“I…won’t let anyone’s else opinions influence my own anymore,” he whispered.
I traced the line of his jaw with his fingers. “Good,” I told him.
He pulled me closer, his hands slipping beneath my shirt, the warmth of his touch a stark contrast to the cold air.
I groaned, loving the way his fingertips set my skin on fire. We lost ourselves in each other, the storm outside forgotten.
Like before, the rest of the world ceased to matter, and I let myself drown.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
GAEL/ ASHER
GAEL
The storm had finally eased. The ground was slick beneath my boots, the scent of wet leaves and churned mud mixing with the residual sting of ozone.
The world felt hushed, as though it were holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable chaos to resume.
I glanced back at Asher, who was leaning against the doorframe of the shelter, his arms crossed over his chest.
The lines of tension in his body were unmistakable, but his gaze softened when it met mine.
We’d barely had a moment to ourselves, to let the fragile connection between us settle into something real.
The memory of our lips crashing together, of skin on skin, was still raw in my mind.
“I’ll scout ahead, check the hunters’ positions, and find you something to eat,” I told him.
Asher nodded, though his jaw tightened.
I half expected him to insist it was his turn to scout, but he must’ve finally accepted that he still wasn’t at his best and simply left it to me.
He’d compromised, and I was proud of him for that. Asher could be darn stubborn at times.
“Don’t be long,” he said.
I smirked, trying to lighten the mood. “Miss me already?”
He rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched. “You wish.”
I turned away, forcing myself to leave the warmth of his presence.
My instincts screamed at me to stay close to him, but we needed information, and he needed sustenance.
The rain-soaked forest seemed to close around me as I moved, every step deliberate and silent.
A snap of a twig made me freeze. I spun, senses flaring, but found nothing. Just the forest whispering secrets in the wind.
I shook it off, chalking it up to my frayed nerves.Get a grip, Gael.I forced myself to focus on the task at hand.
My feet moved on instinct, carrying me farther from Asher.
Each step felt heavier than the last, though I wasn’t sure if it was the thick mud clinging to my boots or my growing uncertainty.
I paused, crouching low to the ground and scanning my surroundings.
Should I head back to Asher? Asher was a fighter, but he was still recovering. I shook my head, shaking off the doubts.
