Page 91 of An Empress of Earth & Darkness

“Bread?” Sybil asked him.

Gideon shook his head, offering her a polite smile. “Sybil, have you eaten anything yet?”

“I will.” She nodded. “Just after I make sure everyone else has had something.”

Typical earth witch, always putting everyone else’s well-being before her own.

“Here.” He handed her the small tray of food. “Eat this; I will take over the bread. I think us hunters are capable enough to cut through a loaf and butter it.” He smiled at her as he removed the knife from her small hand. “They’ve probably all had more than enough anyway.”

She took the tray of food from him. “I just like to make sure everyone has something to nourish them.”

“Well, how are you going to nourish everyone when you are not nourishing yourself?”

Her nose wrinkled and the freckles across her cheeks danced. A small breeze blew embers up into the air, and she combed a hand through her hair, leaving a curl bouncing across her face. “You shouldn’t worry about me, Gideon.”

He placed down the knife and bread that he hadn’t even attempted to cut yet. “What kind of guard would I be if I didn’t worry about your well-being?”

A moment passed between them, and Gideon was sure there was a little flush in her cheeks. It was probably just the warmth of the fire.

“I was going to ask…” Sybil’s voice brought his gaze away from the enchanting flames. “Instead of sleeping in my tent tonight, I thought maybe we could sleep out underneath the stars.”

We.

His heart pounded.

The way her skin caught the attention of the moon was staggering, soft and creamy, like it had been blessed by the Goddess Rhiannon herself. For a brief moment, he envisioned them lying together under the stars. “You mean like sleeping out close to the fire for more heat?”

Her blush-coloured lips pulled into a curve. “No, I mean like wild camp, Gideon. Sleep under the stars with some rugs.” Her stunning mossy eyes lit up, and Gideon found himself wanting to agree immediately. “We never got the chance when we were travelling to the Amethyst Palace because of the icy conditions, but since it is close to summer solstice, I thought we could.”

We.

Again.

Gideon looked across to where her other guards sat talking, Arlo with Kellen and Marcus with a kid who had newly passed his Selection.

Gideon didn’t want to burst her bubble. “Arlo would probably say yes, but I don’t know if Marcus would be happy with that.”

She leaned in close, causing Gideon’s heart to stammer. “We don’t need to tell him. Besides, you would be with me. No risk, right?”

Gideon’s pulse hammered in his neck, and he found his tunic almost too tight. No risk.

Her smile was brighter than the moon herself, and he found himself grinning back at her. “Tell me, Empress of Earth, what other mischief do you get up to behind the backs of your guards?”

She let out a small giggle and she took a cube of cheese in her hand. “Maybe I could show you tonight, beneath the stars.”

The knife tumbled from Gideon’s tray and hit the ground. The shy flush on Sybil’s cheeks told Gideon that she knew what had come out her mouth was not how she had meant for it to sound. He leaned down to pick up the knife and placed it back on the tray, a little more flustered than he would have liked.

He cleared his throat.

The Wolf Moon had a lot to answer for. Even he could feel its effects. He was her guard, for Gods’ sakes.

He leaned closer. “I won’t tell Marcus if you won’t,” he said, stealing a piece of meat that she hadn’t touched.

“I love when you get that glint in your eye.”

Her words took his breath away.

“What glint?” he asked, his voice rough.

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