Heart Over Sword
Chapter 213: Tempting Snuggles

Chapter 213: Tempting Snuggles

Evanna patrolled the surrounding woods but remained close to their campsite. Arawn didn’t return to where their group was sleeping, he had wandered off after kissing Evanna’s knuckles. She could still see the fire burning behind his eyes, the lust pulsating beneath his skin, so she assumed he needed some space.

The princess returned to the camp when it was past two in the morning. She had sat on the boulder where she initially was going to guard until Arawn.. distracted her. Evanna quietly tiptoed over everyone surrounding the dim large blue flames that crackled and radiated warmth. Everyone was covered in furs except Axel, who seemed to be using his shield as a blanket and snored, cuddling his axe.

Evanna searched their faces, Arawn was yet to return, which caused a prickle of worry in her, but she knew he could defend himself, and she’d patrolled the area already. Still, it was there at the back of her mind.

"*Did you have a nice bath?*" Fiza asked quietly from where she leaned against a tree, her arms crossed over her bare stomach, her eyes gleaming playfully.

Evanna feigned ignorance. "*Yes. Thank you for making the water warm.*"

Fiza snickered. "*Even without my magic, I’m sure there were other ways to keep you warm,*" she winked, then waved her hand as Evanna paled, then blushed and became flustered. Usually, she was a master in masking her emotions, palace life had taught her that, but her activities with Arawn were so recent and fresh on her mind. Besides, nobody was crude enough unless it was her sister to make points about Evanna being ’vulgar’.

"*I do not care, princess. Where I come from, fae’s pleasurable pursuits before marriage are not uncommon. Do not worry. I will not tell anyone. Although this would be good material for blackmailing.. I like you, though, so any possible relationship going forwards most likely will be strained if I used such methods..*" Fiza sighed, like not following through with blackmail was incredibly hard.

Evanna bit back a laugh and shook her head, hoping their conversation had not woken anyone else up. She wanted to ask Fiza more about the world of the fae, but she knew that would come at a cost, and she was now far too tired to sate her curiosity. "*No, blackmail is not the way to go to making new friends..*" Evanna crouched near another boulder closer to Fiza and fixed her with a curious look. "Can you not sleep?"

Fiza shook her head. "*I am more alive during the night than day, but I am growing accustomed to your schedule. Go to sleep, princess. The journey from here will only grow more tiresome.*"

Evanna nodded, accepting the night fae’s words. Fiza closed her eyes and began to hum quietly to herself; her voice was low and sweet and could make anyone fall asleep to such a lullaby. Maybe that was how these men slept so well, or maybe they were weary from the travel. It only made her more concerned about when they would make it to Lyvaria.

They had yet to get the gemstone back. How? She did not know yet. At the moment, she was ’winging it’.

Evanna sighed and pushed away her worries for another day. She had to remain present and focus on the next day than their arrival at Lyvaria. She tiptoed around the fire again and gently shook Ronan, alerting him to his shift. He looked at her blankly for a moment then his clouded eyes full of sleep dissolved.

Without any flirting or smart comments, Ronan sat up slowly, waking up and silently grabbed his sword belt and headed in the direction where Evanna had been sitting. Evanna settled down where her bag and furs lay, removing her mother’s swords and the enchanted dragon blade which she still carried on her back. Once she was inside her furs comfortably, her heart almost leapt from her chest as another body slid inside, startling her.

Evanna reached for her hidden blade, but then his low chuckle made her body relax. She peered up at Arawn, who pulled her close to his body, his arms wrapping around her, providing more warmth. She felt protected in his arms, and her hands and leg clung to him, resting her head against his chest.

They stayed like that for a while, their breathing syncing, listening and feeling the pounding of each other’s hearts. It was like their own lullaby, calming them. There was still the tingling sensation from touching each other, but they enjoyed spending these restful moments together.

Evanna snuggled into Arawn’s neck, smelling his woodsy and masculine scent before the prince gently tilted her chin towards him and kissed her softly. The sweetness of his kiss made her toes curl, and her stomach tighten, not like the passion she had felt earlier but from the warmth and love she felt through it. So many words could be said between them, but it was silenced by that kiss, a language that only they understood.

Arawn released her chin, and she settled back on his chest. She wanted to stay like that all night. "*We cannot stay like this,*" she mumbled against him with the need to sleep pulling her quickly under.

Evanna felt Arawn’s voice vibrate through his chest, the feeling pleasant. "*Sleep. I...*" She did not hear the rest.

Sleep pulled her into a warm embrace, one she didn’t fight against. With the warm cocoon surrounding her, she was happily trapped, enjoying being in Arawn’s arms, even if it was only for a few moments more.

Those moments turned to hours, it seemed, because when Evanna next opened her eyes, she was on her side, Arawn’s arms still wrapped around her waist, his body close to hers, his face resting on her neck. It felt marvellous to wake by his side, and she snuggled her backside into him more, but then reality dawned on her and she knew he had to get into his own sleeping mat and fur covers.

Evanna started to turn around to tell him just that but paused at the axe now pointed at the prince’s throat. It had been so quiet, but Arawn’s eyes snapped open, first looking at the axe, then moving up to the giant glaring at him.