Page 33 of The Bones of the Cursed
“Orion brought up a good point, though,” I continue. “Withthese creatures actively hunting Alanis, we can’t risk them following her into towns and villages. If we need to venture into more populated areas, a group of men will stay back with Alanis while the rest of us go. Is that acceptable for everyone?”
Everyone nods. Orion stays quiet.
I look to him, unable to mask the annoyance on my face. “We’re all waiting on you, Orion. I don’t need any weaklings slowing us down.”
Orion bristles at the insult. “Yeah, sure, let’s get on with it.”
He gets up and stomps to his horse like a petulant toddler.
Everyone clears away from the campfire, each packing up their campsites. By the time I’ve packed the bedrolls and tents and given them to the few soldiers who take care of the packhorses that carries our supplies, I find Alanis petting Zephyr, so I sneak up behind her, snaking my arms around her waist.
I lean down to whisper in her ear. “I think we have some unfinished business.”
With a snort, she glances over her shoulder at me. “Oh, we do? I’m sure I have no clue what you’re going on about.”
I growl in her ear and she shudders. “Insufferable woman.”
Pulling her with me, I try to gain some semblance of control. We are just out of sight of the camp, tucked behind a birch tree so no wandering eyes can see, and a good distance away that Siveral and the other Fae won’t be able to hear…much.
I spin her, pushing her back against the skinny white trunk of the tree. I’ll be damned if I have her like this the first time, but a taste won’t hurt. I encircle her wrists with one hand and drag her arms above her head, pinning her wrists to the tree. She smirks at me, arching her hips forward.
I trail kisses along her throat, pressing my hips into hers. She lets out a breathy moan that makes me weak in the knees. Dear Gods, this woman is going to be the death of me. I walk myfingers down to the button on her trousers and pop them open. I’m so engrossed in everything Alanis that I don’t hear when someone approaches.
A throat clearing jerks me out of my trance and Alanis jumps, her cheeks instantly turning a bright red.
“Glad to see you two finally getting along and not going for each other’s throats…” Siveral pauses. “Well, I guess technically you still are. But in any case, we need to get moving.”
“Yeah, yeah, we’ll be there in a second.” I straighten, helping Alanis fasten her trousers, her breathing still ragged. Leaning in, I give her a quick kiss. Anything more and I will lose myself in her again.
The next few days play out the same. Alanis and I sneak off after breakfast to learn one another’s mouths. But we never get the opportunity, time, or privacy to go much further since Fae hearing wouldn’t even make our tent private. We steal glances and sly touches, but still bicker over absolutely everything.
I refuse to tell her how much I enjoy it, scared that emotions will get involved.
Every night we set up camp, Alanis retreats to the tent she shares with Hannah almost immediately after dinner. Sometimes, though, I wake up in the middle of the night to kisses being planted up my chest.
Those are the best nights.
Those are the nights that my nightmares don’t plague me.
It’s just reaching midday on the fourth day when I slow Zephyr at the sight of twinkling lights just ahead. I stop at the two massive willow trees, water in a stream trickling past. Their long branches cloak the entrance, creating a soft green curtain in front of the cave’s mouth. A damp, earthy smell seeps out from the dark opening.
“The Celestial Cave,” Alanis breathes.
15
- ALANIS -
THE STRANGER
Idismount Zephyr and wait for Kailu to ground-tie him before walking toward the entrance of the cave. I’m entranced by the flickering lights looming above me in the willow trees. The wind blows and the willow branches part, as if inviting me in. It’s a different sensation to the pulls I felt towards this realm. This one is gentle, drawing me in slowly without my control, as if stuck in a magical trance. I go to step through the mouth of the cave when a hand on my shoulder stops me.
“Alanis, you need to be cautious in here.” Kailu’s voice centers me, brings me back to the present.
His next words are directed at the entire group. “Everyone needs to be alert. The magic in this place is powerful. Many have entered and lost themselves along the way.”
Hannah comes to stand next to me, holding tight to my hand. Her poor nerves are probably shot after the week we’ve had. The girl hadn’t ever left the Outskirts, and here I am gallivanting with her all over while a swarm of evil creatures chases after me for some Gods awful reason.
“This cave system can show you your deepest desires,” Kailusays, “but don’t be tricked into thinking it can give them to you. Everything it can give you comes with a price, a steep one. One that almost always is paid in blood.”
