Page 110 of Of Blood & Stone

She removed her hand, turning away.

Elnok gently grabbed her chin, tipping her face to meet his.

“I can,” he said.

He studied her face with his eyes—her strong chin, slender nose, deep blue eyes, and full lips. Silence hung over them both, her breath dancing along his mouth, a fire lighting in his body.

“Last night was a mistake,” she whispered, her half-lidded eyes staring at his mouth.

Everything within him ordered him to back away. Nothing would come of this. He knew this, and so did she. Once they found the willow, he’d part from her and go to Orym, and she’d stay.

Best not to get more attached.

And yet, as he brushed his thumb along the column of her throat, her soft skin sliding under his touch, his heart betrayed him.

“Yes,” Elnok agreed, “a grievous mistake.”

Her eyes fluttered shut, her throat bobbing against his thumb. “A horrible mistake.”

“The very worst.”

She paused. “I think I like making mistakes with you.”

Heat and want rushed through him at her words. As he gripped her throat, angling her lips to his?—

A shrill screech pierced their ears. Everything between them broke into iced veins and dark fear as they pushed off one another, fumbling for their leather pouches and weapons. Elnok swiped his sword through the air, a trail of thin glimmering threads wrapping around the blade.

Webs.

“Fuck,” Elnok muttered.

Eight glossy eyes blinked from the shadows, multiplying into numbers he could hardly fathom.

Arachnis.

Metallic chitters echoed through the trees. Elnok slowly stood up, lifting his sword, the yellow glow piercing through the shadows and crooked forest. His blood turned to ice as bulbousbodies black as obsidian twitched in the light, the arachnis’ long sharp legs piercing into the earth as they each snapped their fangs together.

It was far too dark, even with the lit blade, to determine their number.

Elnok turned to find Sylzenya sitting perfectly still. "Sylzenya," he urged, placing a hand on her shoulder, "now would be the time for your power."

“I’m well aware,” she replied through gritted teeth as she stood, pressing her back against his.

A shriek shattered the air as one of the arachnis skittered forward, its glossy sheen shining against the sword’s light, black liquid dripping from its fangs. Elnok’s chest squeezed.

“They’re most vulnerable at the juncture between their legs and body as well as their throats,” Elnok said as another arachni twitched forward, its eyes scanning them frantically.

“Have you killed one before?” she asked.

“Almost.”

Sylzenya cursed as he felt her body heat rise, her back seeming to convulse against him.

“I can’t do it,” she gasped, “Distrathrus’ blood. It’s blocking me.”

Blood drained from his face. “You can do this. Iknowyou can.”

“He isn’t letting me this time,” she grunted, “I can’t get past him.”

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