Page 39 of Whispers of Ruin
With a sigh, she studied the hut. The space was barely big enough for the two of them to lie down, but it was the most shelter she’d experienced in days, or maybe a week or more, as she had no idea what day it was.
She cast a silencing spell over the structure with deft fingers as Brokk set the lantern Ryker had given them down near the back of the hut. The flames cast shadows over the dirt floor.
Kaylia finished her spell and lowered her hands. “Do you trust him?”
“Is it safe to talk?”
“Yes.”
“No, but I don’t distrust him either, if that makes sense.”
“It does, but only because that’s how I feel too. I don’t think they intend to hurt us.”
“I don’t either, but they’ll do whatever’s necessary to get their king back, and that makes them untrustworthy.”
“We’ll do whatever it takes to save Lexi.”
“And that’s what makes us untrustworthy to them.”
Kaylia set the pack Ryker had returned to her on the ground. Rolled-up blankets were placed against the wall inside the curtain. Whoever’s place this was before them was probably not happy to have been routed from their home.
Too bad for them.It was small, but she was grateful for a safe, sheltered place to sleep for the night.
Ryker had said it would take at least a couple of days to arrive at the place where the vine grew, but Kaylia’s fingers itched to have it in hand.
They were so close to getting what they required to save Lexi; they just had to make it there. And once they did, they could return to Dragonia, and she could create the potion to counteract the noxus’ sting.
Kaylia was so focused on everything she would have to do to create the potion to save Lexi that she didn’t realize Brokk had taken off his green fae tunic until it landed on the ground with a barely audible swish.
When she realized he stood in this small space withherwithout a shirt on, Kaylia kept her eyes on the piece of dirty clothing as she willed herself not to look at him. It was nearly impossible as the magnetic pull of him felt stronger inside these small confines.
“I’m going to the stream,” he stated. “I have to get some of this grime off me. Do you want to come?”
Kaylia couldn’t speak as he lifted his sword and swung it onto his back. They might not be able to trust Ryker and his men completely, but he’d given them back all their possessions and weapons.
Unable to resist looking at him anymore, Kaylia’s eyes darted from the shirt to him. She kept her attention on his face and its intriguing angles as he strode toward her.
I will not look at his chest. I will not touch him.
Her fingers dug into her palms as she restrained herself. Ryker had shown them the stream running along the outskirts of their camp and told them it was safe to wash there as it was within the confines of the witches’ protective barrier.
He could go alone; she didn’t have to go with him, but she didn’t like the idea of him being alone. Plus, she would give anything to scrub herself clean. She’d never been this dirty; a bath and clean clothes sounded better than heaven.
Despite that, she couldn’t get her feet to move after him. He was going to the stream to bathe, which meant he’d be naked and wet and oh-so-tempting.
Her fingers dug further into her palms as she tried not to lick her lips at the tantalizing images racing through her mind. She tried to breathe through her body’s traitorous desire, but it was impossible when her lungs refused to cooperate.
“Kaylia?” he inquired.
She looked like an idiot, standing there without saying anything. Managing to swallow, she choked back the lump in her throat before speaking. “Yeah?”
“Are you going to come with me or stay here?”
Her brain had no idea, but apparently her mouth already knew the answer as she said, “Let me gather some of my things.”
This was such a very bad idea.
Then why are you so excited?
