Winterskin (Book One of Wrath & Winter)

The Hunt: Part Two

I couldn't stay in my own home that night. Not with Gram fluttering about, giving me murderous glances for something I hadn't known about. What was I to do? Leave them to the Black? Come back a Coward all over again?

Someone had to do the right thing. Someone had to provide for my sisters.

And it seemed that Gram had forgotten that that person was never her. Could never be her. For she cannot even provide protection, what with her magic and daily covens. She cannot even sacrifice for the greater good.

But I can. I did.

And I just have to keep telling myself this.

Hanging around at the outskirts near torchlight again, I lean into it and let my body relax.

Then, sigh, "You can come out now."

"Wasn't hiding." He replied, feet barely crunching through snow. Sitting himself down near me, our knees touched.

And I remember.

Us.

Could that ever be?

In a way, Montbereau accepted him, at least. He may be Scyllah but he offered help where no other villages could or even wanted to. He's different. Special.

"Kat."

His voice forced my eyes open.

"You're back." He grinned. Almost shyly. And it looked good on him. A powerful dragonkin brought low by me. A human girl.

I stifled a giggle.

"Don't you have a job to do? On the Methusa?" I joked.

He shrugged his broad shoulders, "I can fly there any time I like. Besides, they know I come here." His thumb traced my jaw, my chin. Deft fingers found their way through my hair. He's close enough now. Close enough to...

"Seems like you don't really have a purpose."

"I do." The answer was sudden. Serious. "It's you."

I've never understood why. When he can have so much, he chooses me. When he can leave and do whatever his group commands him, he comes here. To help us.

For me.

"I owe you so much."

He shook his head, "You owe me nothing."

Maybe...

I'd do this. One thing. Just to...test it. See what it's like.

Maybe...

Before I could talk myself out of it—listen to my head screaming at me how wrong this is. How bad this could become. I've got my hands on either side of his face and his skin is creamy smooth. Warm to the touch like the rest of him. His eyes radiate moonlight and firelight all mixed into one. With the moonlight hitting him like this, I can almost see the jagged shadow of his horns scooping through his hair.

I pull him to me. Kiss him.

Slow and steady and gentle.

He's shocked at first. Hands frozen in my hair, on my lower back.

Then he found his rhythm and rubbed his thumb in slow, tiny, circles down my spine. One breath at a time, one kiss at a time. And when the dragon came out, him growling into every kiss, his big body pressing mine into the ground—I had to, I couldn't go forward, I had to.

We parted. White breath hissing through his nostrils. Pouring from my mouth.

"Maybe," I told him, voice low. Heart prancing, "Just...maybe."