Page 54 of Power of Five
33
Leralynn
With our future settled, at least as far as the coming week is concerned, I discover a new question now looming over the quint. One that is taking an absurd amount of time to debate, especially considering the late hour.
“I’ve slept with her every night,” Shade says, raising his chin. “There is no reason to change what works.”
“That is utterly unjust,” says Tye.
“How about I just sleep by myself, like I’ve done every night for twenty years?” I say, finally injecting myself into the conversation.
“No,” the four say together.
“At least you agree on something,” I mutter.
“We would all feel safer if one of us sleeps by your side, Leralynn,” River says in too-patient tones for the tenth time in as many minutes. If I thought the males protective before, my official agreement to join the quint has deteriorated their behavior to new levels.
“And I would feel safer if you didn’t kill each other.” I throw up my hands. “Can we pull straws? Take turns? Do anything but a combat to the death?”
“Straws,” Shade agrees.
“Turns,” says Tye.
“I’m fine with combat,” says Coal.
I grab a cloak off the ground, not caring whose it was originally. “I am going to sleep,” I declare, stalking around to the other side of the partition. I build myself a thick nest of pine branches, then lay the cloak on top of it to lie on while the others continue arguing. The pallet made, I lower my body into its sweet, sappy arms, letting the day’s memories sing their strange lullaby to my thoughts.
The voices on the other side of the rock become distant, my body so deeply surrendering to fatigue that I don’t know which of them finally lies down beside me, or how long I was asleep before it happened. I just know that the warm, muscular body at my back is one of my males, and that alone sends a wave of heat through me. Intensely enough to have me clenching my thighs despite the all-consuming slumber.
I wake some hours later to a star-filled sky and a feeling of being watched. The feeling, I quickly discover upon turning around to find a pair of amused green eyes, is all too justified.
“What are you doing, Tye?” I mutter.
“Listening to those little delicious sounds you make when you sleep.”
My face heats as my vivid dreams return to me. “I don’t make sounds,” I say, sitting up to survey the rest of the campsite. The fire has burned its course, leaving several handfuls of embers still glowing red in the dark. The remains of dinner seem to have been cleared away, and the place seems empty. I tilt my head, listening for the telltale breathing of other beings, but hear only the quiet rush of the miniature waterfall.
“If you are wondering whether anyone else heard the sounds you weren’t making, the answer is no,” says Tye, stretching his arms. He’s wearing breeches and a thin shirt, the long muscles along his ribs shifting slightly beneath the cloth. “River wanted to sweep the forest and Gloom, make sure that Klarissa didn’t leave any surprises for us. He took Coal and the fur ball with him.”
“Do you think she did leave any surprises?”
“Unlikely. We’ll be at the Citadel soon enough, and she’ll take us by the bollocks then.” Tye moves closer and nudges me to lie back down. When I shake my head, he drapes an arm around me and lowers us to the pallet together, his hand stroking my hair. “Go back to sleep, Lilac Girl,” Tye whispers. “You are safe.”
I curl up on my side, my forehead pressed against Tye’s chest, and close my eyes. Open them a minute later. Close them again. “I don’t want to sleep,” I say finally, rolling onto my back to look at the stars.
Tye rises onto his elbow. “And what do you want?” he asks, his green eyes sparkling as he blows a slow, cool breath over the top of my hair, sending a soft shiver down my skin and very unsavory answers to his question through my mind.
I touch my scalp first, then extend a finger to trace across Tye’s lips. “Was that...”
“Magic?” Tye grins. “Yes. Fire magic can take heat away as well. I’m not very strong on that part, but it’s enough.” He blows softly into my ear, this one hot and cold by turn.
My toes curl. The fact that I know the bastard is teasing me is of no help in calming my quickening pulse. “Enough to trick the air?”
“Enough to get me into trouble,” says Tye. He groans, turning onto his back and intently tucking his arms behind his head. Despite the appearance of a relaxed posture, Tye’s lithe body sings with a tension that my own treacherous flesh answers in kind.
I squirm to relieve the ache growing ever more insistent between my legs.
“You really should sleep.” Tye winces, his voice tight. “Quietly, if you can.”
