stay frozen here for as long as I’m supposed to. Forever is fine.
Aria pulls Bones close, pressing her curvaceous body seductively against his. It’s fine. I don’t care at all. I’m perfectly content to remain right here forever and let them do their thing.
“She thinks she can actually pull it off, marching across the border and rescuing her friend. You are her companion, her sworn protector. Why would you agree to let her try this madness?” Aria asks quietly. Her voice is a sing-song ditty in my head.
“There’s no stopping Lucky when she has her mind set on something,” Bones replies, running his fingers through her thick, chestnut mane. “I thought it’d be better if I were by her side to help. Who knows? Maybe it’ll work. She has good weapons—”
Aria breaks free from Bones’ flirtatious caresses and steps toward me. I don’t flinch as she lifts my cloak sleeve and takes the prized bag of magical crystals from my hand. She opens it up and lets out a horrified gasp, her eyes wide. “This is not possible! Where did she get these? I was unaware any were still in existence!”
“From her guardian, the witch. Guess they had some stashed illegally.”
Aria presses her lips together and frowns. “I don’t like that I did not detect these earlier. What was she possibly thinking, bringing them here? Dropping even one would kill every demon inside!”
“You’re the telepath. You tell me,” Bones smirks. “Obviously that’s not what they’re meant for, Aria. She brought them to use against the Hlbafa.
“She’s not stepping foot inside the Bar with these, for obvious reasons. I will hold on to them for safekeeping.” She ties up the bag and tucks it away behind a thick slab of stone beside her.
“Aw, c’mon, Aria. Don’t take those, she needs them,” Bones protests. “But if you think it best…” he amends with a peaceful smile as they lock eyes.
Aria reaches over and removes the Boumeaux, causing my cloak to fall to the floor. She retrieves an arrow from the bundle strapped to my back and stares at it appraisingly, then returns it to its quiver. “The most deadly toxin I’ve ever seen. Very impressive. Her guardian is quite powerful, indeed.”
“Yes, she is.” Bones nods.
Aria glances back and forth between us. “Go,” she finally says to Bones. “Leave us. I want to talk to this young one here.”
Bones seems confused for a moment, but acquiesces. I don’t turn to watch him walk inside, or even to acknowledge the new demions who’ve just arrived. I just want to stand here and do nothing until it isn’t time to stand here anymore.
Once we’re alone, Aria returns her attention to me. A smile tugs at the corner of her ruby-red lips, and her green eyes flash. The empty sensation in my head is replaced with a warm, tingly, buzzing. I want to scratch the inside of my skull, but I remain still.
“Now, you. What am I going to do with you?” she purrs, circling me like a shark circles its prey. “I can’t very well have you blazing across the border and getting yourself killed. You are too important to this clan. You are too important to Bones, and I like Bones. He’s one of our finest. And I can’t have you creating even more conflict between our two tribes; you’ve done enough already.”
She raises a slender finger to her mouth and studies me for a long moment. Now the itchy tingle is spreading down my neck and inside my body. Part of me wants to squirm, scratch, and shake it off. But a bigger part of me is totally content to stay exactly as I am. Even as Aria moves her hands over my chest and closes her eyes, I remain still.
She gasps. “This is…this is…what is this?” she whispers, staring at me with wide, emerald eyes.
Suddenly, I have a strong desire to speak. “I love him,” I say simply.
“There is more…much more than just love. Tell me…” she urges.
“I’ve never done anything right. And I have to make things right now. I cannot live
Aria pulls Bones close, pressing her curvaceous body seductively against his. It’s fine. I don’t care at all. I’m perfectly content to remain right here forever and let them do their thing.
“She thinks she can actually pull it off, marching across the border and rescuing her friend. You are her companion, her sworn protector. Why would you agree to let her try this madness?” Aria asks quietly. Her voice is a sing-song ditty in my head.
“There’s no stopping Lucky when she has her mind set on something,” Bones replies, running his fingers through her thick, chestnut mane. “I thought it’d be better if I were by her side to help. Who knows? Maybe it’ll work. She has good weapons—”
Aria breaks free from Bones’ flirtatious caresses and steps toward me. I don’t flinch as she lifts my cloak sleeve and takes the prized bag of magical crystals from my hand. She opens it up and lets out a horrified gasp, her eyes wide. “This is not possible! Where did she get these? I was unaware any were still in existence!”
“From her guardian, the witch. Guess they had some stashed illegally.”
Aria presses her lips together and frowns. “I don’t like that I did not detect these earlier. What was she possibly thinking, bringing them here? Dropping even one would kill every demon inside!”
“You’re the telepath. You tell me,” Bones smirks. “Obviously that’s not what they’re meant for, Aria. She brought them to use against the Hlbafa.
“She’s not stepping foot inside the Bar with these, for obvious reasons. I will hold on to them for safekeeping.” She ties up the bag and tucks it away behind a thick slab of stone beside her.
“Aw, c’mon, Aria. Don’t take those, she needs them,” Bones protests. “But if you think it best…” he amends with a peaceful smile as they lock eyes.
Aria reaches over and removes the Boumeaux, causing my cloak to fall to the floor. She retrieves an arrow from the bundle strapped to my back and stares at it appraisingly, then returns it to its quiver. “The most deadly toxin I’ve ever seen. Very impressive. Her guardian is quite powerful, indeed.”
“Yes, she is.” Bones nods.
Aria glances back and forth between us. “Go,” she finally says to Bones. “Leave us. I want to talk to this young one here.”
Bones seems confused for a moment, but acquiesces. I don’t turn to watch him walk inside, or even to acknowledge the new demions who’ve just arrived. I just want to stand here and do nothing until it isn’t time to stand here anymore.
Once we’re alone, Aria returns her attention to me. A smile tugs at the corner of her ruby-red lips, and her green eyes flash. The empty sensation in my head is replaced with a warm, tingly, buzzing. I want to scratch the inside of my skull, but I remain still.
“Now, you. What am I going to do with you?” she purrs, circling me like a shark circles its prey. “I can’t very well have you blazing across the border and getting yourself killed. You are too important to this clan. You are too important to Bones, and I like Bones. He’s one of our finest. And I can’t have you creating even more conflict between our two tribes; you’ve done enough already.”
She raises a slender finger to her mouth and studies me for a long moment. Now the itchy tingle is spreading down my neck and inside my body. Part of me wants to squirm, scratch, and shake it off. But a bigger part of me is totally content to stay exactly as I am. Even as Aria moves her hands over my chest and closes her eyes, I remain still.
She gasps. “This is…this is…what is this?” she whispers, staring at me with wide, emerald eyes.
Suddenly, I have a strong desire to speak. “I love him,” I say simply.
“There is more…much more than just love. Tell me…” she urges.
“I’ve never done anything right. And I have to make things right now. I cannot live
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