As if Zio could refuse him. He tugged Devan under the spray in the hope that perhaps the cool water would gift them perspective, then he kissed Devan, kissed him and kissed him and kissed him, and for as long as they stood under the waterfall, war was forgotten.
They were alone.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Devan reached the brow of the hill and scented the air. Zio was ahead of him, but their return journey held none of the promise of before. As darkness fell, so did Devan’s mood, and lead laced his every step. He wanted to chase after Zio, but the reality that doing so would bring them closer to the last place on earth Devan wanted to be kept him dragging his heels.
Eventually, Zio noticed his slow pace and doubled back. He nosed Devan and whined.
Devan shook his head and shifted into his human form. “Sorry. I don’t want to go.”
Zio whined again, then shifted back too, brown eyes hooded and sad. “I don’t want to go either, and I wish something had changed while we were out here.”
“Something between us?”
“Maybe. I kind of wish we’d fucked, bitten, and bonded so it was done and we couldn’t take it back—”
“Zio—”
“Yeah, yeah. I know all the bollocks that comes with it. We’ve been over it a thousand times, and I’m sick to fucking death of it. I just—fuck, I don’t know. I wanted to make you happy, for a little while, at least. I’m sorry if I’ve made it worse.”
“You haven’t made it worse. I’ve had the best day.”
“Really?” Zio’s expression brightened enough to lift Devan’s flagging spirits.
Devan smiled. “Of course. You think rolling around in the sun with you isn’t my idea of a good time? It was magical.”
And it was. If the world ended tonight, the sensation of the winter sun on his back while Zio’s lips were fused to his would be seared on Devan’s soul forever.
Zio retrieved his bag from the ground and opened it. He pulled out clothes and handed them to Devan. “Fuck it. Let’s walk.”
“As humans?”
“Yeah. Why not?”
“Because we won’t get back until dawn.”
“So? There’s a hundred shifters in that camp now. No one will miss us.”
Devan didn’t believe for one minute that Zio wasn’t fretting about getting back to his brothers. He wanted Zio all to himself until the end of time, but life was never going to be that way, and Devan didn’t want it to be. Biology had brought them together. Mutual respect and an ever-growing love would keep them together. “They’re already missing us. We have to get back, but before we go, can I kiss you again—”
Zio’s lips cut him off, fierce and demanding before he drew back and shook Devan slightly. “Never ask me for anything that’s already yours.”
“Mine?”
“Yours.”
Devan’s smile widened. There was much to be despondent about, but he couldn’t deny the kick he got out of witnessing the effect their potential bond had on Zio. To see him turn from fearsome, to gentle, to territorial, all in the blink of an eye. Perhaps one day, Zio would utter those words and they’d take root, mean something more than wishful longing. “We need to go.”
Zio licked his lips. “I know.”
It would’ve been so easy to let the heat between them rise again, but Devan fought it, searched hard for the alpha orders keeping them apart, and allowed the hold that shifter lore had over both of them to win out. He kissed Zio one more time. Twice. Three times. Then he shoved the clothes back in the bag and shifted.
He towered over human Zio and propelled him forwards, ignoring Zio’s indignant grumble.Let’s go.
* * *
They reached the outskirts of the camp far quicker than either of them wanted to. A mile out, they shifted back and dressed in the dark.