Page 81 of Phoenix's Fire

Careful not to let my dress ride up, I shifted over a bit to make room for him. My body was still above the covers, but I turned my head to watch. He opened thejar, set the lid on the table beside the bed, then eased himself down next to my hip. His eyes moved between my shoulder and my face, then he reached over and guided the thin strap down my arm.

"I can only see your shoulder," he said gently.

I pressed my lips together but nodded. Then he began applying the cream. The first touch stung, making me wince. Zasen made soothing noises but didn't stop, slathering plenty into the wound. When he finished, he simply lay back, resting his head on the pillow beside me.

"My turn." He gestured to his ribs.

I made to sit up, but he stopped me, encouraging me to simply slide closer while lying beside him. I giggled, feeling awkward, but tried. The dress shifted slightly higher, but he never looked. Zasen simply held the jar up for me to use, and shoved his other arm beneath my pillow.

"You don't want to mess up the dress," he pointed out. "Putting the strap back up would. You don't want to smear that stuff on the blankets. Just reach over and disinfect my injury for me?"

"This feels like it's something naughty."

He smiled. "I promise it's not. I also think you've been even closer to me than this and lived to berate me for it. Besides, it feels better when you put it on."

So I did. With a thick dollop on my finger, I leaned over his chest and coated his injury. He hissed at the first touch, just as I had, but didn't flinch. I hadn't seen my own, but his wound looked impressive. Not as bad as what I'd seen on hunters in the compound, and it didn't quite need stitches, but the bear had left its mark. The red lines contrasted with his natural ones, and his skin was hot under my hand.

"Will it scar?"

"Probably," he admitted, reaching back to set the jar on the table closest to him. "I'm okay with that. Not many people see a bear up close and live through it. They hunt men now."

"But we killed it."

He chuckled and turned back towards me, letting his eyes close as he answered. "Only because we worked together and didn't panic. You're good under pressure. I think you're a very good hunter."

"I barely know what I'm doing," I said around a yawn.

He pulled his eyes open, looking like he was fighting hard to do so. "Ayla, people don't stand face-to-face with a bear like that and see the next day. When we walked into it, I was terrified it would kill you. When it went after you instead of me? I thought you were already dead."

"But I'm not. We're okay," I assured him.

He let out a soft, weary hum, and let his eyes close again. "Yeah, we are." And his breath slowed.

For a moment, I thought about nudging him, but it felt like too much work. The bed was so soft. I was so comfortable like this, and it had been a very long night. Somewhere in there, my eyes closed too.

Twenty-Five

Kanik

I'd stayed up late finalizing my lesson plans, so I slept in more than I was used to. When I finally woke up, the sun was high enough the band of light barely clipped the window sill in my room. That meant it had to be nearly noon.

My mind was still moving slowly. What I needed was a cup of tea. So once I was dressed, I left my room and padded down the hall towards the stairs. I was almost there when Ayla's door clicked open - and Zasen stepped out.

My feet stalled. He rubbed at his hair, pushing his dreads into some semblance of order, then stumbled sleepily towards the stairs. Worse, he was only in his underwear.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I hissed, suddenly very awake.

Zasen's shoulders slumped. I watched as he sighed, and then slowly, he turned back to face me. "What time is it?"

"What were you doing in her room?" I demanded.

"I fell asleep," he said, gesturing for me to keep my voice down.

"Likethat?"

He looked down at himself, then sighed again. "It's not what you think."

My tail lashed as I closed the distance between us. Unable to help myself, I shoved at his chest. "First you kiss her. Now you're sneaking out of her room? Zasen, she doesn't know how to say no!"