Page 121 of Raw

The tea Vespyr made really helped.

“What did you eat while we were gone?” she asked as she came out of the cabin again with Sitka’s food in her hands.

“Nothing.”

“You didn’t eat? Fennec, that’s not good. You have to eat something,” she sighed, setting the container down onto the table and opening it to take out half a chicken.

“I didn’t go hunt,” I pointed out. “And I didn’t go today either.”

“Do you want me to go? Maybe I’m lucky enough to come across a squirrel or rabbit, or I can go down to the river and catch fish. Probably easier.”

“We can eat what Jason gave you.”

She frowned at me. “That’s for Sitka.”

“She’s not gonna eat all of that. Put one half on the grill for us and add some patties. She can have the rest. We’ll head down tomorrow anyway.”

“Really? I thought you needed more time,” she said, surprised.

“I’m hungry and I’ll have to face Papa eventually. Might as well get it over with.”

Vespyr smiled brightly, relieved that she wouldn’t have to convince me to go to Fairbanks with her.

I thought about making her beg for me to go with her, but she’d have to beg for other reasons tonight, and I didn’t wanna make it too hard on her.

“Oh, Fen! Thank you!” she squealed, then she walked over to me and hugged me by leaning down and wrapping her arms around my shoulders from behind.

“I know it’s not going to be easy for you, but I promise I won’t leave your side. Ever.”

She kissed my cheek, and after patting her arm, she stood back up and walked back to the table where Sitka had already noticed her food laying around.

Vespyr grabbed one half of the chicken and placed it onto the snow alongside one beef patty which would definitely be enough for Sitka.

She took the other half and the container with the rest of the patties inside to put them on the grill.

“This is gonna take a while. Want another tea? You should also wear a scarf to keep your throat warm.”

“What I need is for you to sit down,” I told her, looking up at her.

She smiled, letting out a sigh before stepping closer to me and letting me pull her onto my lap to straddle it.

“I know it’s only been a day, but I really missed you,” I whispered, brushing back her hair and cupping her face in my hands.

Her already pink cheeks from the cold got even brighter, and with her eyes lowered, she gripped my coat with both hands.

“Me too. You know…I didn’t know what to think when we were driving back to Fairbanks, but when I was in bed last night, I realized that being away from you and not being able to talk to you was what upset me the most.”

“You know why that is?” I asked, cupping her jaw and making her look at me.

“Tell me.”

“It’s because we’re not meant to be apart. I don’t have to tell you another time that what we have is special, and being apart only hurts so much because our hearts long for each other whenever we’re far. Just like I told you that one night. I’m not okay when you’re gone.”

Her eyes were glowing, filled with love and affection. The one only she could give me.

“You don’t think Mama and Papa know about us, right? They would’ve said something. They wouldn’t be okay with this.”

“They’re not the ones having to be okay with this, Vespyr. It’s you and me. I don’t give a fuck about others. You know I love you, and that’s what matters most to me.”

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