Page 66 of Of Blooming Embers
Her smell.
Her skin against my tongue and mouth and hands.
I’d never be sated. But I would spend the entirety of my days trying to quell my hunger.
Her eyelids fluttered as she shifted within my embrace, and then she nuzzled into my chest. Her belly rumbled, pulling a chuckle from me.
“I need to feed you,” I muttered against her hair.
“I’d rather stay here.” She smirked, running her fingers absently over my biceps and then sinking into my messy hair at my nape.
Groaning, I reluctantly unraveled from her embrace and covered her with a blanket.
“If you’re going to leave me, might as well make me my preventive tea.” She yawned, stretching her lithe body under the covers. Nodding, I did as she asked, bringing it to her in bed, and studied her as she sipped it.
She watched me over the rim of the cup, a mischievous smile reaching the corners of her eyes. “What are you thinking?”
A slow curl tugged at the corner of my mouth. “I’m thinking that I can’t believe my good fortune.” I stalked closer to her as she finished her tea. “And that you’re in dire need of a bath.”
Her laughter pealed through the room as I scooped her up and carried her to the tub. The water was lukewarm as I lowered her and climbed in behind her.
Leisurely, I washed and untangled her hair, and she sighed contentedly, her back pressing into my chest as I massaged her scalp.
“What do you think we’ll find on the other side of the portal?” I murmured, enjoying the sensation of her against me.
She exhaled, goosebumps rippling over her chest in the wake of her breath. “I’m not sure, but I don’t expect it to be pleasant. As long as Kaden is there. As long as it leads to my mother …” She let her words drift off.
“We’ll find them. And then, together, we’ll find a way into Surrelia. Destroy the amber.”
Her chest rose and fell evenly but deeply. She was likely doing her measured breathing, soothing herself. I shifted her hair over one shoulder and moved my fingers to her neck, massaging the tension out of it.
I breathed in time with her, our chests moving as one. My blood ran warm, flushing my skin. Most days, I couldn’t fathom my luck. That this beautiful creature was giving me another chance.
She was so resilient.
So brilliantly stubborn.
And hopeful. So hopeful that it spread into those around her. Into me.
Even when her worries overwhelmed her, Seryn kept going. Kept using what she’d learned to temper them. And that’s what mattered. It meant she was believing in herselfandher gifts, even if her confidence wavered.
She wouldn’t give up, and that was the thing that I admired most about her. Throughout our lives, she pushed away the shadowed embrace of defeat. The flames within her had always burned too bright to be extinguished.
Even when I’d pushed her away.
Even when my darkness tried to clamp onto her.
Thoughts from two summers ago spilled into my mind, sloshing at the edges. She’d given me her trust then, and I’d devoured it like the empty, starving man I was.
Am.
In those days, we would hold each other and share our fears, dreams, and hopes for Midst Fall. We talked about the injustices and cruelties of the world we lived in, but we also reveled in its beauty and the cherished moments spent with those we loved.
And then, when I’d broken us apart, even though it was for her protection, the rending of our hearts hurt just the same.
Yet she held her head high. Walked away from me as she should have, leaving me to my shame and bitter lies.
I had been a fool then. Not for choosing to protect her; I would make that choice time and again. No, I was a fool for convincing myself I could resist the pull she had on me. For far too long, I pretended she wasn’t my Ancient of Stars, lighting my path while I clung to the shadows.
