Page 74 of Blood and War
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Forty-One
DEMITRIA
The warmth emanating around her body was enough to keep her in bed until the end of time. There wasn’t a thing in the world that could make her get up at that moment. Resting firmly in his grasp, the smooth skin of his chest warming her to her core was all the more reason to stay in bed. Lying here beside him, after everything that had happened leading up to this point, this was the moment she had been waiting for. What the both of them had been waiting for. Like they’d been attached together on a string, their very beings pulled toward one another as it slowly wound and wound around them.
“Are you awake?” Her voice soft, cutting through the silence as she whispered. His arms wrapped tighter around her and she couldn’t help the smile that crept its way across her lips.
“I’m awake.” Kellan’s voice was just as gentle, and Demitria could feel him nod his head as he nestled it into her neck. His lips caressing along her throat as he trailed gentle kisses across it. That burning igniting within her, body craving the feel of him once more. After last night she wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to have anyone else again.
“I don’t know if I’m ready… to go today.” It had been on her mind for hours that morning as she lay there, unmoving whileKellan slept soundlessly beside her. Listening to the soft breaths pass through his lips as his chest rose and fell. The reality of their situation sunk in. It could very well be the only chance she ever got with him. The only moment she was able to truly wake in his arms. She needed more time with the Horseman, and was cursing herself all morning for pushing her feelings aside for so long. Because the thought of losing him made the bile in her stomach rise, and she nearly fell ill.
It wasn’t fair. But nothing in this life had been fair, either. She knew that, better than most. The argument in her mind had fallen silent just as quickly as it had arisen.
“Don’t go,” Kellan whispered. “Stay here, where you’ll be safe. Stay in this room, and don’t leave until I return.” He pulled away to gaze at her, and the look in his eyes had her weak, her body coming apart at the seams. “Stay in this house, and away from this battle. This war isn’t yours to get caught up in, and I can’t—I can’t lose you.” She felt it, deep within her chest. That incessant ache as he pleaded with her.
“This is my people… I have to protect my people. My world. I may not feel ready, but I can’t abandon them.” Demitria closed her eyes, shutting out the thought of something happening to them. To all of them.
“I admire you. For everything you’ve done, and continue to do.” His lips grazed lightly across her, ghosting over her collarbone as the shiver coursed through her. “You’re stronger than any being I’ve ever known, but your bravery scares me.” Kellan closed his eyes, letting out a trembled breath at the thought. “I can’t lose you. Not when I’ve only just had you.” He trailed his fingers slowly up her arms and down her sides where he finally rested them on her hip. The caress sent sparks shooting throughout her body, skin on fire everywhere he touched.
“I don’t want to talk about today.” Voice still quiet, Demitria tangled a hand in his hair, pulling him closer to her. “I want to live in this moment. With you.” She kissed him. All those heated exchanges, the frantic moments when either of them would cave into the other, it was nothing compared to this. Didn’t even come close to what she’d had last night. Now that she’d experienced what it had been like to really have him, to hold him in her arms. To kiss him without having to hide it from the world, she didn’t want to let that go. Not now, not ever.
“We could both just stay here.” He inquired, teeth nipping softly at her bottom lip. “Hide away and find our own little community where no one knew who we were. Abandon all responsibility.”
Demitria couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her mouth. She wanted to tell him that she wanted nothing more in this world than to run away with him. To live a life without fear or death.
To be free.
“Kellan…”
“I know… wishful thinking.” He grinned, propping his large frame up on his elbows as he looked down at her beneath him.
Demitria lay there, bare, for only his eyes to see. His azure eyes intoxicating as he stared at her, drinking her in. Like he was looking into her soul, his own exposed wide open for her in mutual understanding. As if they were two halves of a whole, and like called to like.
“The sun has already risen; we should be moving soon.” Leaving was inevitable. No matter how badly either of them wanted to stay behind, they’d be found soon enough. There wasn’t a place on this earth where they could hide away from it all. From Kellan’s siblings… the council. They’d all find them eventually.
“I know.” Her long sigh could rival his own. With an embrace that neither of them wanted to back away from, they slowly removed themselves from the bed. Demitria hesitated before pulling the thick, form fitted black pants up her body, fastening the button at her waist. Glancing behind her, she stared at Kellan who hadn’t moved a single muscle to get himself dressed. “They might wonder why you’re fighting naked.” She winked. Snapping him from his daze, he grinned sheepishly at her, closing the distance between them in two long strides.
“Who said anything about fighting?” Laughing, his arm snagged around her body, nearly pulling her off her feet at his quick movements. “I’m stalling, and it’s painfully obvious, isn’t it?”
“Very much so.” He kissed her softly before settling her feet back firm on the ground and reluctantly pulling his own pants up. Demitria let her fingers graze gently along his chest before pulling the dark, long-sleeved shirt over his head. She fastened the leather armor across it, slowly buckling the worn straps together. Kellan helped her fasten the sturdy leather bracers to her wrist. One of the only pieces of armor she had, and he whispered a curse at the realization. He took it upon himself to strap the sword around her curved figure, letting his fingers softly run along the waistband over her hips. The sigh was heavy on his lips as his azure eyes slowly made their way up toward her as he reluctantly took a step back.
The two stood at the door, unable to move. Outside their small group was waiting for them, and in less than an hour they’d be marching up the mountain to face gods knows what. No one really knew what they’d find, and even Kellan had told her he couldn’t discern if it was a trap or not.
“Once we go out this door…” His hand wavered as he gripped the doorknob.
“We will fight and we will win.” Demitria’s fingers dug into his arm as she gripped him tight. “We will return together.” She could feel it brimming in her eyes, the tears that threatened to pour. Feeling so vulnerable in that moment, but she didn’t care. Not anymore. “We will come back here. I don’t care what they think. You and I—” Kellan didn’t let her finish the sentence. He engulfed her entire body in his arms, pressing himself firmly against her as he kissed her like his life depended on it. It felt like time itself had stood still, and when he pulled away, she thought her heart might explode from her chest. He'd made her feel so many things. So many different emotions…
“They’re waiting.” With a sigh, Kellan stepped back. Hand slowly turning the knob and opening the door to the hallway beyond.
The house was quiet. The others who wouldn’t be joining them most likely still sound asleep in whatever bed they had chosen. Blissfully unaware of the turmoil her and the Horseman endured as they took what could be their last steps through the hallway. Awaiting their return with news of their victory.
The cool air nipped at Demitria’s face as they slowly made their way to the large stoned area that had once been a driveway. Their arms brushed as they continued. Neither one hiding the newfound closeness between them. Kellan lightly grazed his fingers across her own. They’d been balled into fists, but at his touch she relaxed them.
They had been the last to arrive, and all eyes turned toward the Horseman, and the human girl that arrived together. Kellan made a point to stand as close as he could get to her.
“You disgust me.” The venom dripped from the female’s mouth. The disbelief was wild in her eyes. Eire had her bow drawn and aimed straight at Demitria. The tip of the arrow resting on her chin as the rage consumed her.
