Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 139662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
He scans my face. “Good.” He doesn’t miss a beat before lowering his mouth to mine, hot and hungry and impatient.
Everything inside me thaws and sprouts to life like flowers pushing up through the dirt and meeting the sun after a long winter. In my belly, a thousand tiny butterflies stretch their wings under the warmth of his touch.
Angling his mouth over mine, Finn threads his fingers into my hair and tips my head back. I moan, taking a handful of his shirt in my fist, trying to get closer.
When Finn pulls back, his silver eyes are at half-mast and smoky with lust. “I’ve been waiting this whole trip to do that.”
I bite back a smile. “Ah, so that’s the real reason you came with me.”
He flicks my nose. “Kane’s complained so much about the tension between us, if I didn’t know better, I’d think he got himself sliced open on purpose just so we could be alone tonight.”
He continues up the path, and I stare dumbly at his back for a few beats as his words echo in my head. Alone tonight.
Alone.
“The sun will set soon,” he says without turning back to me. “We should find somewhere warm to sleep.”
“Right,” I murmur, forcing my feet to start moving again. Two minutes ago I would’ve rejoiced over finding a spot to camp and cheered loudly for anything resembling warmth, but now nervous energy dances in my core.
We slept together last night and at Juliana’s. It’s not like this is so different.
Except it is.
We’re alone, and my connection to Sebastian is nonexistent here. It’s completely different.
Finn stops walking and whistles for his wolves. They return to their master and follow when he pushes through some underbrush at the side of the trail. “This way,” he says, nodding for me to follow.
We tromp through the brush for several minutes before reaching the opening of a cave mouth. The wolves head in first, then return to the opening and sit, panting happily as they look up at Finn.
“There we go,” he says, ducking his head to look inside while he scratches both wolves behind the ears. “This will be good.”
“You want to sleep in there?” I cringe. “We don’t know what lives in there.”
He chuckles. “Abriella, child of Mab, killer of the false king, and future queen of the shadow court, scared of a little cave.”
“I’m not scared. I’m . . . cautious.” I roll back my shoulders. “Do you truly think no creature has made this place their home? Just because nothing is in there now doesn’t mean it won’t return later.”
His gaze slides over me. “I promise to keep you safe,” he says softly.
Something shimmies low in my belly. His gaze seems to be promising something else entirely. Something much more exciting than simple protection. “Right after you,” I say.
He laughs again and ducks inside. I follow, thanking the gods for my ability to see in the dark.
Though the opening is low to the ground, the cave is tall enough that I barely have to stoop as I make my way toward the back. I scan for signs that we’re stealing a creature’s home for the night, but find none.
Finn stays crouched as he drops his pack and unfolds his bedroll on the ground. He grabs mine and puts it in the only spot it will fit—right next to his.
“Would it be safe to build a fire?” I ask, shivering.
Finn scans the rocks above us and shakes his head. “Not in here. That much direct heat can cause the limestone to expand, and then the rock can crack and fall.” He nods toward the entrance. “If I build it right out front, the cave should trap some of the heat.”
“The snow will likely snuff it out before morning,” I say, watching the heavy sheets fall.
“I’ll keep you warm,” he says.
My stomach flips, but before I can think of a response, he leaves the cave and begins gathering wood for a fire.
I peel off my soggy clothing and replace it with dry, clean layers. By the time I’m done, I can feel my toes again and there’s a fire crackling just beyond the cave entrance.
Finn stands at the edge of the cave mouth, staring out at the fire and the blowing wind beyond.
“I’m surprised the wood wasn’t too wet,” I say, already feeling the warmth trickle into the cave.
“Lantern oil,” he says. “Next best thing to magic for starting fires.” A little smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.
“What’s that smile about?” I ask, moving to join him. I pause for a beat, wondering what it would be like to wrap my arms around him from behind, to press my cheek to the middle of his back and feel his strength. Instead, I step up beside him and keep my hands to myself.