Page 37 of A Sea So Cruel
When Asta came-to again, she rested against the cool cave wall. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness and she could now see that the structure wasn’t completely made of rock; the ceiling was made up of a tree trunk, the tree itself growing directly over the opening in the shoreline and creating a cave below.
If they had discovered this from adventuring and not from hiding from things who wanted to kill them, Asta would consider returning here and passing some time reading within the peculiar structure.
Kaid got to his feet from where he had been resting at the opposite side of the cave. He sat down next to her and tucked his legs up, resting an arm on his knees.
He scrubbed his face with his hand. “I vote we stay here, in case they’re waiting us out. You?”
Asta ran through their options, which were few. Stay here and potentially face being attacked in a cave with nowhere to go. Try leaving and potentially be attacked on the beach, still with nowhere to go. At least those creatures didn’t know where they had disappeared to and maybe they could get some rest and heal before their next potential battle.
“Here will have to do,” she whispered.
They talked quietly for a while, the conversation being cathartic after what they had endured. They discussed how the king needs to know that there were vicious, murderous creatures slinking in and out of the castle. Though they hadn’t actually had the chance to confront the creatures and demand answers, Asta knew they were the reason that more villagers had gone missing. She could feel it deep in her gut. But why hadn’t they taken anyone from the castle? Why were they sneaking into it so often?
The royal army would have to figure that out when they captured them.
Chapter 19
Alternate Chapter Available
Asta stretched and let out a yawn. The tourniquet had done its job and stopped the bleeding. Her injuries were not deep, but certainly had made an impact. Figuring the cloth had been tied on for multiple hours now, Asta released the knot and let it fall. The bleeding didn’t seem to start again.
Kaid watched her and did the same with the tie he had made above his thigh wound. In her daze, she hadn’t remembered toask him about his injuries, but he had remembered and treated hers, and guilt bloomed on her cheeks. To her relief, his leg injury seemed to be clotted now as well, no thanks to her.
“I can’t sleep sitting up like this,” Asta said.
Immediately, Kaid took off his fur-lined cloak and laid it on the ground, patting it down.
Asta unbuttoned her cloak and slipped it off. “We can use this as a blanket,” she murmured as she laid down between layers.
“We?” Kaid asked.
Asta huffed a laugh, amazed that she could smile even under such circumstances. “We. I need you down here with me. For warmth purposes.”
It wasn’t a lie. It was autumn now and there was a brisk, salty breeze coming off the sea and making its way into the cave. They would freeze to death before the night was through if they didn’t use each other to stay warm.
Kaid didn’t object and slid between the cloaks, lying close but not touching her. His breath wheezed slightly as he settled.
“Do you have to breathe like that?” Asta huffed. He drove her mad.
“Oh, sorry, Princess. I’ll just stop breathing to please you,” Kaid quipped.
Asta hid her faint smile. “That would please me very much, thank you.”
They rested in silence, Asta trying to not think about how cold she truly was. She couldn’t stop her body from trembling, between the cold air and the last of her adrenaline draining from her.
Kaid’s closeness became very apparent to her, and she remembered that the last time they were in such tight proximity was that night in her bedroom. The night where he kissed her as a part of his torment.
His warmth slid closer to her, forming to the shape of her body. The heat he was letting off instantaneously made her shivering stop. The cold was still nipping at her, but it was much more bearable.
“For warmth purposes,” Kaid mumbled.
Asta tried to push away how right it felt to be up against him like this. How she wished he would wrap his arms around her and pull her in snugly.
A familiar, tight ball formed in her chest.
Kaid’s fingers dove into Asta’s hair, brushing downward to the tips and starting back at the top.
One, two, three…
