All the Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows

Author:Foz Meadows
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tor Publishing Group

* * *

Later, I made my way back to Nevan’s rooms. He startled as I came in, then relaxed enough to just look faintly disapproving.

“There you are,” he said, rising to greet me. He squeezed my shoulder, brow furrowed, glasses slipping down his nose as he looked me over. “I was beginning to worry. Markel said you’d been taken for questioning, but—”

“I’m fine,” I said, and approximated a smile. “The general is more bark than bite.”

“Well, that’s a relief.” He hesitated. “Have you eaten? I was thinking I’d ring for some food.”

I flushed, recalling the gentle press of the general’s fingers against my lips as he hand-fed me titbits from his own plate. “I’m fine,” I said again. “Just tired.” I probably ought to have flirted with him, or kissed him, or done something else normal, but I didn’t have the energy. The best I could manage was to ask, after an awkward pause, “How’s Velasin? Any change?”

“He’s stable,” said Nevan. “Not yet awake, but that’s not surprising.”

Another pause. Nevan looked close to saying something serious, but changed his mind at the last second, like a horse refusing a fence. “All right,” he said instead. “Rest, then.”

I nodded and went through to the bedroom, shutting the door behind me. Goosebumps prickled my arms as I stripped, remembering the general’s hands. What am I to do with you? he’d asked at one point, and I, returned to my soft-sand state, had murmured back, Whatever yaren wants. And so he had, at length and with skill, which would’ve been enough on its own, except that he’d also done the unthinkable and treated me so kindly before sending me off again that, even now, I couldn’t decide which part of our encounter I’d imagined, the impossible gentleness of the after, or all the delicious cruelty of the before.

Naked, I walked to the glass and stared at my reflection. He’d left marks on my hips, my inner thighs, to say nothing of how thoroughly he’d used me elsewhere. I traced them over, pressing lightly against each bruise, then turned and climbed into bed, the cool sheets a balm to my sensitized skin. I closed my eyes and slipped into an easier sleep than any I’d known in months, my last thoughts of our parting conversation.

You’ll be of use to me, then? the general had asked, thumb grazing across my mouth.

Of course, I’d said.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.