Page 47 of Ecliptic

Maddock’s sharp features relaxed as his gaze darted between the two of us. “I’ll be right back.”

Maddock disappeared into the trees, and my eyes shot to Rowen. “Are you all right?” we asked simultaneously and chuckled.

“I’m murderous,” Rowen replied. “You?”

“Feeling pretty lethal myself, actually,” I said, stepping as close to him as I possibly could. “Thank you for everything you did. That couldn’t have been easy.”

“I would do it a thousand times over if it meant keeping you alive. When he put his hands and mouth on you, Keira, I don’t know, I just had to trust him. Even after everything he did to you, I had to believe he’d save you. He looks at you like he cares. I had to hold onto that."

I glanced into the distance where Madds had passed from sight. “I still don’t trust him.”

“I know, but what other choice did I have?”

“Good thing it was up to you to make that call. If I’d been able, I would have told him to get the fuck off,” I said, itching to run my fingers through Rowen’s dark waves.

“Oh, you said that many times,” he replied, his breath washing over my face and pebbling my skin. “It is my life’s goal to give you everything you desire, but in this, I had to override your wishes. As much as it pained me to see you in another man’s arms.”

“I wanted it to be you,” I whispered. The warmth he awakened in me still begged for his touch. Our lips were an inch apart, our blood pulsing with need and desire. When suddenly, Maddock barged through the bushes like an oaf.

“You ready?” he asked, watching us jump apart as he held the plump waterskins.

I reached for one of the flasks and drank until my bellybulged. “Yes,” I said, wiping the water off my chin. “The sooner I can have a hot bath, the better.”

We made our back to the village in awkward silence, and I found myself sandwiched between the towering men who had worked together to strip, clothe, and save me. I wasn’t sure if it looked like I’d had the best or worst night of my life. My hair was a messy halo around my head, I wore no pants, and Rowen’s linen shirt barely covered my thighs.

My soul flame was beside me, matching my pace and walking as close to me as he possibly could. He was naked from the waist up, his chest burgeoning with a strength that still amazed me. He had gained so much muscle, and my fingers yearned to explore the new, deeper divots of his body.

I snapped my eyes away from him, wrangling in my thoughts that strayed to what I could find in his pants, what I could stroke, lick, and taste.

Deciding that I would rather be angry than turned on, I slid my eyes to Maddock. He wasn’t as tall as Rowen nor as broad, but his lean muscles still promised the strength and agility of a formidable opponent. Despite my lingering hatred toward him, I couldn’t deny it was his body that had kept me alive.

Suddenly, my gaze shot upward as a bright light flashed through the dawn. The light was blinding with a tail of white fire. “I’ve never seen such a big shooting star!” I exclaimed with awe as the light arced overhead. But instead of fading like the last words of a wish, it continued to streak through the sky, barreling closer and closer.

“Me neither,” Rowen warily said as he tracked its descent. “That doesn’t look like your typical falling star. Look at the speed and brightness. Something is off.”

“That’s not normal around here?” Maddock asked with clipped paranoia, squinting as the light from the heavens engulfed his gaze.

“No,” Rowen replied, his green eyes widening in alarm. “Take cover,” he yelled as the ball of light hurtled toward us.

The meteor’s impact was brutal and sent shockwaves through the ground. Even though it crashed hundreds of meters away, the force knocked me off my feet. A rising plume of dirt swallowed me whole and cut up my arms and legs.

“Is everyone all right?” Rowen’s voice pierced through the ringing in my ears.

“Yes.” I coughed, blinking out bits of dust from my eyes.

“Madds?” he called out with concern.

“I’m here,” Maddock said, groaning. “That thing nearly killed us. This world is a death trap. Remind me why you moved here again, Keira?”

“Someone I care about happens to live here. Something you wouldn’t know anything about,” I snapped, still trying to stay angry rather than to feel . . . anything else.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” he said, and it may have been the dirt in my eyes, but I swore Maddock flinched as if my words could hurt him. But that was impossible. This man had no feelings. He was perfectly content to rip my mind apart and slash my memories to pieces.

I stood and dusted off my shirt, redirecting my focus. I raised the crook of my arm to shield my eyes from the smoke.

“What are you two doing?” Maddock asked in shock as Rowen and I made our way to the impact sight.

“Taking a look,” I replied for the both of us.

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