Page 46 of The Demon's Delight
I shook my head and pulled out my bedding. “As long as it’s food, I’ll eat it. Hopefully it settles well.”
He paused, an odd look on his face before the easygoing smile returned, and he began pulling things we’d taken from the glade out of the pack.
We’d just settled in to eat when thunder rumbled, not far off.
“That doesn’t sound good,” I muttered, searching the sky for lightning. The clouds were thick, blocking the moon, but puffy and white.
“We’ll be alright.” He seemed unconcerned but finished his food in a hurry and started constructing a little shelter out of the one piece of cloth we had that was mostly water-resistant. Widow Callahan to the rescue again. I hoped to see her again someday.
Fat droplets began to fall not long after he’d moved our things under the small shelter. I’d wondered about the angle he’d used, but everything was clear when he let his wings out. He shifted around until he was satisfied, and so long as he ducked his head a bit, we could both stay perfectly dry and warm. Even the fire was under enough cover thanks to the end of his wing.
“Your wings have gotten quite the workout today.”
“They’re often very useful.”
“I’m sorry?—”
“Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault.” His gaze was unusually stony, his jaw working as he said the words.
“But it is,” I argued. “Or at least it seems like it is.”
“Hailon—”
I held a hand up. “I’m not saying it’s my fault in a way that’s intentional, but itismy fault that some of your talents don’t work right simply because I’m near you.”
Seir shook his head. “You don’t know that for sure. It’s a good theory, but nothing is proven.” He grumbled and changed topic. “How is your leg today? Your stomach?”
I pulled up the hem of my trousers. “Better. See? It’ll be just as it was before you fell down that hill in a few short days.”
He grunted, still unreasonably put out by the bruises I’d taken on for healing him.
“Would you like some tea or are you finished?”
“I’m done.” Tea sounded good, but I was already feeling a bit of heartburn from our innocuous dinner. I wished whatever it was that had my stomach so irritated would go away.
Despite the fact it was he who had run, jumped, and flapped the whole walk, I found myself dozing almost immediately once I pulled my cloak over my shoulders and laid down.
“Hailon, I…” He tapered off, eyes widening when mine met them. “I’ll be back in just a moment,” he said, disappearing into the trees. It was odd behavior, but sometimes nature called.
The sound of the rain tapping on the cloth above my head was soothing, though the storm was quickly turning into a downpour. The fire hissed and popped as the drops did their best to extinguish its warmth. The thunder had picked up, the lightning too.
Seir returned and shuffled under the shelter with me.
“Can I get a bit closer, Moonflower? I don’t want either of us to get wet. It would make for a miserable night and a terrible day tomorrow as well.”
“Okay.”
He met me in the middle, so we both had as much space as possible to the edge of the shelter, but the way the drops were bouncing off the ground we’d both be soaked by morning regardless.
The look in his eyes as they searched mine made me shiver. I could see the desire there, but also the care. He was afraid of overstepping, though he had yet to do so. Not even when he kissed me earlier.
“No untoward intentions?” I asked, voice hushed.
His mouth twitched. “Not tonight.” He opened his arms, and we both scooted closer yet, closing the gap between us altogether. “I…” He clearly had something he wanted to say but was holding back. “Are you warm enough?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” I closed my eyes, forehead resting against his chest. The thump of his heartbeat was strong and steady next to my ear and under the palm of my hand. He added his cloakto the warmth and then… something else. I cracked my eyes, finding it was darker than it had been.
“Rest well, Hailon.” He snuggled his cheek against the top of my head.
