As she screamed his name once more, something flashed past her close…too close.
It took her a moment to recognize the iridescence shining through the gray and a surge of relief flooded through her.
As the screeches stopped one by one, she watched him move. She could hardly see through the wall of rain but what she did see had her crying new tears, ones of relief and happiness.
He was working through them, his blade moving through the air as if he was a painter and the sand was his canvas.
When he finally approached, she stood frozen watching him, unable to move.
He was so beautiful; it seemed the whole thing happened in slow motion.
Rivulets of water streamed down his face and over his nose as intense violet orbs locked on her. His lips were slightly parted as his chest heaved, his muscles primed and stretching with so much strength she could almost feel it.
He was insanely attractive, and even though panic was surging within her, she couldn’t help but notice it.
He pulled her against him, his hand going to the back of her neck as she raised her head and looked up at him. As the rain beat down on them both, his forehead rested against hers.
“You’ll be ok,” he whispered. The sound of the rain was drowning out his words; yet, she heard him. “I am here.”
She didn’t know if it was just her, but it felt like their breaths were coming in unison in harsh gasps, their chests heaving against each other.
And in that moment, as their eyes locked, she felt it. Something strong was moving between them.
Something intense.
Something undefined.
18
Holding her small hand, he led Song to the shelter he’d made. It had been difficult making it in the rain for he could hardly see what he was doing but he’d managed.
As he opened the slats and led her under the makeshift tent, he watched as her eyes widened. He had to crouch—the zehmip’s mouth was just not big enough to accommodate his full height—but she only had to bend a little to enter.
“Wow, you made this?” He could hear the awe in her voice and but underneath it there was still a note of fear.
“Yes. The zehmip’s mouth has spikes I’ve used to secure it to the sand. It will keep us dry for now.”
Securing the slats by the entrance, he turned to look at her.
She looked okay. The nesters didn’t get to her. They had been closing in, seven of them, and he’d heard them even before she’d begun screaming his name.
But when he’d heard her scream, his blood had run cold. Every instinct in his body was to get to her and make sure that she was safe.
Now that they were inside the zehmip tent, they could wait out the rain. No nesters should attack for a little while. The smell of their comrade’s blood should throw them off for a bit, which was good for she needed to rest.
Even now, inside shelter, she was still shivering.
“You grow cold. We must make you warm.”
She smiled at him and wrapped her arms around herself as she settled against the zehmip skin he’d spread on the wet sand. It too was wet but the water didn’t cling to it as it did other material.
“I’ll be fine, I think.” But even as she spoke, she shivered once more.
“You will catch a desert cold.”
Teeth chattering, she looked up at him.
“There’s not much I can do to prevent that.”
Plopping down beside her, he pulled out the fire sticks.
“You should undress.” When wide eyes hit him, he continued. “To keep warm. It is best.”
“I—”
Even in the dimness of the cave, he could see that her cheeks were tinged pink. But she made no move to take off her wet clothing.
He needed to take his trousers off as well but he would let her get undressed first.
As he activated the fire sticks and put them to the side of the tent, the light played across her face and he was struck once more by just how beautiful she was.
He watched as she raised her hand to put a lock of her hair behind her ears, that same pink tinge still coloring her cheeks.
As another shiver shook through her and she sneezed, she wrapped her arms around herself.
It was no good. The longer she stayed in the freezing clothes, the more the chances of her becoming ill.
He was about to open his mouth and say this to her when she gave him a sheepish look.
“Will you look away while I do it? I can’t when you’re looking at me like that.”
Kyris blinked. He wasn’t aware he was looking at her in a certain way. “Like how?”
“Like…” The pink tinge on her cheeks grew darker but she didn’t continue.
“I will look away then.” It baffled him as to why she’d want him to turn his back to her while she undressed but he’d do as she wished anyway. He could hear her shuffling behind him, and as he waited, it took much effort for him not to turn and look. Keeping his eyes averted was making his imagination run wild.
What was it that she did not want him to see?
Her pale naked skin? The round mounds on her chest? The gentle curve of her hips?
Swallowing hard his ears picked up her every movement. The shuffling had stopped now but just as he was about to turn around the lights of the fire sticks went off.
He turned then, his brows slightly furrowed, only to realize the fire sticks were in her small hands. She’d deactivated them.
“Just so…you know…for privacy.” Even in the dim light she wasn’t looking at him directly.
Curious.
But getting rid of the light didn’t prevent him from seeing her fully. Being a Vaen, his eyesight was precise. When flying high, it was useful for spotting small things on the ground.
As he looked at her now, the darkness his ally, he could
