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Just the sight of his stars made her want to lash out at him, even now, when she knew who he was. Hatred… could that be tattooed too? She remembered his hot mouth on hers, how he had sucked her neck, gave her hickeys like a necklace. He had branded me too. But his brand had faded away.
Or had it?
She should be leading the way, not falling behind him so she could view his physique. Despite herself, her hand reached out toward him, wanting to touch his stars—to claw them from him or to just caress his back, she didn’t know.
Her hand lowered, though, before she could do either. “Just a few more miles,” she said. They had been walking for the rest of the day, and the sun was beginning to set.
“It would probably be better to approach them during the day,” he reasoned, halting.
Misti stopped beside him. “True.”
He glanced around and realized they were crossing a wide plain. Only a few trees grew here and there. There wasn’t much at all for a good resting spot.
To the left, he gestured toward the closest tree. “It’s not the best spot…”
“It’ll do.”
Thankfully, the tree proved to be a willow. She needed more medicine to try and get rid of her aches and pains if she was going to get any sleep tonight. Anders insisted on taking the first watch. “We’re too close to not have one.”
“Are you—” She couldn’t even finish her question without yawning.
“Yes.” His laugh was a low rumble that warmed her insides. How could just a laugh turn her on? “You rest. I’ll protect you, don’t worry?”
“Who’s going to protect me from you?” she murmured as she laid onto the warm ground.
“Oh, from me, love, you don’t want protection.” He winked at her.
Her heart raced to hear that word from his lips. Love. He hadn’t meant it, it was only a term of endearment, but still…
Love was a fool’s game. They were playing at war and fighting each day to stay alive. They didn’t have time to try and put their differences aside, to try and see if they couldn’t actually make things work between them. It’s foolhardy to even think we can.
But she dreamed of him, of them claiming each other, and when his hand touched her shoulder and his soft voice broke her from the haze of her dream to bring her back to reality, she almost wished it hadn’t been a dream.
Almost.
She climbed up the tree to have a better viewpoint in every direction, but more times than she cared to admit, her gaze fell upon his sleeping form. He rested so peacefully. His wounds did not seem infected, and they were healing already, although slowly. He’s strong and capable. Good. She needed a worthy ally. Although one who would pay her heed during battle would be even better…
When the sky changed from dark to gray and then to oranges and yellows and reds, she descended from the tree and touched Anders’s face. His eyes remained closed, but his hand captured hers and brought it to his mouth. His lips pressed against her palm for a sweet kiss. But then his tongue flickered out, licking her, and she let out a moan despite herself.
His eyes opened, and his lips curled into a lazy smile. “You are a wonderful sight to wake up to in the morning.”
She yanked her hand free and stood. “Come on. Let’s have a quick breakfast and get going. I’d like to be there in an hour.”
Considering it took them almost an hour to hunt down any food near their present location, two hours had passed before they reached the gates of the Wild Community iron gates.
“Who goes there?” asked a gruff man, dressed almost in military garb and obviously a guard. He stood on the other side of the gate and made no move to open it for them.
“I am Misti, and this is Anders. We would like a word with Grover Salisbury, if that is all right.”
“Grover Salisbury died years ago.” The guard appraised them both for a long moment. “Wait here.”
“Well, he seems like a decent enough fellow,” Anders whispered sourly.
“He has every right to be suspicious given who we are,” she retorted back, her voice low.
An hour passed before the guard returned. With twenty more guards beside him, all carrying weapons.
Misti gulped. Already things didn’t look good for them…
