Page 59 of The Moon’s Fury (Moon & Sands #2)

They walked past more shops, when a large weaponry display caught his eye.

There was a gleaming sword, its sharp edge glinting in the sunlight.

The hilt was a muted gold with swirling filigrees wrapping around the hilt like lace.

He steered Layna through the shop’s curtain-covered archway, pointing out the sword to the shopkeeper.

The bulky man plucked it from the display and handed it to him.

He tested its weight—it was light. He swung it through the air, and it arced well without any resistance. “Try it.” He held it out to her. “I’ve been meaning to get you a new sword.”

She took it from his hand. Her grip was firm around the hilt.

And around his heart.

After a few test swipes, she beamed. It looked perfect in her hands. It looked like hers . Her pleased smile made his heart clench.

He’d guard that smile with his life.

“You like it?” he asked, his voice low and deep, eyes raking over her. Layna holding any weapon was enough to bring him to his knees.

Her wicked grin answered his question.

He paid the shopkeeper while Layna practiced a few mock maneuvers, mindful of the cramped space.

As he walked back over, a playful spark flickered in her eyes—one he didn’t realize how much he had missed until he saw it twinkling.

“Careful,” she teased, pulling her lower lip between her teeth.

She knew what it did to him, the little minx.

“A new weapon in every city? Keep this up, Zem , and I might think you’re trying to court me.

” Ever so slowly, she pointed the sharp blade at his chest. Gazes locked, she traced a slow line up to his neck.

Desire tightened within him.

He stepped forward into the blade, slowly, deliberately, until it just pierced the skin of his neck. He dropped his voice to a gravelly whisper. “Is it working, Ahna ?”

The shopkeeper’s disapproving eyes prickled his neck, likely wondering what strange foreplay was occurring in his shop, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. Layna’s chocolate brown eyes were fixed on his neck. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips and—

“She’s finally come to her senses!” a voice called from outside the shop. Layna startled and brought the sword down, a furious blush warming her cheeks as Lash bounded inside. “I’m surprised it took this long.”

“I was just testing it out,” Layna said with a laugh. “Zem bought this for me.”

“Gosh, if only I had met Zem earlier! The man knows how to court a woman. Buy her a sword and invite her to test its edge.”

Zarian clenched his jaw so tightly, his teeth ached.

This fucking —

Layna laughed, loud and bright, hand clutching her belly.

Moons, she really loved jokes at his expense.

A reluctant smile rose to his lips as he watched her, her brown eyes twinkling with mirth.

“Here, hold these.” Lash shoved at least half a dozen bags into his arms. “Unless all those big muscles are just for show.” Zarian leveled him with a withering glare, one that had made battle-hardened warriors hesitate.

The boy didn’t even flinch.

Instead, Lash’s gaze lingered on the new sword with something akin to longing.

The idiot boy twined his arm through Layna’s and led her off, leaving him to follow. They descended the carved stone steps back to the inn. Zarian kept his attention focused on their surroundings. His gaze repeatedly returned to the adjacent mountain, sharp eyes searching for hidden archers.

A tall, cloaked man passed, narrowed eyes focused on them. Lash avoided the man’s gaze. He continued talking to Layna, unfazed, though a stiffness had crept into his shoulders.

Zarian’s hand found his sword, muscles tensing in anticipation.

The man’s eyes slid to him, calculating.

A beat.

A flicker of hesitation.

He kept walking.

Zarian swiveled his head, ensuring the man had actually left. Refocusing ahead, he listened as Layna asked Lash about the hot springs.

“Ya’ve never seen a hot spring?” he asked incredulously.

“Oh, yer in for a treat. The Mountains are full of ‘em, but they’re especially abundant on the Tarakshan side.” He stood a bit straighter, chest puffed out.

“There are three large springs on this mountain alone. If ya went this way”—he gestured to a dirt path carved between two buildings—“ya’ll reach a wider path.

Follow it to yer left, and ya’ll find the springs. ”

He thought for a moment. “But there’s a smaller spring I think ya’ll fancy more.” He fucking winked at Layna, and rage seeped into Zarian’s vision.

Lash continued, ignorant to the violence he had just invited. “It’s a bit of a trek, and the climb’s slippery, but hardly anyone uses ‘em. I’ll pack some lunch for ya, it’ll be quite the romantic scene.”

Layna glanced back at him with an excited smile, arching a brow as if to say, See? He’s not so bad .

Once they returned to the inn, Lash packed them a small basket. Lasha sat at the desk, glaring at him, but he was as impervious to her anger as he was Zarian’s.

Lash guided them down the path that had initially led them into town.

After fifteen minutes, a small, hidden trail came into view.

“Follow this until ya get to a fork in the path, where there’s a giant boulder.

Take the right side, walk for another ten minutes or so.

The mountain will start getting steeper.

When ya start cursing me, ya’ll be in the right place.

” He grinned at them, eliciting a small chuckle from Layna.

“Climb about halfway up. There’s a ledge that leads into a cavern. And that’s it!”

“ That’s it ?” Zarian said drily.

“Yep.” Lash patted his shoulder as he walked by, whispering, “Don’t say I never did anything for ya.”

Lash’s directions were easy to follow, and soon, they reached the steep face of the mountain. It did, indeed, have Zarian cursing him and his entire lineage. The rocky stone slope was nearly vertical, and she understood why the other townsfolk rarely ventured here.

Shielding his eyes against the bright sunlight, Zarian assessed the climb.

“After you, my love.” He gestured to the mountain. “Climb slowly. Make sure the rocks are stable before putting your weight on them.”

She took hold of a sharp rock that jutted out and began the ascent. After a quarter of the way, she loosed the breath she was holding, but didn’t dare glance down.

Panting, she eventually reached the ledge Lash had described, the distant burbling of water welcoming her. Zarian climbed up behind her. Hands entwined, they walked into the cavern, the sound of water growing louder the deeper they ventured.

The narrow passage opened into a larger cavern.

The ceiling stretched high, and there must have been hundreds of tiny openings because beams of sunlight filtered through, glittering on the tan walls.

The spring itself was encircled by rock and elevated from where they stood.

A cascade of water flowed off into the small pool before them.

The cinnamon walls of the cavern glittered, twinkling with every turn of her head.

Zarian quickly shed his clothes, and her eyes unashamedly drank in his large, muscled form as he entered the pool, wading until he reached the center, the rippling water lapping at his neck.

There was a wide, genuine smile on his face when he turned around. Her heart stuttered.

“I hate to say it, but I might have to thank Lash,” he said ruefully. “What are you waiting for?”

She bit her lip, nervously eying the rippling surface.

“Zarian, I can’t swim. I didn’t realize the water would be so deep.”

His brows knit together.

“I grew up in a desert, remember? We didn’t have sacred springs to learn in.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“You can’t swim in the sacred springs.” He looked mildly affronted.

“How’d you learn, then?”

A shadow passed over his face, and she wished she hadn’t asked.

“I’ll tell you another time. Take off your clothes. I’ll keep you afloat.”

She debated for only a moment before shedding her clothing. His eyes were riveted to her as he waded to the edge of the pool. The stone floor was cold against her backside as she sat down, but the water was soothingly hot where her legs were submerged.

Desire and mischief mingled in Zarian’s eyes, and it had her frowning.

Without warning, he pulled her into the water, and she yelped, her limbs flailing, but soon she was pressed against his firm chest. Her arms and legs instinctively wrapped around his solid body, her head level with his. She clung to him, frantic gaze fixed on the water.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured, arms wrapped tightly around her.

Her heart slowly relaxed. The hot water felt wonderful, lapping against her skin in gentle waves.

Zarian walked them backward into the middle of the pool, twirling her around.

The friction between them, the heat of the water, was delicious, and when his eyes locked with hers again, they were swirling with heady lust.

Foreheads pressed together, his lips ghosted over hers in the lightest, most maddening touch. She leaned in, seeking more, but he kept retreating—just enough to drive her insane.

A low chuckle rumbled from his chest, the sound sinking into her bones.

His lips found her earlobe, teeth grazing, tugging until a heavy shudder passed through her.

Layna’s head tipped back, a breathy moan slipping past her lips, echoing softly against the walls.

He didn’t pull away when she leaned forward and claimed his mouth in a demanding kiss.

Layna lost all sense of time, unwilling to let go of this perfect escape. After exploring the pool, they had found a small ledge where they could sit, still submerged in the soothing heat.

Now, with muscles relaxed and desires sated, they remained entwined, her head nestled against Zarian’s shoulder. His fingers traced slow, idle patterns down her back, each touch sending shivers rippling through her.

“Tell me what you’re thinking, and I’ll give you a kiss,” he murmured.

She smiled against his neck. “You’ll give me a kiss anyway.” She leaned back, eyes finding his hazel gaze. “What are the chances we’ll see Soraya again? Tell me the truth.”

“I won’t let anything in this world keep you apart. She’d find me and thrash me otherwise,” he said, coaxing a smile from her. “Jamil will head to Thessan, too. And it took us a while to reach Tarakshan. They’ll catch up.”

His reassuring words washed over her, but didn’t quite ease the weight on her chest. “I miss her,” she admitted. “We’ve never been apart for so long.”

“Soon, love. I promise.” Her head again found its perch on his shoulder, and she melted into him.

Zarian’s lazy fingers seemingly found purpose, drifting lower and lower with each pass. “Again?” she asked, incredulous.

He nipped her collarbone. “Again.”

When they returned to the inn, Lash was in the stables brushing down Najoom, who was surprisingly allowing it. Mercifully, he only smiled and waved before inviting them to dinner with him and his sister.

“Oh, um, that’s so sweet of you,” she stammered. “The springs left me quite fatigued. You weren’t lying about the climb.”

“That’s all right,” Lash said easily. “Maybe tomorrow!”