Nalla inclined her head in a small nod. “I’m sorry you feel that way.”
Herne snorted. “No. You’re not.” Then to Khost, “Good riddance.”
Herne jerked to a stand and vanished, leaving nothing, not even a stir in the air to prove he had been there just seconds before. Khost sagged against her, shivers trailing up and down his spine. “I was so worried you were wrong and that he could have us both.”
Nalla shook her head.
“No. Even Herne has limits.” She flinched. “But I feel sorry for those still running. If they find what we’ve found...they’ll never have a chance at escaping.”
Khost touched her cheek and wiped away a tear. “There’s always a chance, Nalla. They could always fall.”
He patted the ground behind him and grinned at her. “The ground isn’t nearly as hard as one might think.”
Then he rolled her beneath him, that grin turning sinful in the dark. “Especially not with you to pad it. You were worth this, Nalla. These emotions, these feelings, these sensations—they were all worth this.”
“You say that now, wait a hundred years.”
Khost shook his head. “I’ve already waited a hundred and forty eight, feeling nothing. This is worth it. You can’t help what you want, but damn, it’s nice to want something.”
Nalla ran a hand down his cheek and Khost closed his eyes at the touch, reveling at the feeling of connection spanning between them. Joy settled deep in his chest. Nalla brushed a kiss over his jaw, feather light. “Then want me, Khost.”
“I already do.”
And he intended to want her, to find love with her, for a very long time.