Chương 94: 094

Whatever this ache and pull was, it was wildly irritating. The thought surfaced for the third–no, fourth–time as I realized I'd drifted out of formation again. Thankfully, Dominicus hadn't commented. He seemed content to keep to himself after last night, which was a blessing, because I really didn't feel like explaining why I couldn't walk in a straight line anymore. The others hadn't noticed yet, but they would. Dura and I were supposed to be a few yards apart…

and I'd already closed that distance half a dozen times without meaning to. No matter how hard I tried to focus on anything else, the second my attention slipped, that tug in my chest pulled me toward her again, subtle but relentless, like I was being reeled in on an invisible line. At least we were at the back. If I'd wandered forward like this, Henry would've clocked it instantly. I glanced up, taking in the others to distract myself.

Henry led, sharp-eyed and alert, scanning the forest like something might leap out at any second. Maya trailed just behind him, lighter on her feet than before but still careful to stay within arm's reach of her adan. Dominicus kept to her left, posture rigid, hand resting on his sword. Every twitch of his ears tracked the forest around us. Time walked on her right, occasionally guiding her back toward the center whenever she veered too close to uneven ground. And then there was Dura and I.

She walked with her head high, axe resting casually on her shoulder. A smile tugged at her lips, where it'd been since I'd woken up next to her. Every now and then, she let out a soft whistle, light and carefree. Her steps were easy. Loose. Effortless. My gaze dipped, unhelpfully, to her hips. The sway was hypnotic, almost bouncy, and the longer I watched, the more pronounced it seemed to get. Surely that wasn't normal. She had to be doing it on purpose.

But when I looked up, her gaze was forward, expression relaxed. No teasing smirk or knowing glance. Apparently, that was just how she walked. Maybe it came with her being trained? Or maybe-. I bumped into her arm. Again. The ache in my chest immediately eased, the pull settling into a low, satisfied hum as her attention snapped to me. Her smile brightened, and she nudged her hip into mine. Warmth shot through me like a live wire.

"You seem a bit distracted today." She tilted her head, grin turning teasing.

"Any reason for that?" I huffed, matching her smile.

"You'd be just as 'distracted' if I were walking in front of you." If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. She shrugged easily.

"You're not wrong. Good to know you're enjoying the view, at least." As if I could ever not. She was six feet of drop dead gorgeous and she carried herself like she damn well knew it. Letting my gaze drag deliberately over her, lingering longer over certain areas, I hummed.

"I'd have to be blind not to." Her grin widened.

"Good answer." Her arm swung closer, brushing mine for a fleeting second before dropping again.

"Are you drifting over here because you want a squeeze," she added with a wink, "or do you just want to be closer? I'm fine with either." Of course she'd noticed. Of course. She might look relaxed, but years of training meant nothing got past her. Heat crept up my neck as I rubbed at it, scrambling for an answer that didn't boil down to I'm being weirdly clingy and I don't know why. When nothing better came, I shrugged.

"Just… thinking. Got a lot on my mind." Her smile slipped.

"You regretting… anything?" Like last night? The unspoken words hung between us. I winced internally and immediately shook my head.

"No. Not even a little." She didn't look convinced. Great. With a quiet sigh, I took her hand and tugged us a few steps back, just enough to give the illusion of privacy. Close enough that Dominicus could still hear, but far enough that the others couldn't.

"I'm not regretting anything," I said, softer now.

"It's actually the opposite." One brow arched, curiosity replacing the doubt.

"Oh yeah? Go on." Relief flickered through me at the shift, and I smiled.

"It's been years since I even thought about being with someone." I gave her hand a small squeeze.

"I forgot how… nice it feels. Stuff like this." I lifted our joined hands slightly.

"I keep thinking about this, and last night. And every time I snap back to the present…" I huffed lightly.

"I've already wandered halfway to you." Not a lie. Just… not the whole truth. The ache pulsed again, quieter now with her hand in mine, but still there. Persistent and waiting. Dura's face lit up, her fingers tightening around mine as she swung our joined hands between us.

"Then don't fight it." Her grin turned softer, warmer.

"You're not the only one replaying last night. And while this isn't quite as good…" She bumped her shoulder into mine.

"I'll take it." The pull eased further, settling into something almost content. I let out a slow breath and gave in, for now. Later, I'd ask Time about it. Because this? This wasn't normal. …but at least she didn't think it was weird.