Page 59 of The Veil of Blood and Magic

That quickly, I want him.

I’ve wanted him since the first time he fed me, but I had no intention of crossing that line with either of them…

Until Idid.

What happened the other night with Zev was a purely primal submission into our baser instincts and need. If I slept with Jagger…

It would be fun, no doubt, and definitely an energy boost…but Ilikehim. And that small affection could complicate things in an already complicated situation.

“Really,” Jagger says, kicking me out of my thoughts. “All you have to do is say the word.”

My lips part and my entire body narrows to the need ramping up in my soul. Goddess, he smells good. I’m still fully satiatedon the blood and desire Zev gave me two nights ago, but I want more. I crave Jagger’s blood any time I scent it. Like now, with him standing so damn close.

I’ve never stayed with the same group long enough to develop this kind of longing before, not since…

“We need to move,” Zev grumbles behind us, and Rain snorts.

I blink out of the heated stare Jagger and I hold, and suck in a sharp breath to shake of the tension curling between us.

Jagger flashes Zev a curious look, and I can’t tell if he’s angry with Zev for breaking up the moment or intrigued. Either way, we do as we’re told, and press on.

By the time we stop to make camp, the sun is just setting on the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink. The chill in the crisp night air mounts with its descent, and I sigh with gratitude as we find a clear spot near a winding river.

Zev leads Rain to the water to drink his fill while Jagger and I grab wood and rocks to build a fire. The motions are almost routine now, which almost makes me laugh out loud. When I first decided to use these two drifters as a personal invitation to lob off the Collector’s head, I never once thought things would becomeroutinebetween us.

Comfortable.

Dangerous, but undeniable.

After finishing setting up camp, I set my satchel at the base of a wide tree, leaning it against its trunk. I have a moment of hesitance as I take a few steps away from it. I don't normally take it off unless I have to, but the thermal coves that are nestled near the river are calling my name. The farther I get away from that bag, the more I realize I’ve found some kind of trust between our little trio. It may be fragile, but it's enough that I feel my valuables, including the medicine that keeps me alive, are safe to leave behind.

I’m even more surprised as I make my way downriver that neither one of them asks me where I'm going. Especially Zev, who would usually throw out a threat against running by now.

Maybe I’m being too much of a complicit bounty. I’d normally stir up a little more trouble to keep them on their toes, but there really isn't much room in my mind for anything else other than washing off the grime of the road and soaking my muscles the hot springs for as long as possible.

I glance left and right, scanning the banks of one of the hot springs that is situated just off the main river. It’s a pocket of hot, mineral laced water separated from the free flowing river by rock and stone. There are scattered woods behind it, and I give the place another look in order to make sure I'm not being watched by any creatures who inhabit these lands. We're far away enough from Tamworth that I'm not worried about Banachs, but we're close enough that I know it's good to be on alert.

Sensing that I'm alone, I strip out of my travel-ragged clothes and step naked into the blissfully warm water.

I sigh audibly as I completely submerge myself, popping up for air and floating on my back, letting the water rush all over my body. It's blissful, the bubbling warm water sucking the sting out of the chill of the day. I relax into it, letting the feeling sink into my aching muscles.

A burst of warmth trickles down my right forearm, and I lift it out of the water to read the gold script written there.

What are you doing right now that has you feeling so joyful?

Surprise streaks through me, and I drop my feet to the riverbed as I read the question again.

Now he can feel even a timid emotion from me?

How is our connection growing that much stronger?

Our earlier assumption of the physical proximity being the source is starting to look a lot more viable. Wearedrawingcloser to Lingate…is that why he can sense me simply being relaxed?

Are you doing something to tap into the connection and feel me or is it happening naturally?

I can't help but ask the question, wondering if I’ll be bombarded by his next string of emotions the closer we get to Lingate. The last thing I want is him feeling my rage before I strike against the Collector or my death should I fail.

I should tell him.

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