them right to the spot we exited from.
Grinning, I throw my arms around his strong neck. "I missed you." Maybe not quite as dignified as my travel companions, but they're all looking pretty happy to be reunited with their horses too.
"No need for hysterics," he replies. I'm not fooled—there's happiness and relief hiding under his snark.
"Be nice, or I won't give you this." I hold out three cubes of sugar on my palm and let him delicately lip them up one at a time, crunching loudly.
Zenn is already loading our packs when I look up. He pretends not to see me offering his black mare a few cubes of the sugar next. I don't miss the smile and shake of his head when I whisper, "Thank you for keeping my secret," and she nuzzles me with her velvety nose.
Determined to make the most of the daylight, we only take a few minutes to stretch, change into riding boots, and make use of the forest's privacy before it's time to mount up and head toward Orz.
Running my hand over the smooth, black leather of the saddle, I grip the pommel and swing myself up with ease, immediately feeling at home on Aven's back.
"Did you manage not to kick whichever unlucky stable hand at the inn put this on you?" I ask, impressed whoever it was had remembered my instructions to double check the girth.
"Let's just say it was a near miss," he replies with a snort, following Witt onto a rocky dirt path ringing a huge field of hay. The change of scenery is refreshing after endless trees and snow. Then, there’s no time to admire the scenery or chat to Aven as we ride hard and fast to make it as far as we can before nightfall.
Hours later, and I’m dreading how stiff and sore I'm going to be in the morning. It’s a relief when the Median road comes into view in the distance, and Zenn relents, leading us to a field of lush grass to make camp.
Jeska and I even leave the others to go wash in the creek close by.
Freezing as it is, I've learned to take every opportunity I can to get clean.
The first stars appear as we walk down the small hill to find the fire crackling, two tents set up, and Hendrix giving Zenn a world of grief.
"Oh come on, we're not stupid, it's pretty fucking obvious you want her sleeping in there with you.
Emphasis on the fucking and not the sleeping.
" He howls with laughter, and my face heats.
They're discussing tents. Now it's just the four of us, I hadn't really thought about who would be where.
"Just throw a sound shield up, we don't need to be hearing the freaky shit you two get up to.
Problem solved." He teases, digging around in one of the packs, likely for whatever food we've got left.
Zenn groans, adding Witt's saddle to the stack with the other three and giving his friend the middle finger. "Aly should be in with Jes. I'm responsible for her and don't want her feeling pressured. I'll crash with you."
"You know she's a grown-ass adult capable of making her own decisions, right?" Hendrix taunts.
"And you know we've talked about this, more than once. She and I can never be anything. I don't want her getting hurt."
"Yeah, yeah. Protest all you like, brother. You're different around her. That's all I'm saying."
"And if being with her didn't put my magic at risk, I'd happily tell the King where to shove that bloodline law."
He's not saying anything new, we don't need to keep talking about it to know this flirtation is reckless and can't last. Why would we stop now, though? We can leave it all behind when we go home, maybe even be friends. My heart’s not on the line here.
I add another layer of ice to the walls around it, just to be safe.
Sensing Jeska's pointed stare, I step into the circle of firelight, flicking my braid over my shoulder.
"Hendrix seems to get that I'm more than capable of consenting to all kinds of things.
" I hold Zenn's stare, being crystal-fucking-clear about my meaning.
"Maybe I'll share a tent with him, and you and Jeska can have a competition for who’s the most noble.
" He has the sense to look embarrassed at how much I likely overheard, until I add, "Or you can also be a grown-ass adult and put that sound shield to good use, your choice. "
Raising a brow, Zenn’s expression shifts to heated amusement. "Go put your things in our tent, Aly."
The air between us charges with anticipatory promise.
If the others weren't standing right there, I doubt we'd make it inside.
Dinner is meagre and rushed; dried meat and slightly stale bread is not what I'm hungry for, especially when Zenn casually mentions he's going to the creek to bathe.
The man knows exactly what he's doing when he strides past a few minutes later, shirtless, muscled arms and rigid abdominals glistening in the flickering light.
Damn, my mouth actually waters at the gleaming ink and those glorious dips disappearing into his pants. Ok, two can play that game. Ignoring the snicker from Hendrix and the scoff from Jeska at my rush to clean up, I leave them arguing over first watch and hurry to my new sleeping quarters.
Quickly stripping off my clothes until I'm only in lacy underwear, I grab one of Zenn’s soft white shirts from the top of his pack and slip it over my head. We made up the bed earlier, so I'm half hidden under the covers, and my eyes are closed by the time he steps through the heavy canvas flap.
His throaty chuckle sends heat dancing up my spine. "Aly?"
"Hmmm?" I answer, making myself sound sleepy.
"Are you wearing–" His sentence cuts off when he flicks back the blanket, exposing how little I have on. His voice turns low and gravelly. "Is that my shirt?"
"Mmhmm."
"And are you wearing anything underneath my shirt?"
"Why don't you come down here and find out?" I hum, stretching my arms above my head to reveal even more of my curves while I revel in all that rippling muscle and delectable skin on display as he strips out of his pants.
His breath hitches. "Fuuuuck." Dropping to his knees, his eyes trail over every inch of me he can see.
"So you do want me in your tent then?" The question was supposed to be light and teasing, but it comes out a little too quiet and shaky.
Zenn reaches for my hand, brings it to his lips, and kisses the pad of each finger, whispering, "I want you, Aly. More than I should, more than I've ever wanted anything."
It's all I needed to hear, and suddenly, I'm ravenous. "In that case, I believe there was mention of a sound shield?" I say. In the next second, that bubble goes up around us, and he's over me, hair still wet from the icy creek, curling around his beautiful face.
"Fuck. Seeing you in my shirt really does things to me," he groans, lowering his head to trace the curves of my breasts through the fabric with his mouth. I can't resist twirling my fingers in that burnished gold streak at his temple I love so much.
"Oh yeah? What kind of things?" I gasp at the feel of his hard length pressing into me in response and the sensation of shocking cold against my heated skin when he pushes the shirt higher to kiss along the waistband of my underwear.
Warmth flares from my chest to my fingertips coiled in silken soft hair I use to tug his face to mine.
He takes the hint, pushing up to claim my lips with his in a kiss that sends my desire spiraling.