Page 125 of A Blightress of Wrath
Iran toThevin, who held a hand out, keeping me behind him as we watched the ash settle.TheWieldwrynretracted her wall of thorns and, withRunnersat her side, stepped forward, looking down into the pit.
“We’reclear!” aRunnershouted, and cheers went up around us.Severalsoldiers patted each other on the back, dusting ash from their faces and hair.
Thevinbacked away from the wide ditch under the stone wall and called to theRunners. “Iwant every available soldier inspecting the wall around the entire castle.Pairoff and take aWieldwrynwith you.You’relooking for loose soil that has caved in slightly.Shoutif you find one and do not hesitate to cover it.”
Callsof “Yes, sir!” followed his command and the soldiers moved out, repeating their orders down the line of tents.
Hegrabbed my hand, hauling me closer to the cavity where they had come from, peering down. “Howdid you know?” he whispered harshly.
Istood at the edge, getting a glimpse of leftover ash and what could have lost us good soldiers. “I-Ijust?—”
Hesheathed his sword and lifted my chin, forcing me to face him. “Lies.You’vebeen lying since last night when theBlightresscame to theSpire.Icannot keep you safe ifIdon’t know how you?—”
Iheard the crumble of stone before he was done, and without a single moment to release any spell from my lips,Ipushed him into the ditch, landing on top of him, and raising my hand above us.Abrilliant white light formed in a dome, shielding the pit from the crumpling stones of the caved castle wall.Massivebricks tumbled down like a sea of water, toppling over the shieldIheld.Hegripped my sides hard, attempting to turn me over and cover me with his own body.
Iheld his sides tightly with my legs, refusing to budge as the last of the bricks fell.Panting,Ilowered my hand, though my shield remained, lighting the space enough for me to see his face.
Ilaughed in submission to my heart, my eyes brimming with tears asIshook my head in disbelief. “Ilove you,”Iconfessed, upturning my hands and letting them fall back to my sides in defeat.
“Sae,” he whispered softly, his grip on my hips tightening. “Youdon’t have to?—”
Icovered his mouth, leaning over his chest and bracing myself with my other hand. “Shutup,Thevin.”
Hiseyes narrowed, butIignored whatever retort he wanted to say, keeping him quiet for just a moment soIcould confess all of it. “Ihave loved you since we were fifteen years old.Iloved you the year after that and this year after that.AndIshould have said it then.”Ishook my head, a single tear falling from my face to my hand still covering his mouth. “Ishould have told you all of it that day we danced for the first time and you tried to tell me how you felt.Iwas so stupid,Thevin.Youtried to tell me everything, andIwas so scared of eventually losing you,Ijust…”
Ihuffed another laugh, releasing my hand from his mouth but continuing. “Whatevercomes next, whatever we’re about to face,Icannot go another moment without you knowing what is in my heart.Whatyour smile does tome.”Ipressed a hand to my chest. “Ifeel you here as you’ve always been, andIrefuse to lie and pretend likeIdo not ease with the warmth of you at my side.LikeIdo not crave your touch or the comfort of your embrace, or wish to be wrapped in your arms whereIwant to spend all of my time.”
Ileaned back, straightening over his hips, wiping a hand across my face. “Ilove you,Thevin,Runnerin theFour’sArmy,ThorninMySideaGoodQuarterof theTime, andHorribleLumenRider.”Ilifted my hands in the air one more time. “Ilove you because you are brilliant, and funny, and kind.Youlive like you care more than you ever admit, andIdon’t want another three seasons without you.Idon’t want to return toFelgren, waiting for you to come home, waiting for the signs of spring’s end so thatIcan see you again, pretendingIdon’t want to keep you forever.”
Hiseyes paled like a flash of lightning across a dark horizon.Heswallowed hard, murmuring low, “Youdone?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Helifted himself to meet me, taking my face into his hands, and slamming his lips to mine.Iwrapped my arms around him, seating myself fully in his lap, pressing my chest to his, my lips roaming his, pushing for his mouth to open soIcould taste whatI’dbeen craving since the kiss we shared the night before.
Alow grumble came deep from his chest as his hands began to roam down the sides of my body, slowly and agonizing asIfelt a tumble of aches deep in my soul.Helit within me a fireIhadn’t known was simmering just under the surface of my skin.Iurged it forth, ready to burn under his touch, under his fingers as they shifted across my backside, following the length of my thighs, pulling me further onto his lap.
Ididn’t know much, butIknew he wanted me, andIhim, our mouths wandering, our hands exploring in a black pit of earth under fallen stones of an old castle wall.
“Isanyone down there?”
Weheard the call, even through my high moans and the sound of our hearts pounding together in one harmonious beat, our breathing sharp and heavy all at once.
Heslowed his kiss, one hand leaving the strokes of my legs to cup my cheek.Heran his thumb across my skin, a challenging smile on his lips. “Aquarter of the time, huh?”
“Atleast,”Ireplied, unable to contain my wide grin.
“Hello?” the call came again, followed by another voice which said, “Isee magic.Theremust be aWieldwryntrapped down there.”
“Wecan’t stay here,”Thevinsaid, stealing another soft kiss.
“No,”Iadmitted, kissing him lightly back.
“Ididn’t say that right.”Hetilted my chin upwards, breathing over my lips. “Iwould gladly stay here with you, like this, for as long as you’d let me, butI’mafraid they’ll start shoveling these bricks away any moment, andI’dhate for them to see you asIget to…”Alazy smirk crossed his mouth. “Utterlybeautiful and lush as this.”
Aheat, new and exciting, pooled within me—that flame bursting forth again, andIfollowed the urge to continue, settling my lips back onto his, relishing in his sigh of frustration.
