Page 30 of Maneater

The following weeks passed in a soothing rhythm.

Working at the inn, helping Caz in the mornings, and spending evenings with him for reading and writing lessons.

Each day, I reminded him to apply Mag’s salve to his arm, and soon the rash had all but disappeared.

His shoulder regained full range of motion without much issue.

At home, I chose to ignore my own problems, drowning myself in Caz and his scholarly work. I woke each day with the same need to be near him, as though he was the only thing in my life that felt rooted, while everything else seemed to drift.

Before long, the early mornings spent slipping into Caz’s room turned into late nights, until eventually, I no longer wanted to leave him at all.

I returned home only to drop off food and supplies.

Still, my father’s tankard seemed bottomless, his presence nearly invisible, and my mother’s visits to the widow next door became more frequent than ever.

Instead of facing the ache, I sought comfort in Caz’s arms. His embrace was gentle and understanding, soothing my tears and quieting my thoughts. And as stories like this often go, I clung to him with everything I had, binding myself to him helplessly, with both body and heart .

We woke in the early mornings, tangled together on his bed, before packing up to take Bellona into the woods.

Breakfast was always eaten as the sun rose, and then we’d dive into his books and journals, now carefully stitched with twine and cord to keep them from falling apart.

After each spool of surveyor’s metal was unwound and Caz’s meticulous notes were recorded, we’d find a quiet clearing or a secluded nook in the woods to lose ourselves in each other.

It began with soft touches and gentle holds, but quickly turned into something more passionate. There was a hunger between us that felt endless, as if we could never fully satisfy the longing we shared.

More times than I cared to admit, I found myself on my knees, with Caz standing bare before me.

I teased and tasted him thoroughly, taking pleasure in his pleasure.

He did the same for me, pulling me down onto a blanket spread over the mossy forest floor.

He told me to prop myself on my elbows and hike up my skirts, then buried his head between my legs, sending waves of heat through my body.

Sometimes, Caz took me sweetly among the trees, other times, he pressed me against the base of a trunk greedily.

Caz always knew exactly what I needed.

Today was one of those days he had bent me over and taken me with lust. My knees trembled as I clung to the mossy hill, our bodies moving together. In moments like this, all I could feel was bliss.

But all good things eventually come to an end.

When we finished and untangled ourselves, we settled into a quiet embrace. I was the first to speak, my voice a whisper.

“Summer’s end is almost here.”

“It is,” Caz replied. “But think of all we’ve done. You’ve nearly mastered reading, and we’ve charted most of Brier Len’s forest, at least the parts the Academy needs for now.”

“That’s true,” I said. “What will you do next?”

Caz’s fingers drifted through a patch of grass, brushing the thin blades.

“I suppose I’ll do whatever my Master and the Academy ask of me.”

“Right.” The sadness in my voice was impossible to hide.

“I’ll need to pack and report back to the Academy within the week. I’ll admit, the thought of returning doesn’t excite me,” Caz said, clearly disappointed. “I’ve grown quite attached to Brier Len.” His green eyes met mine, and the meaning behind them was clear enough.

“I’m not thrilled about it either,” I said heavily. Then I teased, “Why not just stay with me?”

Caz laughed, his smile spreading like sunlight. “Why not just come with me?”

I gave a playful eye roll, though my heart pounded in my chest. “I know you can’t stay,” I murmured, pressing myself closer to him, “and you know I can’t leave.”

Yet the thought still burned inside me: What if I did?

Ready to draw the world with me, Odessa?

As Caz’s last days in Brier Len approached, the words he had whispered to me months ago spiraled through my thoughts.

No matter how many times I reminded myself that this was always meant to be temporary, that once his assignment was over we’d have to say goodbye.

But it didn’t prepare me for the hollow his leaving would carve in my heart.

Maybe this was the outcome I deserved. I had been foolish to play such a dangerous game, using pieces of my heart as stakes.

This morning, Caz and I had breakfast at sunrise once more, though all his work could have been done back at the inn. Tomorrow, he would be gone. Neither of us spoke of it, but we both felt time slipping away. We wanted to savor every last moment.

I’d miss Bellona too. The beautiful mare had brightened my mornings with her gentle nuzzles and soft huffs.

I had never been so disheartened by something outside my control. I wanted to scream, to shout at how unfair it all felt.

But I was skirtsfolk, and skirtsfolk belong in Brier Len.

“I have one last surprise for you,” Caz said, sitting on the blanket with his elbow propped on his knee. His green eyes studied the horizon, admiring the blend of yellow, orange, and pink. He looked every bit like a scholar lost in thought.

“You do?” I asked, tilting my head. “What is it?”

“Well, if I told you, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise, would it?”

“Come on, spoil it for me.”

“Fine, fine.” Caz chuckled, the sound filling the air. “It took some time and a few favors, but I managed to get my hands on one. It’s a novel. One I think you’ll adore.” He turned to face me. “Your very first book. The first one in all of Brier Len.”

“Really?” I said, breathless. “That’s so thoughtful of you.” My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard. “Thank you.”

My heart swelled so much I thought it might burst. How could Caz still make my stomach flutter, even when it was already tangled in knots?

“I don’t have it with me right now, but when it arrives tomorrow, I’d like to give it to you before I leave.”

Our eyes met, but the space between us felt unbearable. I closed the gap, wrapping my arms around Caz tightly. He was hope, light, and joy, and in that moment, I could hold it all in my hands. I rested my head against the curve of his neck as his arms pulled me closer.

“Take me with you,” I whispered so softly I wasn’t sure he could hear me.

Caz stiffened for a moment, as if uncertain he’d heard me right. But he understood enough. He pulled back slightly, cupping my face.

“Say that again?”

I leaned away just enough to see his expression.

“Take me to the Academy, or wherever your next assignment brings you,” I said, the words tumbling out.

“I could be a scholar, just like you said. Or I could follow you anywhere your journey leads.” My fingers twisted together.

“You once asked if I was ready to draw the world with you, and my answer is yes. All I want is to be with you, in whatever way that comes.”

A quiet settled between us, each second pressing against my pride and my heart.

“Odessa,” Caz said at last, his thumb and forefinger gently lifting my chin. “I need you to think carefully about what you’re saying. How certain are you about this?”

I held his gaze, steady in my conviction. “More certain than I’ve ever been about anything.”

“Odessa.” Caz let out a slow breath. “Is this really what you want?”

“Yes,” I said again. “It is.”

Caz ran a hand through his hair, his voice low when he spoke.

“Of course you can come with me, Odessa. You’re extraordinary.

Kind, strong, independent. You see the world with a depth that few do.

” He took my hands in his. “But there are practicalities and limits to what I can offer you as a scholar. I’ve made a vow to the Academy.

My life is shaped by the demands of my work.

As a cartographer, I can’t give you the life you might want.

I can’t offer you a home. I can’t offer you permanence.

My life is one of constant motion, moving from one place to the next, staying in inns and temporary lodgings. I can’t ask you to live that way.”

I shook my head. “That doesn’t matter to me. I’d follow you anywhere. These last three months have been the happiest of my life. Believe me, the life you offer would be far better than what I have now.”

As I finished speaking, I reached for Caz.

He pulled me close, and our lips met with the kind of desperation that came from knowing time was short.

We held each other tightly, two hearts beating as one.

Our faces were so close that our noses brushed, and I searched his eyes for reassurance, for the love that could comfort me.

Caz acquiesced, smiling that same bright smile and whispering sweet things into my ear.

He held me in his arms until the sun set, talking about the future.

What our life might look like. The books we would read together.

How hard I would have to study to earn my place at the Academy.

All the places we would visit. When he would ask for my hand in marriage.

I saw the life we would live in rich color and clung to each of Caz’s words as if they were promises written in stone. And I knew then, whatever the future held, we would face it together.