Warrior of the Wild(62)

We squish our packs and axes down by our feet, and then Soren pulls the top blanket over the two of us. I’m scooted over just far enough that there’s a small gap between Soren’s body and mine.

Even then, I’m far too aware of his body. His hand is only an inch from mine. He smells of pine and freshly churned dirt, which I wouldn’t have thought would be intoxicating, but it is. I sense the rise and fall of his shoulders as he breathes, hear him shift as he tries to get more comfortable.

Despite the uncomfortable sleeping arrangements and Soren’s presence, I drift off eventually, but sometime in the night, I wake, shivering. The elevation has brought with it a distinct chill.

But at my side, I can feel a wave of heat radiating off Soren. He’s like a fire. How is that even possible?

I try not to wake him as I scoot over, pressing my front to his back. Heat curls into my arms, and I sigh at the warmth.

But I think I woke Soren.

A slight hitch in his deep breaths is the only outward sign.

He doesn’t say anything, so I ask, “Is this okay? Sorry to wake you, I’m just so cold.”

He rolls toward me, and I back up against that rock wall, giving him room to move.

“Come here,” he says when he’s facing toward me. I’m unsure at first, but the promise of warmth is too much to resist.

“Turn around,” he says, and I realize why as soon as I do. We fit so snugly with my back pressed to his front. His legs curve against mine. One of his arms rests under my head, giving me a pillow, while the other wraps around my front to press me even closer to him.

“Better?” he asks.

“Mmm,” I say. I’m already starting to drift off, I’m so comfortable.

There’s the lightest pressure on the back of my neck. His lips, I think. But I’m already so far gone, I can’t be sure.



* * *



AN OBNOXIOUS LIGHT DARTS across my eyelids. I open them only to be momentarily blinded. A small gap in the branches allows a beam of sun right into my face. I adjust my neck, trying to get my head at a better angle, when I realize what’s in front of me.

Soren.

I must have rolled over in the night. His face is inches from mine, our breath mingling. His lashes are draped over his eyes, his face completely relaxed in sleep.

I realize just how much I like that face, once I’m free to look at it so openly. The scars from warrior training suit him, giving him a roguish look. He has a heavy brow, a smooth forehead with brown locks falling across it, a nose that might be a bit too small for his face, but it’s hardly noticeable with such perfect-looking lips.

I’m struck with the desire to trace them with a finger, which surprises me. Must be because it’s morning—a sleep-addled brain clouds judgment.

I pat Soren on the shoulder instead. “Wake up. We should get moving.”

He doesn’t move, so I hit him a bit harder.

He jolts awake, sitting up too fast. His head smacks against one of the branches overhead.

“Ow,” he says, rubbing his head.

“Sorry. You were out like a rock.”

“I … had a hard time falling back asleep.”

That would be my fault. “I shouldn’t have woken you last night.”

“It’s fine. Now we’ll know how to start out tonight. Then you won’t have to wake me.”

My cheeks warm at the prospect. I shove aside the makeshift door of our lean-to and stretch in the morning air. It is still cool, but the morning is already alive with movement. Lizards up in the trees snort. Birds in the distance call to one another. Against the rock wall, I barely catch sight of camouflaged moths, the only giveaway being the outline of their gray wings overlapping the slate. It’s a beautiful day already, and it’s easy to fool ourselves into thinking there is no real threat on the mountain.

After we eat breakfast and pack everything back up, we resume our climb, this time with sore muscles.

It’s impossible to tell how much longer it will take to reach the peak. More and more trees cover the mountain the higher we climb. I can neither see the top nor the bottom.

The ground grows less rocky, more solid and stable, and the trees grow thicker. Animals that I’ve never seen before dangle from the trees by their knees. Unknown plants with bristly yellow leaves grow out of the ground. The wind carries scents from new trees that prefer the higher altitude.

When I first entered the wild, I remember being afraid of every unknown sound and creature. But here, everything is exciting, tinged with a sense of adventure. One that I’m happy to be taking with Soren.

He walks at my side, our strides perfectly matched. I catch sight of his hand swaying at his side. Before thinking twice about it, I reach out and grab it.

Soren looks up from his feet and fixes a boyish smile on me.

Blessedly, the rest of the day is mountain cat free. We climb as far as we dare before setting up camp once more. We find a good spot to build another lean-to, this time against a tree with a trunk so wide it might as well be a wall.

“Might rain tonight,” Soren comments as we finish. “Good thing we found a tree for extra shelter, but let’s lean some leafy branches across it just to be safe.”

The extra time we take turns out to be well worth it after we climb inside. While I can hear the light rain outside, not a drop reaches us.