The fierce need to actually be with her, to satisfy her, for her to let me, to want me, burned so intensely that the air warmed around me as I pumped my hand faster.
I sunk my teeth into her mark. She cried out in pleasure, sinking her nails into my skin as she climaxed around my cock. The sight of her combined with the delicious sound of her moans coaxed my own from me and I finished in my hand.
I collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily as the sun’s first rays peeked over the horizon, setting the sky on fire. Closing my eyes, I threw my arm over them, smiling faintly.
It was still clear.
* * *
Not even minutes after I’d closed my eyes, raindrops hit my skin. A few at first, but by the time I pulled my arm from my eyes, it was a downpour. Menacing clouds swelled, blocking the sun, and it darkened with every passing second. Doran and Delphia jumped awake as we were soaked, shouting in surprise.
This was too sudden to be natural. It was Ara. Adrenaline fueled by fear rushed through me, jerking me to my feet.
“Something is wrong,” I whispered to myself, face turned to the sky.
“What is it?” Doran yelled over the howling wind, holding his hand up to shield his eyes.
“It has to be Ara, but I don’t know why.” A sinking feeling in my gut whispered that I knew why—her dream of me. Of us. The anxiety in my chest shifted to hurt. Clenching my jaw, I marched past Doran to the tree line. “Let’s just take cover and hope it passes soon.”
Just as we crossed into the forest, the rain slowed and stopped, the clouds clearing to reveal the sunrise once again. Puddles and mud were the only signs it had stormed at all.
My hand ran through my hair, pulling the wet strands from my face as my brows pulled together in confusion.I would give anything to know what you’re thinking right now, Ara.
Doran and Delphia looked at me as if I could explain, and I cleared my throat.
“Let’s just go find the encampment. No point in lying back down now.”
They nodded, following me deeper into the forest.
It was mid-morning when we spied the camp from the treeline. They had arrived in the early hours, setting up their tents just south of us.
The meeting was planned for this evening, an hour before sunset, so it gave us the entire day to survey the army. We sat in the trees, hidden, and used the invaluable time to study them—how they moved, where they went, how they prepared, paying special attention to the movement of higher ranks. As the sun peaked and began its descent, I realized their numbers were smaller than usual. Soldiers had stopped arriving hours ago.
Something tugged at me, a thought in the back of my mind, and I analyzed the layout of their camp again.
“Doran, there’s no general’s tent,” I whispered. “And where’s the rest of his men? He’s never traveled with so few men before.”
“What…” He squinted his eyes, searching the grounds, just as I’d done.
“Why would Starrin not stay in his own tent?”
“I’m not sure. That’s unusual,” he uttered. “For the number of men, however, I would assume this whole ordeal has been a huge hit to his pride, so in his eyes, the fewer people that know, the better. And actually, now that I think about it, maybe he didn’t want to alert anyone that he was traveling here at all. Having the king’s general leave so suddenly, to the Marsh of all places, would pique too much interest. It makes sense he would hide his presence by staying in an indistinguishable tent.”
I nodded slowly, uneasiness curling in my gut.Of course, he would make this even more difficult.
“We’ll just have to find his tent when we get down there.” When Doran didn’t reply, I faced him, the hesitation plain on his face.
“That’s not safe. We planned to find the tent first, so the mission would be quick. In and out. If we have to search for his tent, that increases the chances of us being seen,” Doran argued. “I cannot allow you to take Delphia into that trap.”
I opened my mouth to speak when she interjected.
“Brother, I know you’re only concerned for my safety, but I think this is a decision for me to make, not you.” She looked at him with affection before turning her gaze to me. “This is the best plan. The only plan. We have to save Ravaryn… and Ara.” She smirked at me and before I could disagree, she continued, “It is my duty as Fae to do this. No one else can. Let me do what I was born to do, Doran.”
Doran’s mouth was tight and Delphia patted his shoulder.
“We’ll be fine,” she insisted. “We should go now, though, before they expect us. The sun will set in a few hours.”
I gave a quick nod and we waited for Doran’s response. He stared at the ground with his eyebrows creased.