A Cast of Shadows: An Araneae Nation Story by Hailey Edwards Read Free Book Online

“Very much.”
     
    Stubble along Brynmor’s jaw prickled my palm as I slid my hand down his cheek. “I’m glad you told me.”
    “It was a long time ago.” He caught my hand before I reached his chin and held it there.
    “Some wounds take longer to heal. Blows dealt to the heart are often more tender.”
    He rubbed my finger over his lips absently. “You have a knack for prying secrets from me.”
    “I haven’t pried.” No more than usual. “Mainly, I listen and people tell me things.”
    “I believe you.” He left my hand fall. “I’ve never spoken to anyone about my wife.”
    “Then I’m flattered to be the first.” I tried to turn, but he held me still.
    His fingers bit into my arms. “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” I let him drag me closer, until my palms braced on his chest and his full lips tempted me to distraction. “We should go if we want to return from the river before dawn.”
    “We should.” He made no move to leave.
    “Brynmor?” I smoothed the fabric of his shirt. “You and your wife…?”
    His expression softened. “We parted ways long ago.”
    “Good.” I had wanted to be sure. “Then I think… I’m going to take advantage of you.”
    His sadness melted into something darker, hungrier, and I was lost. If I left this place in two days’ time without tasting him, I would wonder until the end of my days if salt and sorrows flavored Brynmor’s lips or if his kiss was as sweet as his hidden kindness. His gentle heart was bared to me, and when I should have commiserated and gone, I found myself leaning in, rolling onto tiptoes, wanting more.
    “I think…” His head lowered. “I’m going to let you.”
    Hovering out of reach, he made claiming his mouth difficult. I linked fingers behind his head and drew him down to me. My tongue swiped over his bottom lip, and I tasted salt dried on his skin. He stiffened when I nipped his chin, but let me explore, let me taste him how I wanted. Only when he began pressing for my lips against his, did I surrender to convention and I kissed him with fierce apology for all the love he gave his wife, the love she could not return, for the son he adored and the bastard child who grew up without his mother or his father to love him.
    To my embarrassment, tears sprang in my eyes and flavored our kiss with the tang of grief.
    Brynmor broke away and rested his forehead against my shoulder. I placed my hand over his heart and frowned. His pulse was so relaxed I couldn’t feel a beat. I spread my fingers wider.
    He caught my wrist. “It’s dangerous for us to be distracted when there are hunters about.”
    “Hunters, right.” Twisting free of him, I rubbed my wrist. “We should be on our guard.”
    “Daraja…” Heat suffused my name when he spoke it.
    “Follow me.” I slipped deeper into the forest, leaving him to hurl swear words at my back.
    I had gotten what I wanted, a taste of Brynmor, and now I knew he was still healing from the wounds he and his wife had given each other. Better to forget him before my fool’s heart became a casualty of my fascination with an unavailable male. I was so set on finding a mate and settling down that I hadn’t stopped to ask myself if that sort of permanence was what I actually wanted.
    Finding a male I desired was no guarantee of love, or even of compatibility.
    I had blithely set out on this journey with the belief I would find the male I wanted, and then what? Bind him with my net and drag him home? Risk the same sort of heartache that had ruined Brynmor? That was not what I wanted. I wanted adventure while I was young enough to enjoy it.
    I wanted love, passion, fire. Brynmor’s smoldering gaze promised those things, if I was bold enough to claim them. But I wanted permanence too. Young I may be, but I was past the age for common dalliances, and I wasn’t convinced he was capable of more than a physical relationship.
    Assuming he wanted one. Assuming I wanted one.
    Pity was not a