“It won’t hold your weight and you don’t know what to look for once you’re up there.”
“Something shiny.”
“Yeah, something shiny,” she agreed tiredly. “Which none of us will see if the tree collapses beneath your weight.”
Thankfully, despite his foul mood, reason prevailed as he released her arm. She was slower getting up the tree, the blisters on her feet along with her weighted clothing and shoes made it difficult to move as freely as she normally did. Her hand curled around the piece of tin hanging from a thin line. She lifted herself further up, bracing herself as she stared over the treetops. Relief shot through her as she spotted the next marker only a mile away.
Pulling the piece of tin free, she made her way slowly back down the tree. “About another mile.”
“How long is this going to continue?” Gideon demanded.
Aria shrugged as she wiped the matted hair from her forehead. “I don’t know. Hopefully we’ll get there soon.”
Her head was beginning to pound, her stomach rumbled. Braith cursed as he pulled her pack from his back and tugged it open. Rummaging inside he pulled out her meager assortment of supplies. He shoved some dried meat, a canister of water, and a bag of nuts into her hands.
“Eat.”
Saliva rushed into her mouth, the rumbling in her stomach increased. Her hands were shaking. “I have to ration the supplies, I can’t eat…”
“I’ll find you more food.”
The swamp was vast and imposing but so far they hadn’t encountered much wildlife, and there were few plants she was certain she could eat as she was unfamiliar with this area. She’d seen what could happen to a person when they ate something they shouldn’t, and though they had survived it, they’d been sick for a week. Besides, she wasn’t the only one going hungry right now.
“Braith…”
His hands enfolded hers, holding her tight. “Eat.” She strived to stick to what she knew was right.
In the end, hunger won out. Shaking a little she broke off a piece of meat and lifted it to her mouth. Braith’s shoulders fell in relief. “We’ll make camp here for the night.”
Aria watched as the four of them moved around, establishing a small camp. She wiped the salt from her fingers and took a sip of lukewarm water. They conferred with each other, but Aria wasn’t paying much attention as she chewed slowly on the nuts, savoring each bite as she tried to make them last.
“I’ll be back.”
Aria blinked up at Braith in surprise. “Back?”
“I’m going to search for some food. Ashby and Gideon will stay with you. You’ll be safe.”
“I know.”
Kissing her tenderly, his fingers lingered briefly on her cheek before he reluctantly released her. She munched on the rest of her nuts as she watched Xavier and Braith head back into the swamp. There weren’t as many places here to hide and find shelter, but they soon disappeared from view behind some high grass and rotten trees.
Finishing off her nuts Aria wiped her hands on her filthy pants and turned her attention to the pack Braith had left behind. She didn’t speak with Ashby or Gideon as she pulled out a pair of lightweight pants that were dirty, but nowhere near as dirty as the ones she wore now. “I’ll be back.”
They didn’t try to stop her as she slipped away in search of a place that would offer her at least a little privacy. She found a spot behind a drooping willow with its branches dangling into the water of the swamp. She cleaned the muck from her filthy pants before slipping her other pants back on. Remaining blessedly barefoot she made her way back to the camp with water to boil.
Gideon and Ashby were sitting by the pine; Gideon was leaning tiredly against it as he watched her from under hooded eyes. Ashby looked haggard, even when he had been exiled to a life of solitude and deprivation he’d never had to endure this kind of hardship. He was not prepared for it, and it was more than apparent that he didn’t like it. Making a small fire, she heated the water and retreated back to the willow to wash her body the best she could before returning.
Aria settled onto the blanket. She didn’t think she’d ever been this bone weary and exhausted. She meant to stay awake until Braith returned but when she laid down on the blanket, exhaustion won out. It was dark when she woke again. Braith’s arms tensed around her as she attempted to sit up.
A sigh of relief escaped her as she rolled onto her back. She didn’t know when he’d returned but he was nestled against her, his broad chest pressed against her side, his arms wrapped around her. The numerous stars were bright in the vast night sky. She’d never seen anything like it before. The trees blocked the stars in the forest, the light reflected them in the palace, and she hadn’t bothered to take the time to look while in the desert.
Now she stared up at them, awed and fascinated by the seemingly endless sky. “Shouldn’t you be asleep?”
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed.
He remained unmoving for a long moment before turning onto his back also. His fingers found hers, entwining firmly as he pulled her against him. “It is.”
She rested her head on his chest, unable to take her eyes from the sky as the moon began to poke its head over the horizon. It was nearly full and the color of blood. Aria shuddered; it seemed a bad omen to her. Braith ran his hand nimbly up and down her spine, causing goose bumps to appear on her skin as he pushed the edge of her shirt up and his fingers found bare skin.
Her eyes drifted closed as pleasure swamped her. She pushed at the edge of his shirt, eager to feel his own bare skin beneath her touch as she melded against him. Her hand splayed against his firm stomach and she was suddenly consumed with the need to feel more as she stroked over the solid flesh of his chest.