an Everlasting Pursuit

seventy six

"Let's go out again tonight," Asra suggested.

I quirked an eyebrow at him, my hands elbow-deep in vegetable peelings. Although I had woken up late, I was determined to get back to work. It gave me time to get into my deeper thoughts and feelings about our evening and relationship.

Asra was growing on me, as much as I didn't want to admit it. The bond was working in his favour, that was for sure. Every time I looked at him, it made my heart feel full and warm, and my stomach feel queasy. Is this what it was supposed to feel like? A giddy, strange fluttering in my tummy.

Even now, as he barged into the kitchen sprouting words of plans, I couldn't help but admire his physique. He had come straight from the training grounds, his arms and knees coated with dry dirt and grass in his hair. His eyes had a wild look to them, pupils blown and chest heaving with adrenaline. Perhaps that was what caused him to come here so unprompted. Did he feel the same way I was beginning to feel?

"Tonight? As in.... a few hours, tonight?" I frowned.

He rolled his eyes. "Yes, tonight, tonight."

"Oh..."

"Well, do you?" He cocked his head.

"Do I?" I repeated and held his gaze. "What did you have in mind?"

"It's the full moon." He shrugged. "I figured we could picnic by the lake."

"Will I be preparing the picnic?" I wondered.

He laughed lightly, causing some of the women to stare. "No, I will have it arranged."

"Will you pay them more than two coins?" I crossed my arms. "Extra work deserves more."

Asra grumbled but nodded his head. "I will."

"Then okay." I nodded. "Sounds good to me."

"Really?" His eyes widened.

I laughed. "Yeah, I enjoyed myself last night. It was... nice."

He grinned, canines glinting from his post-training high. "Great. I will see you later, flower."

Asra left without another word, the door swinging shut behind him. I stared for a moment before shaking my head in disbelief and continuing with meal prep for tonight's dinner. It was two o'clock, so I wondered what time he would expect us to go down to the lake. If it was a full moon, would we go after dark?

The prospect of another date weirdly sent chills down my spine. I felt excited, and it was a strange feeling. I had to stay level-headed though, for my own dignity, of course.

***

"This isn't secretly a ploy to kill me because I am human, is it?" I hummed.

Asra laughed, his voice echoing around the surrounding trees.

We were nearly at the lake, the treetops casting darkness among us so it was becoming harder to see as the sun started to set. Asra's body proved to be a good guide over the rough terrain, even though I had travelled this path many times. It had been a while since I last went swimming.

Admittedly, my anxiety got the best of me.

Every time I thought of going to the lake, I thought of how Blake found me. How he took down my secret guards and drugged me. It had saliva pooling in my mouth as the urge to turn and run away weighed on my mind.

"I could never kill you."

I shook my head. "Doesn't mean you couldn't hire someone to."

His deep chuckle shook my very soul, and thankfully we passed by the rock face of the waterfall. I sighed with contentment as the lake slowly came into view. This place would never get boring. The soft flowing water, the twinkling stars above the canopy of the trees...