AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Does that mean you find me handsome?”
Even in the shadows, he could make out the sudden darkening of her cheeks. It only made him smile wider as he leaned in closer to hear her answer. She might refuse to find him charming or shrug out of his attempts at flirting but she’d not be able to outrun this.
“Yes, though I think you know that.” Her breath smelled as sweet as the wine. “Now you’re just being cruel.”
“If it’s any consolation, I’ve found you quite enthralling since the first time I saw you.”
Her head tilted back, those long braids practically reaching the seat, and let out a laugh. The sound sent his heart thundering and he drew closer still as if he’d be able to soak her laugh in. But she stopped almost as abruptly as she started and her features quickly fell.
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am under the same spell as you. Truth serum and all.” Speaking all these little thoughts he’d kept to himself was a never-ending relief. The more he spoke the less the weight pinned him down. He was practically floating at this point.
“Oh.” She blinked several times.
“You’re surprised?”
“Shouldn’t you be afraid of me? Not attracted?”
Remis hummed his laugh. “Maybe there is something fundamentally wrong with me. Maybe I like being chased by beautiful women clad in leather and curves I could sink my teeth into.”
Remis didn’t just find himself thinking how intense it was to be hunted by a woman such as her; he also thought he might like to do a little chasing himself. The chair legs scraped against the floor as he dragged himself closer still. He could almost feel the heat that came from the perfect little juncture between her legs.
“Meira…” he whispered and swore she shuddered. His mouth so near her lips brushed against her cheek.
She stood. Her chair toppled and cracked loudly against the floor. Remis tipped his head to follow her. “I’m going to find those rooms she spoke of.”
“I’ll walk you.”
Both gloved hands were held in front of her. “No. Stay. Eat.”
She wasn’t getting away that easy. Remis sighed and stood from the seat, taking his time pushing his chair in before motioning for her to lead the way. Silence stretched for a few brief minutes as she took to the stairs.
“I never thought you might be the type to run.” He slid his hands into his pockets as he stepped out onto the second floor. Meira’s hands were already trying the first door. The knob jingled as she tried to twist it open but it remained locked and she groaned.
“I’m not running, I just don’t want to talk about me anymore,” she hissed through clenched teeth, hardly giving him another glance before she was pulling at another locked door.
Brick by brick the witch put up her metaphorical defenses. Closed herself off to the heat that sparked in the space between them. This was his chance to understand, to get close to her, to save himself from whatever this curse had brought down upon them. Despite what she’d confessed to remembering, it meant little if they remained strangers. Even as terrified of his fate as he was, he found himself curious as to what a romance with this witch might be. Did she love as fiercely as she fought?
“Do you not like that you remember us together in…in another future…is that right?” Remis asked, hating that she was pulling away as he wished to be near.
Hand on yet another locked knob, Meira let her head rest against the door. He framed her body in, his hands gripping the door frame as she turned around and looked him dead in the eye.
“It’s confusing to love a stranger.”
Love?
Blood drained from his body and went straight to the growing length in his trousers.
25
Meira
She was falling. No, Meira realized, still able to feel the ghost of hands that had been against her flesh moments ago. She was pushed. Rock scraped against her knees and palms as she caught herself against the cliff’s edge. A scream, angry and scared all at once tore from her as she grappled against the rocks that threatened to give way and send her tumbling down to her death.
Meira righted herself in time to turn and watch as Mrithun’s crimson gaze closed and her wings went limp at her side. On the dragon’s back, Remis clung to the harness, his shoulders bloody, and face bruised. He smiled at her. Smiled. Before both he and the Bold Wing were careening down toward the rocky shore.
Death was waiting to greet them, it was the awful knowing in her bones that had Meira ripping at what little grasses grew under her. She screamed and screamed, her throat going raw as she sat frozen in fear, confusion, and more sorrow than her body had ever known before. Her life had always been a series of hardships after hardships she had to face, but this…this was more than she could handle. More than she could live through. Her heart was shattering, splintering, and tearing through her chest.
