Page 200 of The Spider Queen
Scorching heat radiated through my arms and legs. It might’ve been desire, or the sun baking me from the inside out.
I was suddenly weeping, and I had no idea why. Our desire cooled, and Thane took me into his arms and held me as I cried against him.
“I told you,” he muttered. “This place. It chews you up and spits you out.”
“We have to get out of here.” I lifted my sunglasses to wipe the tears from my face. “I miss bathing. I miss bedding.”
“And me? Do you miss me?”
I looked up at him. Thane’s hands cradled my cheeks, and he pressed his lips softly to mine.
“I miss you the most,” I admitted.
With a shaky sigh, I peered at our surroundings. Sand dunes. Everywhere.
Air teased the back of my hair.
I frowned. “Did you feel that?”
“Feel what?”
“Wind. Well, not wind. More like a warm breeze.”
“You felt a warm breeze?”
I nodded. “I thought the air was stagnant here.”
He inhaled slowly.
“Thane? What is it you’re not telling me?”
“A breeze means a rainstorm is coming.”
I smiled. “Hallelujah! Rain? I might dance naked in it and call it a shower.” When it was obvious Thane didn’t share my enthusiasm, my smile slipped.
“This is not a summer rain to cool down the heat. This is—” He glanced up and then so did I.
Black clouds that looked like coal smoke billowed through the blue sky, blotting out the sun. It was like night had fallen in the span of a few seconds.
Pat, pat, pat!
Like the black clouds, the rain came out of nowhere. Thick, fat drops hit the sand. Taupe dirt turned to—
The din of the rainstorm thundered in my ears. Luckily, my hat and body suit kept me well protected.
“Why is the ground red?” I yelled.
“It’s not water!” Thane shouted back. “It’s blood!”
Chapter 32
Revulsion coiled through me. “Blood? Blood from what?”
“Do you really want to know?”
“No.”
A drop of blood hit the back of my hand and then dribbled down my wrist, into my body suit.
