Chapter 522: At Ease with the Enemy
The moon penetrated the thin cloud cover, casting a soft, pale light upon the rugged mountains. Still, it was dark enough that I needed my demonkin vision to make out more than vague shapes. Luke led us down a steep game trail, winding through the valleys until we neared one of the outlying forts.
"Xiviyah," he said, turning to face me with a frown. "We’ll leave your wolf behind here, and you’ll need to drop your wards."
My tail instinctively curled up, hidden beneath the illusion, and I took a shaky breath.
He must have seen the panic in my eyes because his expression softened slightly. "It’s alright; I’ll protect you," his voice was gentler than usual. "But both it and the golden glow of your wards will give us away, especially this late at night."
I hesitated, reluctance tying a knot in my stomach, before sliding off Fable’s back. The snow was deeper than I anticipated, and my boots sank with a soft crunch, sending a jolt of icy cold up my legs. I stumbled, but Luke was there in an instant, one hand firm on my arm, the other a warm pressure against my back. I froze, my heart fluttering, as our faces were just inches apart, my hands resting on his chest for support.
His eyes, brown because of the illusion, met mine, and I saw my own anxious face reflected in their depths. But there was something more there, too. He’d always seemed soft whenever it came to me, disregarding the normal ruthlessness he showed others, but for the first time, I felt a warmth, a gentleness that belied the coldness I’d come to associate with him. The aura of his curse, usually so prominent, was barely noticeable.
A faint red tinged my cheeks as I caught myself staring, a shaky breath reminding my lungs I had to breathe. A few fragmented memories of our entanglement drifted through my mind, and I found myself drawn to him, allowing him to hold me long after I’d steadied.
Jessia’s cough brought me back to my senses, and I quickly retreated against Fable, pressing myself back into his side, hands grasping at his fur behind me. I stared wide-eyed at Luke, who gazed at me as if in a daze before finally giving himself a shake. The feeling of his hand against my back, of our skin touching, lingered, and I quickly averted my eyes, hoping to hide my blush.
"Sorry, but please be careful. The snow hides a lot of rocks and roots," he said, rubbing his horn. He tried to flash me a teasing smile, but it came off a little too sincere. "Unless you want me to carry you, of course."