Chapter 36: Sweet revenge
The cave was silent, save for the occasional drip of water echoing from deeper within. Rinni had curled up on the other side, her breathing soft and even, lost in the deep embrace of sleep. But Fina couldn’t bring herself to close her eyes.
She sat next to Allen, her tail wrapped around her legs, her back against the cold stone wall. Her gaze was fixed on him, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest. Though his breathing was calm now, she couldn’t shake the memory of his restless thrashing earlier, the haunted look in his eyes when he finally woke up.
Fina sighed softly, brushing a strand of her hair away from her face. "Idiot," she whispered under her breath. "You really don’t know how to let people in, do you?"
Hours passed. The night deepened, and the faint glow of moonlight filtering into the cave dimmed further. Fina stayed alert, her ears twitching at every little sound. She didn’t know what she was waiting for—another nightmare, maybe, or some sign that Allen was okay.
It was sometime just before dawn when she felt him stir. At first, it was subtle—a shift in his breathing, a faint movement of his hand. Then, his fingers brushed against her thigh, tentative and slow.
Fina glanced down, her ears perking up as she watched him. His hand slid higher, gently resting on her hip before tracing up to her chest. His fingers were light, almost hesitant, as they brushed against her skin.
"Allen," she whispered, her tone a mix of exasperation and amusement.
He didn’t respond, but his lips moved closer, brushing softly against the curve of her breast. The touch was gentle, reverent, almost as if he was seeking comfort more than anything else.
Fina’s expression softened, and she let out a small sigh. "You’re hopeless, you know that?" she muttered, running her fingers through his hair.