Page 71 of A Soul to Guide

All this travelling was annoying and tedious. Despite being wary he was taking her to the Veil, Raewyn was over it. They’d now been travelling for nine days! At some point, a person would break.

With a dissatisfied groan, Raewyn cringed as she rubbed her face against Merikh’s chest when a third droplet splattered against her neck.

“Five more hours,” she pleaded.

“I can’t turn off the rain, Raewyn.”

She opened her eyes and glared in his direction. “Sure you can.”

Theshahof a deluge of water droplets suddenly hitting the canopy of leaves above was the only warning she got before it rained properly. At first, she fought it, wriggling one way and then the other, as if that would stop her from getting wet.

Pointless, really, with the way he supported her back and her knees from behind.

Within moments, as if they broke through the forest’s tree line and into a field, Raewyn was pelted by fast and heavy drops. Her clothing became drenched all the way through. Each drop was icy to her, and she immediately shivered.

“Merikh, can you put me down? I’m getting wet.”

“We must keep going.” That’s what he always said!

“Please?” She tried to give him her best pity pout, and he let out a sigh.

He dipped his arms and carefully placed her feet on the ground. Raewyn shoved her cloak hood on, gripped the guide rope around his waist, and he led the way.

Every minute made Raewyn colder and wetter. Her cloak was doing nothing to keep her dry, and before long, her teeth chattered. Her bare feet felt as though she’d dipped them in icy water.

A crack of thunder boomed, before giving way to angry rumbles. The wind picked up, roaring as it cut its powerful strength through her.

This was the first time it’d stormed properly since they’d started travelling together. It often drizzled, mainly throughout the day, but it was warmer then. From the temperature swirling around her, she sensed it was currently the middle of the night.

“Ugh!” Raewyn whined. “It’s so cold already, and m-my cloak isn’t keeping me dry.”

Her cloak dragged across her shoulders when he fisted the edge and lifted to inspect it.

“What the fuck kind of travel cloak is this?” he sneered. “Why didn’t you tell me it was made of cotton? I would have acquired you a better one. No wonder you’re getting soaked. You should have picked something water resistant.”

“H-how was I supposed to know that? I just bought whatever was available from Clawhaven.”

She wished her eyes weren’t so heavy from being sleepy. When her hands began to ache, and her feet became unstable from the numbness of being cold, she hugged her midsection.

“Is there anywhere for us to stop? Nyl’theria is hotter than this, even in the winter.”

“Are you really that cold?” Raewyn nodded. Before she could open her mouth to apologise, the rain ceased suddenly. “Come here, I’ll shield you.”

Raewyn cuddled into his side, since he’d lifted his arm to bring her under his own cloak. It was just as cold, but it didn’t feel damp on the inside.

It was his warmth when he wrapped his arm around her to keep her close that chased away the worst of her chills. His palm was gripping her hip, his entire arm resting over her back, and Raewyn clutched his shirt to soak in the heat coming off his torso.

“We’ve entered a mountain path,” he stated with a dark tone. “This is Demon territory. I was hoping to pass it quickly, but I know of a shallow cave nearby. Hopefully it’s empty, since it’s night.”

“Are you sure they won’t find us?”

“It’s difficult for Demons to smell through the rain. I would have protected us without it, but the rain actually makes it safer for us.”

Raewyn bit her lip and nodded.

When a nearby howl echoed in the distance, one that didn’t sound remotely like any kind of animal, she had the desire to cut open Merikh and hide within him. The tiny hairs on her body stood on end as fear crept up her spine. She had to use every ounce of willpower to remain unafraid.

Merikh was here, and he would keep her safe. Surprisingly, that was enough for her.

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