Page 59 of Of Serpents and Ruins
He grunted, his body tensing in frustration. "Hord is up there. I told him I had to come here to meditate. He…he'll help you get back. Ihlkit, how do you smell this good?"
I giggled a little. "You smell like trash. I want to take you out."
He growled at me, but his heart quickened, the beat faster against my ear. "What got into you on this so-called Earth?"
"Are you seriously telling me that I wasn't flirtatious with you before this?" I asked, peering up at him. My arms remained tight around his steely frame, my body flush with his.
"No, but it was different." He dragged his hand along my neck, his gaze softening.
A knot formed in my throat. He was going to kiss me. And it would be heaven.
But Auntie Runa's words echoed in my mind. We couldn't afford to be any more stupid than we had already been. Here, pressed up against him, that tiny shred of consciousness felt and understood why it mattered.
A splinter of my will surged up. "We've got to go," I whispered. At least in this, we were still near one another. I wasn't walking that long dark passage alone.
"You're right," he said softly. His breath mingled with mine as his tongue darted out to moisten his lips. Then he straightened. "Let's get out of this cave."
I mourned every inch of space between us, the cold of the cavern so much fiercer now. His tabard remained draped over my shoulders like a cloak. Tears pricked the back of my eyes, threatening to spill over.
I really wanted to flirt with him. Desperately longed for something to say to make him smile. I had to subdue the giddiness.
"Do you think the earthquake made the curse's timeline for you advance?" I asked, my voice thick.
He guided me down the passage. "I don't know. Both times, it happened when we were near each other, but there were also earthquakes at both points. It wasn't until the earthquake, though, so that seems like it's more likely." He glanced down at me as we walked. "It's a bit of a maze to get you out of here now. I'll get you up to where it's a straight shot. Then you can tell one of my guards to escort you back to Auntie Runa. They have orders to protect you."
I could get lost in those soft, dark-red eyes. Walking side by side with him, his arm around me as we moved through the passage was beautiful torment. The intensity had almost settled out because we were in contact, but if the curse advanced again and crushed Brandt into insanity, I would be helpless. A shard of fear pulsed through me.
"Councilor Tile's theory is that agitation and stress advance the curse." His powerful shoulders shrugged. "Some of the others agree…they’re studying it more. Hopefully we’ll have answers soon."
Our footsteps echoed down the passage. Even as my eyes adjusted, it was challenging to see. The light came from bioluminescent fungi on the walls. On Earth, my friends had always said I'd had uncannily good eyesight in dark places, but this location put that to the test.
I glanced up at him, managing a weak smile. "Maybe I'm a special kind of stress that tipped the rest over the edge."
Or maybe the curse was advancing because we were nearing the end.
His smile went a little crooked, a hint of red reaching his cheeks. "Yeah, you are a pain in the spine. I've been so strained since you arrived I can barely walk without cracking."
A low growl rumbled through the air.
The joke that sprang to my lips faded as soon as I realized that wasn't him. He tensed too.
My pulse quickened. His arm tightened around me as he scanned the shadows behind us.
"What else is down here?" I whispered.
"There are three rivers that run through this cave system," he responded in hushed tones. "Could be any number—"
Another snarl ripped through the darkness, deep and gurgling. Much closer this time too. My breath caught in my throat. Claws clicked on the stone. Three pairs of eyes reflected in the darkness.
Brandt grunted. "Kapis." He pushed me behind him and farther down the passage.
The air sharpened. In the darkness, I glimpsed large reptilian forms. I couldn't remember what kapis were, but the gurgling rumbles coming from the passage didn't sound like they were friendly.
Brandt shook his head. "They shouldn't be awake."
"Sounds like they are, though."
"Apparently." He drew a deep breath and shook his head. His boots scraped on the stone as we continued to back away down the passage. "Great. You remember how to fight these?"
