Page 63 of Elven Throne

Especially now that they’d left the open yard behind the farmhouse and everyone currently occupying it.

At first, it felt like neither of them had anything to say. That this wasn’t even the right moment for conversation as they walked side by side through the trees, hearing the muted echoes of conversation and laughter echoing from the compound in the distance.

Rebecca was glad they were too far to make out any of those lighthearted conversations. She couldn’t have stomached listening to another moment of it.

When she shot Maxwell a sidelong glance to gauge his current state of mind, whether what he showed on the outside matched the fragile calm she felt strengthening in him, her heart leapt at the familiar sight.

The shifter stared straight ahead through the trees, his hands clasped behind his back like normal, his jaw firmly set but now with a new softness to it. Far more relaxed. Contemplative, even, as if they took walks through the woods like this every afternoon to keep themselves in check.

It really wasn’t an act.

As soon as she accepted that, Rebecca grew acutely aware again of this moment. The silence in the woods punctured by the rush of the river to their right, the birds in the trees, the constantly droning cicadas.

They hadn’t had a moment like this in what felt like forever, with nothing pressing to tend to and a surprisingly low likelihood of being interrupted by additional emergencies.

Lower than ever, to be honest.

And there was no more reason to keep putting off the conversation they’d been promising each other, which somehow turned up the pressure on needing to have it now.

Clearly, Maxwell had been thinking the same thing.

“Anything else you wish to get off your chest?” The words rumbled inside him almost like he was laughing at her, though his stoic mask remained when she shot him another quick sidelong glance.

Anything else to get off her chest? Ha! How abouteverything?

The last of Rebecca’s anger fizzled away into a silent resolve. This was happening now, wasn’t it? It had to, or they might not even have another chance.

She puffed out a sigh through loose lips and swiped her hair away from her face. “Where do I even start?”

The next deep rumble from Maxwell could have been another chuckle or simply some thoughtful sound to break the silence. “Wherever you like.”

Wherever she liked?Thatdidn’t narrow it down…

“Honestly, Iwantto start everywhere. Something tells me that it isn’t exactly a starting point.”

“Take your time.”

Wow. Was thispatiencefrom him? Or disinterest as he tried to help settle her or keep her occupied so they no longer focused onhim?

No, he was being genuine So was she.

What did she want to tell him now? While they had time? While this opportunity still existed?

Want had less to do with it than need, really. The growing compulsion to share all her secrets with the shifter beside her, and she’d been fighting it for weeks.

A promise shehadto keep, because they’d both agreed to it.

But where the hell was she even supposed to begin?

They walked in silence, Rebecca wracking her mind for a starting point that wouldn’t immediately confuse him more than it offered any form of enlightenment.

Then Maxwell cleared his throat.

“Or perhaps we pick up where we left off at the compound.” He snuck a quick, darting glance her way, his expression almost unreadable again except for a flicker of what looked like embarrassment.

Because he’d almost given in completely to this thing between them, and Rebecca hadn’t?

“How you…”

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