Page 40 of A Sky of Emerald Stars

Something leapt onto my chest, and I jolted awake, arms flailing to fight off whatever creature pounced on me. But when I looked to my belly it was only a white shirt. My brows pinched as I looked up and there, silhouetted in the late evening sky, stood Navin. Patches of his skin looked red and raw, but he was mostly unscathed, standing there only in his trousers slung low over his hips, his lean muscled torso on full display, and a curving smile on his lips.

“How in the Gods’ names...” I gaped up at him with a shake of my head. I couldn’t believe it. “You’re alive.”

His eyes twinkled with mischief. “So are you.”

“Barely.”

I suddenly realized that twinkle of mischief was due in part to the fact I sat there naked, holding his shirt to my chest, but I didn’t care. I didn’t bother putting it on as I leapt to my feet and threw my arms around him.

He caught me, rocking back on one foot at the weight ofmy jump. One of his hands cupped my ass while the other came around to my back, and he buried his head into my neck and breathed me in.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered against his skin, relishing in the feel of him pressed against me with nothing between us.

His hand trailed down my back as he slowly lowered me to the ground. “For what?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “Everything? I’m sorry for hating you. I’m sorry for not trusting you. I’m...” I looked up into his storming eyes as the last peek of sun dipped below the horizon. “I’m sorry for letting go.”

“I’m sorry for letting go, too,” he murmured, not tearing his gaze from mine as I stooped, grabbed his shirt, and pulled it over my head. The billowing garment landed mid-calf and I was reminded once again of how tall Navin was. He looked out to the darkening horizon. “We should start moving before more beasts come out. The crishenem aren’t the only creatures who roam the desert at night.” I turned in the direction of the road to Sankai-ed and his hand landed on my arm. “Not that way. It’s too far on foot and too dangerous at night. I know a closer place.”

I turned in a complete circle staring out at nothing but the rolling deserts of Lower Valta. “Closer?”

“Trust me,” he said, tugging me a step before releasing me.

He set out at a quick gait downhill, which was now blissfully covered in shadow. The sand was still warm underfoot, but it didn’t burn into the pads of my feet like it had earlier in the day. Sweet Moon, I’d almost died... again.

“How did you survive?” I shook my head as I stalked up beside Navin, aiming in the direction of the next dune over. “How are you not more injured? What did you do as you were falling?”

He shrugged. “I sang.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re going to have to explain that to me further at some point.”

He let out a long sigh and scratched at the stubble across his jaw. “I’m afraid I’ll have to now.” We walked for another few minutes before he abruptly stopped and turned to me. “For what it’s worth,” he said, “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you, too.”

I cocked my head. “What didn’t you trust me with?”

“You’ll see,” he said, still not moving. His sad eyes dipped to my lips. I saw it all there: regret, relief,longing. The way his gaze lingered on my mouth... I suddenly felt more hungry for him than a cooked dinner. He let out a soft little breath and smiled.

“What?”

“I like it when I turn you on,” he murmured.

“What?” I gaped at him. “What makes you think I’m turned on?”

He slowly lifted a hand and skimmed a thumb over my peaked nipple, only his thin shirt separating the two of us. I pressed my lips together as his thumb swirled over it again, coaxing it even harder. When he dropped his hand again, every part of me felt heavy and rushing with blood. My heartbeat drummed in my ears. “You’re not turned on?” he asked in that soft bedroom voice that made me press my bare thighs together.

I cleared my throat and tried to put on my best scowl. “My nipples are just naturally pointy.”

His lips curved up wickedly. “Mm-hmm.”

“It’s a Wolf thing,” I said, turning and walking again.

He chuckled. “Liar.”

I turned to offer him another biting retort when I spotted a shadow on the distant dunes. All the blood drained from my face as I lifted a finger and pointed. “Shit.”

A crishenem.

“Run!” Navin grabbed my arm and dragged me as his long legs raced across the sand. The creature let out a whining hiss and the wind whipped with the sound of its slashing tails.

---