Page 70 of A Simple Truth

“Not yet,” I sleepily whined, pulling her back to me, finding her hand and not letting go.

I knew that spending a few more hours here wouldn't alleviate the insatiable longing that had taken root within me. There was never going to be a point when I wouldn’t want to hold her hand in mine, to be intoxicated by her flowery smell as it caressed my nose while she leaned her head against my shoulder.

“Fine. But we will have to hike up soon,” she said, and I nodded. Finnleah released a tired sigh, and I held in a winning smile as she cozied up closer to me.

My heart sped up as the warmth of her body heated mine. I let out a long breath.

Patience,I whispered to myself.

But who knew patience was worse than torture?

42

FINNLEAH

Irubbed my aching wrists as we walked through the slumbering Destroyer camp. It must have been well past midnight, as only the last few campfires of the night guards glinted in the dark. My muscles and bones were all painfully tense after a daylong flight.

A few soldiers welcomed back the General as his large figure trailed just a step behind me, escorting me to my tent. I tried making my steps even, tried walking casually; but I ended up overthinking every step I took, fighting the overwhelming urge to turn to him, to reach for his hand. But here we were, back at the camp, approaching my tent, and I had yet to figure out what to say or do.

There was something different about him; something I hadn’t noticed before, but I couldn’t pinpoint what. Something had irrevocably changed in the desert and now lingered in the air here. I had barely spoken a few sentences to him. The words didn’t want to come out, as if they themselves were busy attempting to understand this. Whateverthiswas.

After nearly an entire week of spending every breathing moment together, I’d grown attached to his protective-yet-comforting presence by my side; to his reassuring touch.

And truthfully, I was going to miss it.

Get it together. He isn’t dying. You’ll still see him tomorrow,I told myself.

“Good night, General,” I mumbled as I reached for the tent entrance, not daring to look at him, as unexpected sadness filled my face.

“Finnleah…” he murmured, grabbing my clammy hand. My heart beat faster as my breaths became shorter.

“Yes?” I answered his call, my eyes traitorously sliding down to his lips.

“Finnleah…I—” he started.

“Is that Finn?!” sleepy voices from the tent shouted, as the lights turned on behind me, followed by a wave of groans from the ten awakened women. Ioanna’s merciless profanities rained a second later, making even the General’s eyes widen. A smile tugged on the corners of my mouth.

I missed all ten of them too.

“Finally, the lost Destroyer has returned once again!” Yanush jokingly added.

“Thank gods she is back before the games!”

“Finn, what are you doing outside, standing there like a creep?” Tori poked her head out, and her eyes widened when she noticed my hand in his. “Oh…Good to see you too, General.” She awkwardly nodded, her cheeks lighting up pink as she quickly snuck back inside.

“She is with Gideon, isn’t she?!” Cori attempted to hide her quiet but excited squeal, but the thin tent walls did nothing to conceal it, and they also did nothing to hide the loud wave of a collective “shhh” rolling through shortly after.

The General closed his eyes for a moment too long, both of us now acutely aware of the perked-up ears as the whispers quieted.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He placed a soft kiss on my hand, a gesture freezing dust in the air, as his lips lingered on my skin, sealing the words like a promise. Then he turned sharply, marching away from me. My eyes trailed his departing figure, fading into obscurity amidst the nightly shadows. My fingers ran over the spot of my hand where the Lord of Death himself landed a gentle caress only moments ago.

A secret smile crept up my lips.

Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

43

FINNLEAH

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