The Untold Forest by Elisa Menz (ebook offline reader TXT) 📕

Hakken grimaced when his spine creaked. He didn’t realize how every muscle in his body grew tense while watching the scene developing in front of him. Kniv approached him with a thoughtful glint in his eyes. “You should stay behind. Maeve and the Warlocks will need to find a way for her to use her magic without risking her safety.”

Farewells were swift, and as the Lake tribe began their preparations for immediate departure, Ystävä, Regn, Maeve, and he joined Finn inside the cabin. “Shit, how intense.” The boy conveyed everyone’s feelings perfectly. Utterly exhausted, they sank on the armchairs and cushions while Finn handed them cups of tea. Hakken was growing fond of the brew.

“How are we going to handle this?” Regn had to cut their peace short. “Do we know for certain Maeve’s magic will work on everybody?”

“We don’t—” Ystävä rubbed his face— “but this is our best bet until we figure out anything else.”

“What about Dröm?” Finn was all serious now. “Would it make a difference if she frees their leader first? How can we get Maeve close enough to him?”

“We capture him,” Hakken replied, stifling a yawn. “And bring him here, or wherever Maeve is safer.”

“We might not be able to capture him so easily. An army surrounds him.” The tea’s steam clouded Maeve’s thoughtful gaze. Even then, he could see the cogs in her brain starting to turn, and he feared he wouldn’t like the outcome.

“I hope you are not thinking about coming anywhere near a battlefield! I know you are feeling more confident lately, but that would be plain stupid.” Now he had done it! A chill crawled down his spine since Maeve had never glared at him with such anger before. Hakken didn’t consider his words before he blurted them out, and he ended up offending her. Too bad! It was his duty to keep her safe, and there was no way in hell he would let her risk herself like that.

“This might be our only chance,” Maeve insisted.

“I won’t allow it!” He had to make clear he wouldn’t give her a choice.

“I don’t believe I gave you the right to decide for me, Hakken!”

A strained silence fell on the room. Hakken held her gaze, astonished by the authority in her voice. He didn’t have the right. She could decide for herself, and nothing he could say would matter at all. His stomach dropped when he realized she was right, and he was making a fool of himself. Bitter, he shot to his feet and headed for the door, leaving the cabin and Maeve behind.

Maeve

After Hakken’s abrupt departure, the weight of exhaustion dragged her body down. Her knees almost buckled beneath her, and her chest grew tight, watching Hakken leave. But she knew she was right. Finn was the first one to notice how tired she was and moved to hold her by her arms. “Are you all right, mushroom?”

“I’m tired. I need to eat and sleep before I pass out.”

“It’s only mid-afternoon.” Finn smiled at her. “Are you sure you can’t wait a few hours before going to bed?”

Maeve sighed. “You’re right, I’ll wait. But I need a bath, or I swear, I’ll throw a tantrum.”

“It’s true, you stink.” Finn was messing with her, but she was too tired to scold him. “There is a creek at the edge of the clearing and a small pond where you can take a bath safely. It’s within the range of our territory and guarded with magic, so no one will bother you.”

She followed her brother’s directions and slipped away from prying eyes, leaving the cabin and the retiring crowd behind. The trees grew dense, and soon, the rhythmic sound of flowing water sang nearby. The lovely sight made her smile. The water ran clear, and mossy rocks and lush green bushes surrounded the pond. It was private enough for Maeve to be comfortable. She slipped off her clothes and walked into the water. The warm weather was perfect for a bath in the wild, even though an occasional breeze made her shiver.

Maeve roamed the pond until the water reached over her waist and rubbed her body with a handful of soft sand from the shore. She then dipped her head under the water, rinsing her long locks and placing them over her shoulder.

The fatigue overwhelmed her. I don’t think I can resist until nightfall. I’ll just make sure not to drown while bathing and take a quick nap as soon as I return. Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when she felt him nearby. Since her senses were not as acute as a half-breed’s, she only noticed Hakken sitting by the edge of the pond when his heated emotions dashed against her.

The hair at the back of her neck prickled, and she let out a shaky breath. Maeve stood still, touching the surface of the water with her fingertips while keeping her back at him. A pang of anger stung her when she remembered his behavior back at the cabin. She tried her best to be strong, but he kept treating her like a helpless child.

It was hard to think about anything else when his intense gaze made her skin tickle. Maeve dared peek over her shoulder, and his lustful gaze wrecked every bit of courage she had. Flustered, she looked around, trying to find the most modest way to escape, but her clothes were out of reach.

The soft murmur of shifting water made her body taut in anticipation. Too focused on the turmoil of her own emotions, she didn’t hear Hakken getting rid of his clothes and moving to stand right behind her.

The heat emanating from his body reached her, but not an inch of their skin touched. His warm breath caressed her neck, causing her to shiver with pleasure. She wanted to remain silent, but her mouth had other plans.

“Are you going to touch me?” she muttered.

Hakken leaned forward, tormenting her with his languid movements. “Do you want me to?”