Chapter 16

A warm hand came to rest on her shoulder. “Please what, Carina? I don’t know if you want me to come closer or go away.”

She turned to him, tearing her wings from his grip and looked at him with all the anguish that she felt. “This cannot be, I must be only the Soul of the Flight. I cannot be Carina, not while my people are in such danger.”

He nodded, removing his hands and giving her a smile. “I understand, Carina.”

She wanted to sob, missed the touch of his hands immediately when he’d removed them. But it was the right choice, the only one she could make even though her body yearned and heated at the thought of him touching her that way. “Perhaps when my people are safe, maybe then?”

“You can always come to me, Carina.” He smiled at her again, warm and steady. “Chances are we’ll be stuck together for quite a while.”

“We should rest, morning comes soon.” She turned from him again, startling when his warmth enveloped her. “W-what are you doing?”