Page 120 of Synodic

I stopped on the trail, noticing I was walking along the village outskirts.

Turning back the way I came, I smiled wider, thinking about sneaking into the tousled sheets and snuggling up to Rowen while he still slept, waking him with him fisted in my hand. I wanted to be the first thing his green eyes took in as I lured him awake with the pumping of my fist. Breakfast would have to wait.

Picturing his serene face morphing as he slowly realized what I was doing, I turned and took one step back towards him, eager to make my daydreaming a reality. A twig snapped to my right, ripping me from my blissful musings. I gasped aloud and whipped my head to the source of the sound.

A beautifully bronzed body slowly emerged from the forest foliage, pushing aside a thick wall of branches before stepping onto the path in front of me. As the dark, hooded brow slowly lifted, early morning light hit and illuminated the hidden face.

“Demil,” I laughed nervously in relief, “you startled me.”

I clutched my wildly beating heart, willing it to slow from its panicked state. Man, was I jumpy. But in my defense, why was he lurking just off the trail behind the trees? Had he been watching me long or had he just happened to stumble upon me basking in bliss?

“Keira,” he said, his light yellow eyes scanning my body, no doubt taking in my flushed face, wild hair, and deeply swollen lips.

I pulled the robe closer around my body, unable to place the look I saw churning in his gaze.

Uncomfortable with his intensity, I shifted slightly, trying to smooth my wayward hair; it was definitely a little more than your typical bedhead.

“Where is the lucky man?” he asked casually, looking about me and scanning the area. Seeming satisfied that I was alone, he took a step toward me. “I see you’ve had a busy night.”

“Not that I need to dignify that with an answer,” I retorted, insulted by his brazen comment, “but yes, very busy. Busy recuperating from nearly being buried alive.”

“Don’t be angry with me. Can you blame me for being envious of the one who snatched the heart of the Alcreon Light?” he said as his stare swept over my eyes; what made me The Marked.

He took another step closer, crowding my space and raising my irritation to getting-punched-in-the-face levels. “I was hoping it would have been my bed you warmed last night. Have you not seen how I’ve cared for you?”

My jaw dropped at his forwardness. I knew he sensed some sort of kinship towards me, maybe even felt a bit protective, butthis? This was too far.

“I need to get back.” I tried to step around him, circumnavigate his large column of a body, but he took a solid step to the side, blocking my path.

“Let me by,” I demanded.

When he didn’t move, I wound my fist back to meet his face.

“Ven needs you,” he blurted, his eyes pulsing as he took in my clenched fist.

I dropped my hand in shock. “Is he alright?” I asked, concern overriding all other emotions.

“He’s fine, but he’s asking for you specifically.”

A moment ago he seemed quite intent on aggravating me, but now his unreadable look turned cold and serious.

“Why was that not the first thing you said to me?” I asked, making my frustration apparent. “Instead of wasting my time sizing me up and harassing me.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Curiosity got the best of me. You’re right, though, it seems the time to bring up such things has passed.” He ran his hand down the back of his head tensely, causing the lean muscles in his arm and obliques to bunch and contract.

Had I made him uncomfortable?

Good. Let him get a taste of his own medicine.

Ready to be far from Demil and his strange energy, I asked, “Where is he?”

“I’ll take you to him.”

“Fine, but let’s get Rowen on the wa—”

I was cut short by a distant yell that echoed from deep within the trees, rustling the birds around us. It was a voice not quite to full maturity, someone young, and it shook me down to my gut.

“Ven!”

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