Chapter 28

Ali's been quiet throughout our trek from Donnora. She didn't seem to notice that I couldn't stop myself from searching the lakeshore for the being that I swore an unnamed favor to.

Night falls around us on velvet feet, heavy and silent. Thick clouds drown out the twinkle of stars and the glow of the three sisters' moon. Usually, that would have been enough to light our way on a clear night. Unlike the normal irritation I might feel at stopping early, I'm full of anticipation.

Ali's tending to the horses, speaking to them in soothing tones as she rubs them down, their muzzles wet from the babbling stream. I smile to myself, then return my attention to starting a fire. The branches finally smoke, then catch, greenish smoke from the koa tree pluming against the dark night.

Splashing catches my attention, and I spring to my feet, concern darting through me.

"Can you bring me the soap?" Ali calls out. Her purple markings glimmer even in the darkness, reflecting off the water.

A relieved breath rushes out of me. "Of course."

I pick my way down the stream bed after finding the washcloth and soap. "I'll bring you the towel when you finish," I tell her. In the dark, I can hardly make out the curve of her breast, but still, my gaze lingers on the shadows cloaking her body, as though I can will them away.

She steps closer, her small hand fisting in the fabric of my collar. "You need a bath, too."

"I do," I say. "I'll wait until you're done." If I get in the stream with her now, I'll throw her down on the bank like a barbarian. That is not how I would claim my mate, in muddy waters. No, I want to savor her, I want her to come to me supple and willing.

So I turn away, heading to the ample foodstuffs from the witches and Dabin and Danielle. I will make her a feast. I will distract myself with cooking, so that I do not dishonor her by staring at her body's wicked curves in the dark of night.

I bat Molmith away from one of the packs, but not before he's found an apple, crunching into it with gusto. Dazgan stares at me with soulful eyes, so I reward the grey horse with one, too.

"They say thank you," Ali calls out, and I chuckle, pulling out a small pan. A hot meal seems like a good way to soothe her this evening, so I set to the task, frying up bread with a jar of butter the witches packed, slathering it with cheese until it melts, then adding pickled vegetables from another jar. A flat stone with a piece of parchment over it serves as a platter, and I continue to throw together little food items for her, varying each slightly, since I do not know which she will prefer.

"Oh wow," Ali says softly.

I turn to her, the breath catching in my throat. Wet hair clings to her face and neck, turning to rivers down her body. Her naked body. Firelight bathes her in golds and reds, a goddess of the sea. Her pink nipples are hard, water tracking over them. I long to suck the moisture from it, to take it in my mouth and tease her as she presses her hot sex against me.

"This smells really good," she adds. "Can I?" She bends slowly, breasts swaying as she helps herself to a piece. She stands back up, water tracking down her stomach, to the cleft between her legs.

Unable to do more than stare at her, I slowly nod. I'm hard as a rock, and the needy whimper she makes as she bites into dinner only sends my desire spiraling higher. My lust.

But I cannot come to her out of control. No. I will let her pick the time, and the place.

"Do you like it?" I force myself to ask.

"I love it," she says, her head tilted back in pleasure as she chews. A nightbird calls out, the song plaintive.

A low growl is my only response. I want to take her throat in my mouth, I want to lavish it with affection, until she's begging me for more, as she did in the cave. My cock's hard in my pants, and I want to take it in hand and watch as it disappears in her mouth.

Like she did in the cave, when she was out of her mind on magic and mating lust. Something I should have stopped, would have stopped, if I'd known she was sick.

"I should clean up," I mutter. "Towel's right there. I'll just…" I nearly trip over my own feet in my haste to move away from her. Strange, when all I want to do is bury my face between her legs and taste her while she grinds against my mouth.

"I like you clean." Her throat bobs as she swallows. "I like you dirty, too."

I shed clothes quickly, racing to the waters and the soap glinting on the bank. The water's cold, and still, it barely offers any relief from my hard, aching cock.