Page 88 of The Mirror in the Mountain

“I’m scared, Rivan.”

It seemed easier to admit it to him, even though I knew Bash could feel it.

“So am I,” Rivan said almost flippantly. “Courage isn’t the lack of fear, it’s acting in spite of it. Bravery is in not allowing that fear to consume you.”

“I’m not scared for myself,” I whispered. “I’m scared that bynotacting I’m making the wrong choice, and I’m dooming the realm I’m meant to rule because of it.”

Rivan slowly shook his head. “When we get to the end of this, with you wearing your crown and youranimabeaming by your side, I’m going to remind you of this moment. Of how close you came to losing everything when there was everything to be gained.”

We sat together for a long beat, watching the shadows dance through the trees as I desperately tried to believe him. Rivan didn’t let go of my hand.

“Don’t think I’m going to go easy on you during training just because I owe you one though,” Rivan muttered with a hint of his usual joviality.

I winced as I touched the sore side that would no doubt be bruised by morning, making a face at him. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Leaning into him, I rested my head on his shoulder. When my eyes started closing despite myself, he helped me to my feet, wrapping his arm around me as we silently walked back to camp.

Chapter 38

Eva

When I woke, it was still dark, though our tent was lit in the dim glow of the lantern that Bash now kept on through the night. Like he had realized how little I liked the feeling of waking up in total darkness, along with the suffocating sensation that came with it. Or perhaps simply so I could see the color of his eyes.

My eyelids felt heavy, like I had merely blinked rather than caught a fleeting moment of sleep. I was in dire need of more rest, the combined days of disjointed slumber wearing on my mind, my mood, and my magic. But that anxious hum in my bones already had me on edge enough to know that closing my eyes again would be futile. A yawn escaped me despite my efforts to hold it in.

Bash’s body was hot and hard against mine, his fingers tightening where they were tangled in my hair as his eyes slowly opened. My heart stumbled a beat as his face buried into my hair, planting a kiss behind my ear.

“I missed this,” Bash mumbled, his voice still heavy with sleep. His lips pressed against my neck, and I let out a happy sighthat had him turning my face, his mouth finding mine like he wanted to capture the sound. His wolfish grin as he pulled back told me that he knew exactly what he was doing.

Bash’s gaze fixed on the right side of my mouth as I smiled back, asking, “Missed what, exactly?”

“Being with you. Without anything between us.”

A lump lodged itself in my throat. “Me too.”

“Is that so?” He kissed his way down my neck, his lips lingering where I knew that pale line encircled my throat.

“Just a little bit,” I managed as he nibbled along my collarbone.

“I’ll have to remind you how much then.” Bash smiled against my skin as his fingers ventured down my sternum, tracing a path to my stomach. He deftly unbuttoned my nightdress as he went.

“You could try.” I gasped as his teeth nipped my bare breast. “Don’t we need to get going soon?”

“Yes, we do,” he said in a low murmur, his words brushing over my taut nipple. “So be a good girl and come for me first, hellion.”

He moved behind me on the sleep mat, letting my nightdress fall to the floor before he sank into me from behind. One hand splayed against my stomach, the other moving between my legs. His breath was warm against my ear, growing more and more labored as I reached behind me, my fingers digging into his hipbones as I moaned his name.

We came together frantically, desperately—our bodies acknowledging the reality that our time left together could be limited, even if neither of us would admit it.

For a few heartbeats, the world fell away and there was only the two of us. Smothering a shaky breath, I kissed him until my fear and trepidation faded to the background. Until there was nothing except him, and me, and the growing need Icould feel echoed across our bond in whirls of heat, the ache of desire. Where nothing else mattered except the feel of his mouth against mine, and the rapidly disappearing space left between us.

His hands trailed languidly over my thighs; firm yet gentle—like we had all the time in the world. Even as I could feel it racing forward, its inevitable passage somehow more present with every second ticking away.

I love you¸I could feel him say with each kiss. With each press of his lips against mine. With the way his shadows tugged me closer.

I love you,I thought as I tasted the freckles dotting his skin. Saying it in the way I dug my fingers into his hips to keep him against me, my darkness entwining with his.

Our magics wrapped around us, our moans blended together, and I lost myself to that building pleasure while gasping his name, feeling his shudder as he joined me.

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