Page 95 of The Seducer
“I feel a lot better now.” While I was saying the words, my hands snaked around his neck. I only had to look at his lips for him to kiss me.
“Mmm, you don’t know how good that feels,” Finn muttered in a hoarse voice. “If your leg was better I wouldn’t let you out of this room before I had made love to you again.”
Our kiss deepened. I poured all my emotions into it. The regret that had filled me when he left my house with pain written on his face. The sadness in my chest when I missed him. The horror when I was bleeding to death on my floor thinking that I would never see him again. And my gratitude to him for coming back and saving my life.
“I love you,” I whispered.
Finn pulled back a little, looking at me with narrowed eyes. “Last time you said those words, they didn’t seem to mean a lot to you. That last morning, after we had made love, you couldn’t wait for me to go.”
“That’s not true,” I said and fisted my hands in his hair. “I just didn’t see a way for us to be together.”
“I offered to stay with you.”
“The Council will never let you,” I objected. “And I couldn’t imagine leaving the Motherlands.”
Finn pulled my hands out of his hair and interlaced our fingers. “Athena, I don’t know how we’re going to make this work practically. I just know that wehaveto. There’s no way you’re convincing me to walk away from you again.”
I placed a kiss on the back of his hand, and looked into his eyes. “I’m not asking you to walk away from me.”
Finn exhaled in relief. “Good! We have a lot to talk about.”
Loud voices from outside the cabin made me look up and ask, “Where’s Tristan? Is he all right?”
“Yes.” A smile spread on Finn’s lips. “The children had heard about Tristan from Magni, and since he’s the oldest, they’re all interested in him.”
“But why are they shouting? It sounds very hostile.”
“Oh, that’s nothing.” Finn said nonchalantly. “It’s just some of the Nboys and Tristan fighting. They’ve been at it on and off for hours.”
I pushed at him to get up. “If they hurt Tristan, Randa Christine will never forgive me.”
Finn supported me to the door with a small chuckle. “Don’t worry, they’re just teaching Tristan some techniques. I know Magni would’ve done it himself, but right now everything is pretty chaotic at the border and he’s too busy to be here.”
When Finn opened the door, it was dark outside. “What time is it?” I asked.
“Half past eight, I think.”
“Tristan,” I called out and the noise quieted down as a group of four boys turned to look at me.
“Athena, how are you feeling?” Tristan exclaimed and came running to me with red cheeks and his breath showing in the night air. “I’ve been so worried about you.”
“I’m fine.” My eyes moved past him to the other three boys, who were taking me in with curiosity. “Would you introduce me to your new friends?” I asked, softening my voice.
Tristan bowed his head to me, before he turned and swung his hand towards the boys. “This is Solo, Storm, and Hunter.”
With Finn by my side, I moved out of the cabin and down from the porch to meet the Nboys. It surprised me how handsome they were.
“How old are you three?” I asked because they looked more like masculine young men than boys.
Tristan grinned. ““I’m the oldest. I’m even older than Solo.” He pointed to the tallest of the three boys, who was the same height as Finn.
“My name is Storm, and I’m thirteen years old.” The boy in the middle raised his hand in a wave.
“I’m Hunter and I’m twelve,” the next boy informed me. “My twin sister is here too; her name is Willow.”
“Fascinating.” I gave him a smile. “Did you know her before you came here?”
“Nah.” He shook his head. “I didn’t even know I had a sister.”
