Page 54 of Sinful Curses
However, all good things must end, and the cold forced them apart. Some of that feeling waned once she was out of his arms, but if he searched for it, he could find it again, especially if he looked at her.
He didn’t know what to make of this change inside him and didn’t analyze it too much, as standing here on the verge of death, it didn’t matter.
Then she met his eyes, and he realized itdidmatter. He didn’t understand any of this or what she’d done to him, but it mattered.
He jiggled the rocks in his pants. He hadn’t loaded up with them, but he was bringing some just in case; he’d seen the others gather some too.
“Are you ready for this?” he asked her.
“I have no choice but to be ready.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Is turning back really an option?”
“To some.”
“Not to me.”
He smiled as she said what he’d known she would. “Me either.”
When the sun finally set completely and the last geysers emerged, he looked to Sahira. “Be careful.”
When she met his gaze again, he could tell she wanted to make some wiseass response but instead said, “You too.”
Without another word, they all started onto the field. The brownies had chosen to navigate the geysers on their own rather than riding with someone.
With their much smaller size, it was a wise choice. They were much more likely to avoid the geysers than the rest of them, especially the demon.
Thankfully, the flame-throwing death traps were spaced far enough apart that they could navigate them though it was tight in many areas. However, there was a reason the other immortal failed to complete the crossing; Orin suspected it wasn’t because they stumbled or rushed at the end.
The going was slow, with only the radiance of the moon, stars, and two candles to guide them. They had more candles but were running low and had decided against using them for this.
As of now, the candles Elsa and Sahira carried cast enough illumination to help all of them navigate the field. If clouds rolled in, they’d need more candles, but right now, they had a clear night to help guide them.
CHAPTERFORTY-SEVEN
The brownies weavedin and out of the geysers with far more ease than the four of them, but they all made steady progress.
After a couple of hours of walking in silence, the girl brownie started singing in her haunting, clear voice that carried across the land. The one with the flute didn’t join in, probably because it would be almost impossible to play while ensuring he didn’t step on a geyser.
Orin was grateful for this. He could handle the singing, but that flute made him want to gouge out his eardrums.
“What are their names again?” he asked Sahira, nodding toward the brownies.
Even in the dim light, he saw her eyebrows shoot up, and she gave him an incredulous look.
“What?” he inquired with a laugh. “I’m a curious immortal.”
“You’ve only referred to them as rats or rodents since we left their town behind.”
“Well, that’s what they look like.”
“Fuck off, dark fae,” the flute-playing brownie retorted.
“That’s Gior,” Sahira told him.
The brownie didn’t turn around to give Orin the finger while he skirted the edge of two geysers. Wedged so close together, Orin had to move closer to Elsa to avoid stepping on a geyser.
