Page 36 of Raw

See how fragile she was.

Do it.

You won’t dare.

You’re too weak.

My jaw clenched at their words.

Those voices made so much noise that I had to close my eyes for a second, trying to make them stop.

“Are you going to bed already?” Vespyr asked Papa, and he nodded with a tired smile.

“It’s been a long day of walking, sweetheart. Old man needs his rest.”

Ves chuckled. “You’re not old and you know it.”

She got up from the table, not letting me get closer with my knife clenched in my fist.

I was close, but I still had the whole night ahead of me.

“Goodnight, Papa.”

She hugged him tightly, letting him hold her and kiss her head. “Sleep tight. I’ll see you in the morning,” he replied, then he looked over at me and gave me a quick nod.

“Night,” I replied, and once he was in his tent, I got up to throw away all the bones.

“We should tell each other horror stories,” Vespyr suggested as she walked back to the table, leaning against it with her palms on the wood.

“We’re not kids anymore.”

“So? You’re never too old for scary stuff.”

“I’m not in the mood.”

“You’re scared,” she teased, making me turn to her with a raised brow.

“I’m not scared. If anything, I’m afraid to scare you so much you won’t sleep at night.”

She rolled her eyes at me. “Fine. No scary stuff. What should we do instead?”

“Go to bed and sleep so we’re energized for tomorrow.”

She didn’t like the sound of that, but we had to be awake and prepared, especially if we were going to cut down trees.

That was both a physical and mental job, where we weren’t allowed to make the smallest mistake to not hurt ourselves or each other.

Vespyr didn’t say another word, and while she brushed her teeth and got ready for bed, I put out the fire.

I had to keep those voices and thoughts under control, but knowing I’d end up in the same bed with her every night made it hard.

I walked over to her, to grab my own toothbrush and start brushing my teeth while she washed her face.

I looked at her, then let my eyes wander all over her body before I reached out my right hand and placed it on her lower back.

She didn’t move, and the smile on her face told me that she didn’t mind my touch.

There were things I remembered vividly.

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