Saving Verakko: The Clecanian Series Book 3 Victoria Aveline (best book club books .TXT) 📖

with raised brows, ready to attack him for his insolent remark, but his words caught in his throat. The odd black scrap of material he’d seen by the river was clearly visible through her damp top. He scrubbed a hand over his jaw.

She sighed. “Yeah, I know. It’s just my luck I was abducted wearing this shirt. There isn’t anything I can do about it, though, so you’re gonna have to deal with it. I’m not going to stay dirty and dry just because it’s awkward for you to see me in a bra. Let’s be adults about this.”

Verakko met her eyes. “I’m going to go hunt,” he blurted.

“What? Now? It’ll be dark soon.”

He gave her a forced smile then backed away. “That’s when I do my best hunting.” He gestured to his chest, now fully indigo. “Camouflage, remember?” And without waiting for her to utter another word, he took off.

Chapter 8

Two hours later, and Verakko still hadn’t returned. Lily peered through the leaves to the sky and silently promised if he wasn’t back by the time beta moon—as she’d started calling the smaller of the two moons—disappeared from sight, she’d go search for him herself.

Lily topped off her last canteen with the water she’d spent hours purifying and huddled closer to the fire. The morning and afternoon had been hot, but the gray clouds from earlier had brought in a cold front and what she expected was the warning sign of a storm.

Where are you, Alex? Lily hated to think about it, but maybe it was time to give up her solo search. She should at least talk to Verakko about it.

Guilt swamped her again. She drew her knees into her chest and shivered in her damp clothes. The mere thought of giving up on Alex sat like a leaden weight in her gut. How could she even consider it? What if Alex was waiting and injured only a day’s hike away and Verakko convinced her to turn back and head toward the people he’d mentioned before?

Tears leaked down her cheeks. Her chest expanded and the pressure begged to be released with a sob, but she held it in. Shudders wracked her body despite the warmth of the fire. No matter what she chose, it’d end up being the wrong decision.

She should send Verakko away. That way, one of them could continue on while the other went for help. Lily thought back to her week alone and wondered if she had the courage to do it again. I’m such a coward.

The sound of rustling echoed behind her, and she quickly wiped away her tears. She kept her eyes trained on the fire and worked to compose herself. In. Out. In. Out.

Verakko stood in front of her for a moment, then lowered his spear in front of her eyeline. She just about burst into tears again. Meat.

A huge chunk of rust-colored meat, already skinned and cleaned, was skewered on his spear. She shot to standing and took in the devastating grin on his face. His chest puffed out with pride. Then his keen eyes scanned her face, and his grin fell.

She tried to look away and inject her words with a lightness she didn’t feel. “This is amazing. Thank you! I—”

He propped the spear on a nearby tree and took her face in his hands, forcing her gaze to his. Her chest tightened, and she cursed how close she was to crying again.

Choking back a sob, she plastered on a smile. “I’m fine. Really. Just had some smoke in my eyes. Sitting too close to the fire.” Another tear leaked out. His thumb brushed it away.

Verakko’s forehead creased as though he were the one in pain. “I can help if you allow it.”

Lily sighed and held on to his wrists. Half of her wanted to tug his hands away. The other half ached to accept the comfort his warm palms on her cheek provided. “What do you mean?”

“I can sway you. Use my voice to help. If you open yourself up to it, I can convince you to let this guilt go.”

She recalled the way he’d calmed her with his words earlier in the day. How much easier would it be to simply not care anymore? Lily shook her head as much as she could between his large palms and sniffed. “That isn’t the answer. It’d be wrong.”

His lips thinned. Just when she felt he would argue, he pulled her in close and wrapped his arms around her, enveloping her in his warmth. She remained stiff for only a breath before relaxing into his embrace. The low, rattling purr she’d heard that morning vibrated through his chest again, but he didn’t try to quell it. The rumble against her cheek and the soft crackle of the fire soothed her.

They stood there in silence for a while before Lily finally pulled away. Verakko’s arms tightened around her, and for a moment she thought he might not let her go. But then he did.

“What did you catch?” she asked, her voice strong once more.

His eyes tracked her as she examined the meat. “A hougap.”

Plastering a smile on her face, she clapped her hands together. “Hougap feast it is.”

Before long, they’d built a rudimentary stone stove top over the fire and were waiting for their thin strips of meat to brown. Lily’s stomach would not stop rumbling.

“It smells great,” she said inanely.

Verakko nodded. He’d been watching her in a way that heated her to the core despite the chilled night air. “I’ve had hougap a few times before. Mostly on trips to Sauven.”

“Sauven?”

“A town downriver.”

He now had her full attention. “Is it close? Do you think Alex might’ve made it there?”

Verakko casually flipped the pieces of meat on the stone before answering. “If we are where I think we are,