Unspeakable Secrets The Alchemist Series (A Dark Medieval Progression Fantasy)

Chapter 73 Campfire

Connor and Adelia sat around their small campfire in the cave. Afternoon light filtered through the cave mouth and a rabbit roasted on a spit over the fire.

Connor turned it slowly. The cave was filled with the scent of roasting meat and Connor's mouth watered.

Despite her injured state, Adelia had caught several such rabbits. It made it easy for him to insist he prepare their meal.

Anything to keep her as far away from the cooking as possible. She meant well, he knew, but she possessed the uncanny ability to turn even water into charcoal.

He'd already harvested some fruits from the surrounding forest and they snacked on them as they waited for the rabbit to cook. It would be the first of several and anything they didn't eat now could be safely stored in his bottomless bag and snacked on as they traveled at night.

"So, what's the plan?" Adelia asked without looking at Connor. Her violet eyes were transfixed by the roasting meat as her stomach growled.

Connor turned the spit they'd fashioned, giving the rabbit a nice even heat as it slowly turned golden brown and glistened over the flames.

"It wasn't all that long ago that I'd have said we should rush for Vigil and rescue Victor right away," Connor said, "But you saw what Erik was capable of. The resources at the Syndicate's disposal... I want to save Victor but charging in blindly again isn't going to go well. Even without Vadik to stab us in the back this time."

"So what do we do? I don't believe you're just going to roll over for them. No matter how strong they are," Adelia said.

"Never," Connor said, "I'm going to rescue Victor. But, it's going to take more than I ever knew. Everything I did in Vigil. My impatience. My... foolishness. I can't afford to make mistakes like that again."

"I? You mean we," Adelia said as she fixed him with her violet eyes, "you're not leaving me, are you?"

There was a dangerous note to her voice that made Connor's skin prickle.

"Of course not," Connor said, "but they're more powerful than we ever could've predicted, and if you wanted to walk away—"

Adelia snarled. A feral, inhuman noise that rumbled in her chest. "We've had this conversation before. Stop asking stupid, insulting questions and tell me what the plan is," she snapped.

"I had to say it," Connor said, "most people would run for the nearest deep dark hole to hide in by now."

She bared her fangs at him. "I'm not most people. Get on with it," she said, "And don't ever ask me such idiotic things ever again."

Connor smiled. It was the reaction he'd expected and despite her growling and the aggressive flicks of her tail, he found it comforting. They were against impossible odds. An unwinnable fight. But at least he wasn't alone in this.

"What are you smirking about?" Adelia growled. Her eyes once more flicked to the roasting rabbit.

"Just glad you're still the Adelia I know," Connor said.

That seemed to catch her off guard and a blush crept into her cheeks.

"Who else would I be? Though... it's nice not to have to hide from you," she said, "Now stop delaying or you'll see more of what I am than you ever wanted to. I don't need the food to be cooked."

I wonder if that's why she's so terrible at it? Connor wondered.

But, the hunger in her eyes made him fear that she might not be satisfied with the rabbits if he didn't distract her soon.