“More,” Erzur demands, lifting a sticky hand.
I toss her another piece. She needs as much food as she can stand to eat if she's to heal correctly and quickly. While I cut more parts of the carcass to cook, I hear soft footsteps approaching. Verity reaches the campsite, plopping down onto the ground at the outskirts of the fire. Half in the darkness and half in the light, she curls in on herself. My heart beats quickly and I watch her over the fire while the meat cooks.
She looks exhausted, shaken, and disappointed. There’s something in the curve of her shoulders that warns me something isn’t right. I glance up at the cage, but Freia is staring up at the darkness, where glowing butterflies flit over her head. I wonder if she possesses the magic to conjure them, despite the cage. A warm wind whistles through the camp, ruffling my hair. I glace up, eyeing the darkness, but nothing stirs and Freia seems unbothered.
Once the meat is roasted, I carry a piece towards Verity. She stirs when I sit beside her, but she doesn’t lift her cheek from her knees. Her blue eyes are red-rimmed from exhaustion but bright and alert. She doesn’t offer me a smile as I expected, instead looking at me morosely. I run my tongue over my lips, suddenly nervous, and offer her some meat.
“It’s safe to eat,” I say quietly. “And not half bad.”
“What is it?” She sniffs.
“Venison,” I lie.
Verity’s gaze drifts towards the furred beast with long claws lying on the other side of the flames. “That doesn’t look like venison.”
I grimace. “You caught me. It’s some kind of cougar, I think. But it’s good.”
"Thanks." She takes the meat and bites into it hesitantly. Slowly, she takes larger bites. Her brows are furrowed as if she's concentrating on not thinking about where the meat is from.
She licks her fingers, slipping them between her lips to lap up the juices from the meat. I try not to stare or think of the soft folds of her tongue on my body on the day we made love. “You’ll need to keep your strength up,” I rasp.
“I could use some water,” she says, eyeing me.
“I’ll see what I can do.” I hold her gaze, cheeks flushed with a desire that I can hardly hold back.
“What?” She asks wryly.
I shrug but wet my lips with my tongue. “I was just thinking of the day we made love.” I lower my voice, leaning towards her.
Verity’s lips part in surprise and she struggles to hide her pleased smile. “Are you trying to distract me? Or is it so difficult for you to get your mind out of the gutter?”
“I’m not sure what that means.” I lean closer, grinning softly. “But I would say both.”
“What are you thinking about?” She asks, dropping her cheek back onto her knees as if she can hide.
I pause, hesitant to tell her that my mind is on the sound of her heart beating and the scent of her body. It’s new and different. “Mostly the sweet sounds you made.” My body flushes with heat and I don’t bother hiding my arousal. Her eyes widen, roving over me and she swallows loudly. “And the way you tasted.”
“God,” Verity whispers, biting her bottom lip. “You’re insane.”
“Why?” I cock a brow.
She gestures towards the others, eyes darting towards Erzur. “Altair, this is a conversation for a more private place, don’t you think? Not that I don’t want to talk about it, but—you know.” Verity trails off.
“Then let’s go somewhere more private,” I murmur, tilting my chin to the darkness. My eyes rove over her and I feel a flush of happiness.
Verity bites her lip and smiles. "I wish we could." Her smile disappears. "But, Altair, we know we can't be together anymore."
“I’m tired of this,” I growl. I take her hand, hiding our laced fingers discreetly. “Verity, all I want is you. I would risk a war with Erzur if it meant we could be together. I look at you, alone, and it feels like my heart will burst from the pain of it.”
“You would risk your people for me?” She quirks a brow. “You wouldn’t do that. You’re too good of a ruler to do something like that.”
My chest feels heavy at her words and I know what she says is right. It would destroy me to know that I let my people die for my own selfishness. But things have changed now. There's more to consider. I tighten my grip around her hand, allowing her warmth invade me. "Why is this so damn difficult?" I growl.
Verity rests her other hand on top of our entwined fingers. “Because we had something neither of us had ever felt before. We had love. But we messed it up. And we have to accept that.”
“What if I can’t?” I whisper, despair lilting my voice.
“Then we’ll both be in pain for a long time.” Her eyes are somber.
I have to fight to resist pressing my lips to hers in a desperate kiss. I lock gazes with her, trying to push every bit of my love for her into this moment. I cling to every shred, every whispered word, every kiss and touch. Verity’s eyes brim with tears suddenly and she pulls her hand away from my grip, tucking it beneath her knees. The simple move has my heart in agony.
“I,” I whisper, looking away at the dancing flames, “Will always love you. Truly. You will always have my heart. You set my soul on fire, Verity.”
She hiccups softly, and I know her tears have spilled. I feel a pang of guilt and my brows furrow with pain. I hate to hurt her.
