Free Indulge by Megan Duncan Page B

stressed you’ve been. And I know part of that is my fault, so I’m sorry.”
    I kicked at the tiny pebbles along the path as we exited the western edge of the gardens and started our ascent up the rocky mountain side that shadowed the back side of the palace.
    “I’m sorry too,” I admitted. My words seemed to break through the pounding of our footfalls and resonate in the night. Their meaning weighting them down heavily.
    We continued on in silence. Through our connection I felt what he felt mingling with my own emotions. He was confused and frustrated, that much I was sure of, but I could also sense how much he cared for me.
    I wasn’t sure if our connection made it harder or easier for us to talk to each other. From the way things were currently going, I would say harder. I had always been the type of person to keep things bottled up inside. Now, because of our bond, Arrick was the stopper to that bottle. He knew everything I kept from everyone. Even the things I tried to hide from myself.
    That thought made me think I should feel more sorry for him than I already did. The poor guy had to deal with my battling emotions constantly. It was hard enough for me to deal with on my own.
    I tore my eyes from their vacant gaze at my feet and flick them up to Arrick. He was intently focused on our path, either to be certain we were going the same way or perhaps because something else was on his mind.
    His eyes cast downward onto me and softened. My stomach fluttered and I angled my body to walk closer to him. It felt comforting to be around him - and it felt more and more right the less I fought it.
    “This way.” Arrick placed his strong hand on the small of my back as he pointed with the other to a fork in our path. It zigzagged upward on the small mountain-side. I looked up to see were they led, but I could spot only a small splinter of white peeking between the pointed rocks at the summit.
    His touch reminded me of our first kiss. It seemed like so long ago and the memory made heat burn in my heart. I wanted to kiss him again. I dared to steal another glance at his face and what I saw there made me blush.
    Arrick was as intent on our path as he was before, but there was a small smirk on his lips, too. He had felt the small flicker of passion I had.
    A giggle escaped me and, with it, so did the remaining tension of the earlier events on the beach.
    “What’s so funny?” He looked down at me, amused, and bumped me with his shoulder. I bumped him back.
    “Nothin’,” I smirked. “So, they had to put the temple at the top of a mountain, did they?” I asked, trying to change the subject. I was giddy enough already and I didn’t want his charm to melt completely. Yet.
    “Of course. As close to the stars as they could get it,” Arrick said, the amusement still lingering on his voice. He knew I was deliberately trying to change the subject.
    I was actually getting nervous around him. Seriously, what was wrong with me? It wasn’t not like this was our first date. In fact, we’d never even been on a date, but what we had already gone through surpassed anything any knew couple could ever imagine. Still, there was something new and exciting and magnetic about him. No matter how hard I fought it, I would always get pulled back in.
    Arrick and I chatted about random topics as we continued our climb. He told me about his childhood, his life before joining the guard and even about how the region celebrated for weeks after I had been born.
    “It’s weird to think you’ve known me that long.”
    “Geesh, thanks.” He rolled his eyes and smiled at me.
    “You know what I mean!” I replied exasperatedly. “Not creepy weird. I mean, you’re not some disturbing old man or anything. Wait. Are you?” I stopped in my tracks and put my hands on my hips in mock concern.
    “What do you think?” He turned around so I could look over him fully. “Do I look creepy to you?”
    I tapped my chin and smiled. “Fine, you might not