*This chapter has extremely graphic explicit content. The next chapter will be a cleaner version. You do not need to read them both.*
"A little birdie told me you're staying here!" Yoli says, approaching me and the fire. Everyone else has gone to bed or gotten settled a while ago, but I've been staying up, stuck in my thoughts.
"Is that alright?" I ask, looking up.
"Are you joking with me? You've saved my family. Of course you can stay!" Yoli is so kind and light, the opposite of Bradley most days. It's refreshing.
"They're leaving tomorrow morning," I say. "I haven't even told Lorcan yet."
"What? Why not?" Yoli sounds disappointed in me.
"I've been nervous. I told the rest of my crew yesterday. They took it well. Hadrien is still undecided if he's staying or going. I haven't had the guts to talk to Lorcan," I tell her.
"You better hurry, I bet he's already asleep," Yoli says, looking up at the ever growing dark sky. "I swear he'd sleep non-stop if you let him."
"I think his sleep patterns have been turned around too much. He'll never sleep like a normal person," I laugh. "But you're right. He likes to get up bright and early. I don't want him finding out right before they leave." I look Yoli up and down. She has dark, sleepless circles under her eyes, but her energy is as vibrant as always. "Why are you awake?"
"Hope and Bradley just fell asleep. This is about the only moment of alone time I get in the day before Hope wakes up hungry again." Yoli smiles. Getting pregnant at her age has been tiring on her, but you can see how rewarding it is as well. "Don't let me keep you. Get to bed, talk to Lorcan. Enjoy your last night with the full crew. You don't know when you'll get that again."
"Thank you, Yoli."
Taking her advice, I walk back to the home my crew has built ourselves. It has enough room for us all but not much more. It's perfectly cozy and warm, just what my soul has been craving. Inside, the men are climbing into their beds. Aside from Dean, who is lacing up his shoes.
"Where are you going?" I ask. I glance around the room. "Where is Lorcan?"
"You didn't tell him you were staying on the island," Dean answers angrily. "He ran off."
"What did you say to him?" I ask, feeling scared.
"I was talking to him about leaving tomorrow. Something you should have done already." Dean stands, ready to walk out the door.
"You're right," I put my hands up, trying to diffuse the situation and block him from leaving. "I should have spoken to him sooner. I will find him and talk to him now. You all go to bed."
Dean looks into my eyes, contemplating my words. Finally, he sits back down on his bed. "He went towards the meadow," Dean says.
"Thank you." I exit quickly and take off towards the trees that hide the meadow.
I pass by some houses lit with candles before hitting the tree line. It's immediately darker here, my path only lit up by the moonlight. I'm able to see well enough. The clicking of the insects and the rustling of the leaves and grass add a beautiful ambience, calming me instantly. I walk through to the meadow slowly, eyeing each tree and bush as I look for Lorcan.
After several minutes of wandering, I find Lorcan sitting on a fallen tree, his back to me, his head tilted up to the moon.
"Lorcan," I breathe with a smile, happy I found him. His blonde hair is blowing in the breeze despite it being shorter now after trimming off the burnt ends from the fire.
YOU ARE READING
Evocation
Adventure"I promised myself the next time I saw you, I was claiming you. Your mouth-" he gazes at my lips while biting his own. "-your body.." he squeezes at my hips. His hands trail up and he wraps his thick fingers in my hair, pulling softly. "Watching you...
