32. Chapter Thirty Two

As the sun sets between the mountains in the west, the forest is illuminated by thousands of clusters of lichen clinging to the trunks of trees. The path is approximately twenty feet wide and stretches endlessly into the mountain range for as far as my eye can see. Small groups of luminescent mushrooms glow in the nooks and roots of the trees in neon colors. We pass a large bush covered in glowing purple berries the likes of which I haven't seen before. While I should be overjoyed to see our path and the magical wonders that accompany it, my soul aches with an empty hollowness.

I let Nero and Aramis walk ahead of me. Lemon scrambles up my cloak, curling around my neck, his little head nestled against my collarbone. He lets out a low rumble of content as I scratch behind his ears.

"We're a long way from Kallistar, boy." He nips playfully at my fingertips. I sigh deeply as my hand drops to my side. My eyes draft towards Aramis' form, a gravitational pull to him as I trace the outline of his back and neck. The man in front of me is not the same one who captured me all those weeks ago. My heart is desperate to talk to him, let him know that a part of me understands where his prejudices came from and that he should not let his past determine his future. My mind however, reminds me of all the pain he's caused me and urges me to be cautious. I cast my eyes skyward where I can see the beginnings of stars twinkling in the amethyst sky and nibble on my lip in anticipation.

"I'm nae familiar with these woods this far into the mountains." Nero turns around as he explains his thoughts. "I'll scout ahead to see if I can find a place for us to camp for the night. I dinna know how far the entrance to the tunnels Kela mentioned is."

At the mention of her name, we all fall silent. My chest tightens painfully, and tears prick at the corner of my eyes. Her loss weighs heavily on me, on all of us. Even Aramis has surprised me with his compassion. My breath hitches, recalling how intimately our bodies mingled together as he held me from falling apart over her loss.

You are brave. You don't falter. You don't lose resolve. I repeat the words in my head. Pieces of wisdom given to me by people who saw past my shortfalls and made my strength shine. They remind me of who I can be. Goosebumps rise on my arms at the memory of his lips whispering against my skin. His hardened tone was the only thing familiar about Aramis, but it was coated with patience and generosity. Am I pathetic for eagerly drinking up any sort of kindness, or is it just as meaningful as my gut tells me it is?

"Be safe," Aramis says as he nods to his friend, taking his pack. "We will continue following the lichen path and meet you in due time."

We watch, side by side, as Nero flexes his wings before shooting up between the trees. Our fingers barely brush against one another, and electricity shoots up my arm, putting me on edge. I glance towards Aramis, but his face is focused on the sky, watching his best friend in his shifter form scout the territory to keep us safe. There is no hatred or disgust on his face, only worry, and my heart clenches at the thought of how far this man has come.

"He'll be alright. He's cunning and strong," I say, offering a shy glance which he slowly returns. His gaze is a thorough caress as his winds sweep across my cheek. Aramis's icy blue eyes, once guarding a fortress of anger, have thawed into an azure expanse that mirrors the ocean. As I look into them, I see his transformation–no longer the gaze of a man barricaded behind walls of disdain, but a revelation of vulnerability. Goddess help me. We stand there in silence, neither willing to interrupt this moment and I realize this is only the second time we've been completely alone. There's a clarity in his eyes that transcends words and reflects emotions he can no longer conceal. I gently place my hand on his cheek, a silent plea for connection. The light stubble is coarse against my palm but before I can return the same honesty he is offering me, I panic, overwhelmed by what this could mean so I step away and continue walking.

"I wish I could have seen your face when Nero told you he was a shifter. That must have been a shock for you," I say snickering, trying to defuse the tension between us.

"It certainly was a surprise but I've known him my whole life, he's practically a brother to me. Nothing can come between us." Aramis sounds assured, unhurried even. His eyes return back to the sky. "I can't imagine a life without him."

"Even though he's a shifter?" I ask, unable to help myself as I study his face.

The corner of his lip pulls up into a grin. "Even as a shifter."

"People often keep secrets to protect loved ones or keep them safe," I reply, keeping a wary eye on him.

"I've never seen this many stars at the castle," he says after a moment. "My mother used to love painting the night sky. She believed the stars were guardians, holding the secrets of the world." His gaze wanders across the night sky, desperately searching for something. I smile because I know how it is to wonder at the majesty of gazing into the skies. How many nights did I spend after packing my bags for Esther Nova, only to spend the evening under the stars wondering what it would be like, but too afraid to leave?

"The sky is a thing of wonder." I sigh, looking for my favorite constellations. "This far north from my home, the stars are shifted in the sky."

"Navigating by the stars is a skill. I can teach you–" Aramis pauses and the tips of our fingers brush again, sending tiny sparks up my arm. "–If you'd like." Every stolen glance becomes a fleeting caress, each word carries an undertone of something more profound.

I smile shyly at him, seeing the thoughtful male I had begun to know all those weeks ago. "I'd like that very much, Aramis."

We continue trudging along in silence, my eyes constantly returning to him. Apart from this small conversation, he has been so quiet, barely speaking a word to me. Even the nature around us seems to hold its breath, waiting for the moment when the unresolved tension between us unfurls. Aramis remains close to me, despite his silence. There are so many things I want to ask; so many things I want to know. What is on his mind? How is he dealing with the loss of identity after leaving the Kingdom?

My boot snags on a hidden root in the snow and I careen forward, arms pinwheeling at my sides as I attempt to regain my balance. In a heartbeat, Aramis' arm snatches out, catching me around my waist and preventing my fall. He braces me against his chest, his fingers flexing around my hips. The heat of his fingertips burn through the thin fabric of my gown, making me gasp at the warmth and my reaction to it. His eyes mere inches away and locked onto mine, hold a question I don't know how to answer.

My breath catches in my chest from a desire so intense that it pools in my core. My body flushes with heat as our breath mingles in white puffs. I tremble, and Aramis' grip tightens on me before I can move too far, desperate to prolong this moment.

"Sybil," he whispers, staring deeply into my eyes. I tilt my head to the side in concern and that tug in my stomach intensifies. In this suspended moment, with the stars shining bright above us, the pull becomes irresistible and righteous, as if letting go is the easiest and simplest decision I can ever make. Aramis's gaze drops to my lips, and a shared understanding passes between us in this moment as if blessed by destiny itself.

What would it be like to kiss those lips? How would I feel if he kissed down the soft flesh of my neck? The heat of his hands on my waist is almost too much to bear. The wood around us seems to retreat in the background, leaving only us to make sense of our emotions. My body yearns for more, to fill this void that has been growing inside me. Aramis drinks me in like I'm the sunshine to his flower.

"What are you thinking?" I ask breathlessly. My heart beats faster in my chest; I can hardly perceive the cold chill around us, only the burning heat spreading throughout my body. I nibble my lip in anticipation. His eyes watch every moment with that intense, thorough investigation.

"I'm thinking..." He takes a step forward, a wicked smile on his lips. When my back brushes up against the trunk of a tree, luminescent lichen sprinkles down over our heads, dusting us in a fine glowing powder. "I am thinking that I will follow you until the end of time itself, Sybil. I am thinking that I have been a fool for letting you slip through my fingers and I am thinking that, if you'll have me, I will never let you go again."

"Oh?" I gasp, unable to help the twist of desire sweeping through my body. Whatever is gathering in my stomach is sinking down to my core.

Aramis places a forearm against the tree, caging me in. "Every time I close my eyes I am haunted by the vision of you." Wind teases my neck, making me gasp. "You are my greatest torment, and my sweet awakening, Sybil Vandeleur," he whispers the last words in my ear. His fists bunch in the fabric of my skirts, his forehead pressing against my own. He closes his eyes, breath ragged, hands trembling as he slightly loosens his grip. His wind brushes up the inside of my leg and I gasp.

Goddess help me. Mine. The word crosses my mind and it feels sweet like a prayer. I lift my hands to his chest, the pounding of his heart under my palms in a wild rhythm with my own. With a tilt of my chin, my lips gently brush against his own. It's a tender collision, the culmination of a journey marked by countless obstacles, stolen glances and a sprinkle of fate.

"Ah, Sybil, my pomme sucrée. You taste so sweet," he says in between kisses. The dam of emotions explodes within me. My magic sings as he deepens the kiss, gently coaxing my mouth open. Our tongues meet and dance; a spark of heat shoots through me. His hands slide down my hips, pulling them forward to cradle against his own. My softness caresses his hardness. His winds sweep my hair out of my face, stroking down my sides, and I groan.

"Aramis," I gasp.

Stop it with the winds. Please–

Aramis' fingers cascade down my back, making me arch into him as he slides a hand up my spine. He kisses down to the slope of my neck, rough stubble scraping against my delicate skin.

Aramis' other hand slides up, gently cupping my breast. I gasp, pressing further into his touch as he runs a thumb over my nipple through my chemise.

"I love the way you smell." Aramis inhales deeply, continuing to trace lazy circles around my nipple with his thumb. "Lavender, vanilla, and a hint of black tea." His other hand makes its way up my back to my scalp. Shivers run down my spine, a low moan escaping my lips as he fists a handful of hair and gently tugs my lips to him. His winds brush my ankles and up my calf, and I bite my lip in resistance to cry out once more.

"I am yours Sybil," he whispers as a delicate slide of air caresses my inner thighs. His kisses become more intense. Deep. Dominating. Our teeth and tongues clash in an erotic dance.

"And I am yours," I answer, knowing that it is the truth as raw energy rushes through my body. This is where I am meant to be, in his arms, in this kingdom, fighting this war. Aramis growls in approval and my body shudders in response. My lips are swollen and tender from our kisses.

"It's about time this happened." Nero crouches on a tree branch not far from us, bursting our little bubble. His big hands cover his eyes in a feeble attempt to pretend he is disgusted, even though his huge grin says otherwise. My cheeks blush from the embarrassment but also notice Aramis's hand on the hilt of his sword. It must have been his instinctual reaction at our rude interruption, always ready to protect me.

"Thanks Nero, perfect timing as usual," he says with a wicked spark in his eyes.

"Aye mate. I'd say you two should get a room but we're scarce on that at the moment. The path ahead is clear, come find me once you two are presentable," he continues, takes a big jump and lands on the snowy ground. As Nero disappears in the distance, casually whistling, Aramis lowers his forehead to mine, the smile on his lips is so bright it matches the stars above.

"He is going to taunt us with this for the rest of our lives," he says snickering.

"Good, because I want to remember this moment for the rest of mine," I vow and he kisses me once more with the reverence deserving of a goddess.