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“Just a moment,” he said and then took one of the blankets to spread out for us.
“I will never get used to how amazing this is,” I told him, once I was lying in his arms.
“Me neither.”
He traced his fingers through my hair.
“I hope it’s not too hot out here in the open tomorrow.”
“I'm sure it will be,” I mused, “but at least we will have some shade and each other for company.”
He nodded.
“Yes, and let's try to sleep through as much of the day as we can.”
“That, I can promise,” I said. “I am exhausted.”
sixteen
. . .
ADDY
Alil had handled the first night’s walk better than I had expected him to, but he was paying for it today.
“How do you feel now?” I asked him.
He pursed his lips and shook his head.
After a few deep breaths, he finally forced out a word.
“Bad,” he mumbled and then clapped a hand over his mouth as though speaking would make his stomach empty out again.
He had been puking all day while we should have been sleeping. I had buried it all in the sand each time, but it didn't seem like he was getting any better.
I grimaced and stroked back his hair. I felt awful.
“Perhaps we should have stayed back there after all,” I said, sadly.
He shook his head, but still had his hand clamped over his mouth.
After a while, he laid back, covering his eyes with his inner elbow. He looked exhausted and I didn't blame him at all. The sun was scorchingly hot, even with the tarp offering us some shade. Being in such discomfort after spending the entire night walking would be hard on anyone but Alil was pregnant and already unwell. The more we moved, the faster we would be home. I couldn't let him go through this much longer... but I didn't quite know how to make it any better.
If I could just carry him for periods of time… I already knew he would argue with that idea. Maybe it would work if we could fashion a sled from the tarp.
“I'm sorry,” Alil mumbled piteously.
“For what?” I asked.
He paused for a long moment and then laughed quietly.
“I don't even know,” he admitted. “I just feel sorry.”
I bent, frowning and kissed his lips.
“I am the one who should be apologizing, I think that's pretty obvious.”
He started to argue, but I cut him off with another kiss because, even thought I knew it was wrong that we were mated now, I couldn't get enough of those lips on mine.
