Page 8 of Flameborne: Fury
She sounded so fierce, I was touched. But as I walked out of the water to get the soap from the satchel, then returned to the water to wash properly, I couldn’t stop arguing with her in the quiet of my heart.
The truth was, Akhane valued different things than humans did. So, she didn’t understand how preposterous this was. We were too different. Her regard warmed me, and did soothe some of the ache of disappointment and embarrassment. But by the time I’d cleaned and rinsed and the forest around us had growndark, it was clear to me. No matter how kind Akhane was, or how fiercely she believed in me, it changed nothing.
She wanted to talk more, but each time she tried to convince me that all wasn’t lost, I’d see that memory of his horror, and shake my head.‘The truth is, I can’t afford to be caught up now anyway,’I sent desperately.‘I need to focus on my training, and growing stronger. I’m now Flameborne, Second Rank.’I tried to recapture the elation and excitement I’d felt this morning when my rank was formally announced, before we went to the tavern.‘There’s only one Trial left, Akhane! I need to focus on that—on becoming a Furyknight. The rest I can’t control. But I can control that.’
Akhane sighed, but I felt her resistance ease.‘That is a wise way to see it, Bren,’she said, though her tone was weary.‘You’re right. We’ll focus on the coming trial. Maybe after, then there will be time for other things.’
I grimaced into the dark and prayed I wouldn’t be haunted by this. Then turned my mind to the final trial.
It was all I could do.
~ DONAVYN ~
I stood in the trees, hesitant, peering between the trunks and branches.
The moonlight gleamed on the mists that rose from the rippling water of the mineral pool. The low light under the canopy of the forest draped everything in black, while the moon gilded everything it touched in silver. I heard Akhane’s huff, and the trickle of water as something much smaller moved in the pools.
Cautiously, I stepped closer, bending around a wide tree until the clearing was revealed and I froze in place.
Bren, skin gleaming wet and her hair dark with water and slicked against her back, stood in water up to her thighs. She took one more step before she leaned down and pushed off the pool bed, arms wide in a stroke to swim forward as her body slipped under the water.
Small, silver-tipped waves rippled and danced away from her, tiny crests crashing against her shoulders and over her hair as she swam across the pool, then turned to float on her back and stroked with only her arms to bring her back towards the bank.
Every muscle in my body tightened at the sight of her naked, wet, and floating through the water like a nymph.
Thrill danced with guilt and twisted my guts. I’d only come out here to make certain she was safe. That she hadn’t been driven to desperation again. But now I swayed towards the incredible sight of her pale skin, wet and shining under the tendrils of steam rising off the pool.
Then she reached the shallows again and stood and desire bolted from the thickness of my throat, to my groin.
Her breasts, pert and full with the heat, bounced slightly as she rose to her feet. I followed a sluice of water from her hair, down over the rosy skin of her nipple, then to her belly and that crown of hair—
Mentally cursing, I jerked my eyes from her, gritted my teeth and reminded myself of all the reasons I should leave. First and foremost among them,I’d been the one to tell her this could not happen.To stand here, gaping, when she didn’t know she wasn’t alone made me worse than the man in the tavern who’d frightened her.
I need to leave.
She was safe. Akhane was here, watching over her.
But then she sighed. Dragging my gaze back to her face, I was done.
She lookedso sad.And even though I knew I had no right to it, I wascertainshe pined for me. The warmth that bloomed in my chest at the thought, the surety of her desire, set fires under my feet.
I stumbled forward, mumbling her name, apologizing, stammering as she caught sight of me and scrambled to her feet—then realized she was naked and covered herself.
She stood in water up to her waist, eyes round with horror, gaping at me.
Akhane rumbled, but didn’t move from her spot on the bank. I kept my eyes on Bren’s face, palms facing her in surrender.
“I’m sorry,” I rasped. “I only wanted to be sure you were safe. But,god, Bren.”
Her eyes widened further. “Are you… is this a dream?” she breathed, looking around as if something might materialize from the woods.
I shook my head. “You don’t have to cover yourself with me,” I croaked, tearing at my own buttons, yanking the sides of my shirt open, tearing it off and throwing it behind me before I started on my belt buckle, and then my leathers.
I didn’t let my eyes drift from hers, but pleaded with her in my mind not to be afraid as I revealed myself, made myself naked so she wasn’t alone.
“Please,” I breathed as I crossed the grassy bank, then my toes curled into the mud of the pools. “I’ll show you everything, Bren. I’ll give youeverything.”
Her head eased back in alarm, but she didn’t move as I started towards her, the water pulling at my feet, then dragging against my thighs. It washed away from my passage, the silver-wave breaking against her belly and rocking her.
