Page 93 of Heart of the Cursed
Amberly and Natalia looked up at their mates. Arun could see they wanted to wait a day or two, but didn’t want to ask her.
“How about we wait until the morning,” he offered. “That will give everyone time to make preparations and say their goodbyes.”
Selene looked up at him and smiled. “That sounds good to me.”
He returned her smile. “Good.”
“So,” Dain said, dragging out the word. “Are we heading back to the bunker?”
“I think it would be best,” Arun said. “We can get a good night’s sleep without risking being attacked.”
“I was thinking the same,” Taredd said.
“Back to the bunker, it is then,” Dain said, clapping his hands together. “We’ll meet you back there.”
Without another word, Dain and Amberly shifted into wolves before racing off into the woods.
Taredd shook his head as he looked to where they had disappeared. “Show off!” he shouted before turning back to Arun. “We’ll meet you there, as well.”
Arun nodded, grateful that his friends were giving him some alone time with Selene so they could talk before returning to the bunker.
“See you soon,” Natalia said with a smile. She waved as she headed out of the cave with Taredd.
Thankfully, neither Taredd nor Dain brought up the risk from his family. He’d told Selene they wouldn’t be a problem, and that would be true once she performed the spell. But until then? They could cause a lot of problems.
“Thank you for coming for me,” Selene said. “I’m sorry I left without saying anything. I didn’t do it to hurt you.”
“I know you didn’t,” he told her. “I just wish you had said something to me.”
Unable to resist any longer, he pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. She instantly relaxed against him. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she held on just as tightly to him.
“I thought I’d lost you,” he said.
“I’m scared,” she whispered. “I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“I know, I’m scared too,” he confessed.
The thought of losing her was unbearable. It nearly broke him when she had run off and he thought she was dead. It was going to be a thousand times worse once the spell was done.
Not knowing what happens to her, and unable to return to the realm to find out, it was going to be the worst type of torture. It already felt like his heart was being ripped out of his chest, and he hadn’t even left her yet.
They stood in silence for a long time, just holding each other. Neither of them cared about the dead Ogres lying all around them. They didn’t even care when the sun began to set.
Finally, Arun sighed. “We should get back before everyone worries about us.”
“I know,” Selene said, but she didn’t let go of him, and he didn’t let go of her.
“We don’t have to see anyone when we return,” he told her. “In fact, I would be surprised if we see any of them before morning. I’m sure they are well and truly occupied as we speak.”
Selene giggled as she looked up at him. “I doubt we’ll see them, as well.”
Arun smiled. He loved the sound of Selene’s giggle and seeing the sparkle in her eyes every time she was amused. He had barely seen or heard either since meeting her, but then, she hadn’t really had much to smile about. Other than tormenting him, that is. She found great amusement in tormenting him. If he was honest, he enjoyed it as much as she did.
“Come on then,” he said. “Let’s head back. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
Selene’s stomach rumbled loudly at the mention of food.
“Sounds like you are, as well,” he laughed.
“Yeah, just a little,” she grinned.
“Come on then,” he said, grabbing her hand and leading her out of the cave. “I’ll cook you some dinner when we get back, if you can behave yourself.”
“What? Me, naughty?” she said, grinning. “Never.”
The one thing she certainly wasn’t, was boring. But naughty? Yeah, he would say she was naughty, but he liked her more because of it.
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