Born of Flames

Chapter 4 ~ A Wolf's Protection

    Wind streamed through Neeri's dark fur and rain-freshened scents washed over her tongue, tasting sweet and fresh like dew. She threw her head back with a delighted howl. When she lowered her head again, Arlon was running alongside her, a question in his gaze.

    He looked ahead to a lone copse of trees in the distance and she understood his meaning. Without a moment's warning, she put on a burst of speed, bounding towards the trees. Arlon streaked after her, a dark blur against the green landscape.

    He would beat her, of course. He always did, but she'd make him work for his victory. Side by side, they flew across the plains until the settlement vanished behind them and they reached the copse of trees.

    Arlon skidded into it a heartbeat before she did and shifted back into himself. Neeri was breathing heavily as she followed suit. "Congratulations again," she panted. "Am I ever going to beat you?"

    "Maybe someday," he answered, then took her by the wrist gently.

    Neeri bit her lip as he drew her closer, then let go to tug aside the collar of his tunic. Arlon turned his face to the side and cleared his throat, granting her access to the old scars she'd left from times before. Her heart still clenched to see them.

    It didn't matter if he offered his blood willingly. She couldn't take it without causing him pain in some way or other, whether she drew it straight from his flesh or he cut himself to spill a little into a glass. It left a mark on him every time, and carved an invisible mark into her.

    But she would never take his offerings for granted, so she always accepted them. Neeri drew a steadying breath and rested her hands on his shoulders, then carefully bit into his neck. Only the hitch in his breath betrayed the short burst of pain he felt.

    Neeri withdrew her fangs and closed her mouth over the wound, drawing a few mouthfuls of his blood. His breaths remained steady and even, but she could hear the rapid beat of his heart, betraying the tension he felt. It wouldn't matter how many times they did this; he would never truly be able to feel safe with her fangs at his throat.

    Sometimes, she wondered if he allowed this as much for himself as for her, so they could both learn that she wasn't something to be feared. Those sobering thoughts were never quite enough to distract her from everything else she felt though.

    They could never make her forget the warmth of his skin beneath her lips, or the overwhelming scent of him. They could never erase her desire to run her fingers through his cropped black hair or trace them down his arms and over his chest. But she would never reveal those desires.

    She kept them tucked deeply within herself, praying that he would keep his promise and not reach into her mind without first telling her. If he saw these things, felt what she felt and knew what she wanted, she knew she would never see him again.

    The thought of that was almost as unbearable as the thought of losing Morana, so she would keep him in whatever ways she could. As an ally, as a friend, and never as anything more. Neeri pulled away from him gently and swiped her tongue across her lips, erasing any sign of his blood before she spoke.

    "Thank you," she murmured.

    "Let me see," he answered. "I want to make sure it was enough." She didn't resist when he guided her face up and peered into her eyes, sending flutters bursting into her stomach.