Page 23 of Forbidden Obsession
Some of us.
The fire crackles and snaps, warming our fronts even while our backs grow chilly as the temperature plunges. For a moment, no one speaks. Each of us reflects in our own way. I take comfort in Jindal, tucked in under my arm as close as he can get without climbing into my lap. I feel his ribs expand on every inhale and contract on every exhale, and if I concentrate on that, things don’t seem so bad.
Another rumble echoes from overhead, louder this time, tugging me out of my thoughts. Thunder this close? Normally, I’d have sensed bad weather approaching. I thought it would miss us. I must be even more distracted than I’d realized.
“Is that a storm coming?” Bird’s wings flutter and resettle. “I don’t like storms.”
“Sounds like it.” Petzyl glances at Basil on his side. “Maybe we should call it an early night?”
Basil nods. Another boom sounds, followed by the hissing crack and flash of lightning.
Everyone startles. Salah and Lemon rush to the stone table to clear up the food. The swoosh of approaching rain sweeps through the gulley.
I stuff what’s left of the jugs of ale into my sack as Jindal gathers the pastries.
“Too bad you can’t fly.” Vander bumps his shoulder against mine. If he meant to shove me, it didn’t work. He may be the bully, but I’ll always be bigger. If he meant it to be friendly, yeah, I’ll believe that when nillyslugs learn to gallop.
“That’s fine.” I shift my gaze from Vander to Falen, who can’t fly either. “Falen and I can walk together.”
“And me,” says Jindal. “I’ll walk with you.”
Falen kisses Bird’s cheek and assures her he’d rather she hurry home with the others before she can make the same offer. “I’ll join you shortly.”
I turn to say the same to Jindal, but he’s shaking his head. “I’m with you.”
Gathering his hand in mine, I tug him to the side. “I’d rather you fly.” Voice lowered to a whisper, I say in his ear, “I want to speak with Falen alone. I think he wants the same. Please?”
Jindal’s expression crumples, and his shoulders droop. He doesn’t understand, but I’ll explain it to him later. If we’re alone, Falen can speak freely with me about this, something he’s unlikely to do in the presence of a full-blooded fae he’s only just begun to know. But Jindal’s pout breaks my heart. “Rahz?”
Another loud clap of thunder pierces our eardrums. Storms that crop up out of nowhere tend to do the most damage.
“Please, Jin? Go with the others and hurry home safely. I’ll be along soon.”
His sad little nod tests my resolve, but I won’t let this opportunity slide. Falen is the only one who might understand what I’m going through. We need to talk.
Jindal leaves with the others, buddying up with Bird, who’s already taken to the sky. They’ll be home in mere minutes, whereas the walk will take Falen and me at least a half hour.
Plenty of time to see if he’s as willing to pledge his loyalty to the queen as he seems.
ChapterTen
Jindal
By the timeI arrive at our little hayloft in the barn, I’m blinking back tears. Not only because Rahz wanted to speak to Falen without me, which I can almost understand, but because of, well, everything.
I’ve done such a good job sticking my head in the sand that I’m only now realizing we’ll be parted. For an entire month.
Perhaps even longer.
We’ve never been apart for more than a few nights in years. I don’t sleep well without him when I know he’s only one town over in Clodhill. So how will we manage the vast span of sunstrides between Jodpirn and Lemossin?
How will I know if he’s safe?
My stomach churns, and my nerves are on edge. I hug myself, trying to sit still. Pacing won’t help the time pass by any quicker.
Outside, the storm rages, banging the shutters on the house across the field, whistling through the rafters of the barn, pelting a deluge of rain that hopefully won’t prove too much for the young seedlings we’re growing. Rahz and Falen will be soaked through and chilled to the bone on their walk.
With that in mind, I light our biggest lantern. Real fire, not safe like Rahz’s, but the kind that could light up this hayloft in seconds if I’m not careful. But it won’t. Because I am careful. The little space around our bed feels warmer already. I collect a towel for him to dry his skin, some soft clothes to sleep in, and our coziest blankets to warm him up.
