Eyes of Crow Read Online Free PDF

Finally he lay still and placed his palms on the ground beside him.
    “You,” he said.
    Rhia paused to wonder if she could do it, if she could bring such hurt upon herself. She closed her eyes and said a prayer for strength to whatever Spirit might be listening.
    Her hips moved against his, gingerly, until she felt herself begin to expand around him. Gradually the pain subsided, to be replaced with a sensation that recalled those he had given her with his hands and mouth. Yet this feeling, she knew before long, would carry her miles beyond.
    The heat between them became oppressive, and she raised her upper body to cool it. In doing so, she drove Arcas deeper inside her. They both cried out at the shock. His back arched, muscles taut, and his gaze pleaded, “Let me…”
    “Yes,” she said, and he released himself.
    His hands moved over her as if trying to touch her everywhere at once. She cradled his head to her breast, and he pulled her nipples into his mouth as his hips surged beneath her. Never had she felt so powerful, nor so helpless. The cry that escaped her throat was that of a woman she had yet to meet.
    The last thing she saw before collapsing onto Arcas’s chest was the radiant blue sky reflected in his astonished eyes.
    They lay together in silence, their breath slowing. Arcas combed Rhia’s hair with his fingers, which slid carefully through the tangles. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”
    “It will be better next time.”
    “I can’t imagine better.”
    Rhia smiled, then turned on her back, wincing at the soreness. She felt a sudden need to bathe, and sat up, extracting herself from his arms. She congratulated herself on her rare display of bravery, then stood on unsteady legs and walked to the stream. A rustle of grass told her Arcas was following.
    Minnows scattered, silver fins flashing, as her feet swished through the warm shallows. In a dozen steps the stream reached her waist. She scooped the water with cupped hands and held her arms straight before her. As it dripped through her fingers, she murmured, “Bless the Turtle who gives life.”
    At her side, Arcas answered, “And bless the wild carrot seed that prevents it.”
    She grinned at him, then bent over to splash water on her face. He tipped her over with a gentle shove. She flailed for an instant before he caught her arm in time to save her from going under.
    “Hey!” She smacked his chest with her free hand. “After what just happened, you might stop seeing me as a little girl to torment.”
    “Grown women don’t smear berries on people.” He leaned to rinse the goo from his hair. “Besides, I enjoy tormenting you. Would you rob me of that—” He straightened suddenly, whipping his gaze toward the shore. “Someone’s coming.”
    “I don’t hear anything.”
    “They’re far away.” He listened another moment, Bear senses tuned. “But coming fast.”
    They splashed through the water back to the meadow and sprinted up the hill to the place of flattened grass where they had left their clothes. Arcas helped refasten her dress, then yanked on his own trousers and shirt. Rhia heard the rumble of approaching hooves.
    Arcas faced the distant edge of the meadow, shading his eyes. Two dots moved closer, one white, one chestnut red.
    “Is that your brother, on the gray mare?” Arcas asked her. “He’s driving her awfully hard.”
    “They always do that.” Rhia sat on the grass to put on her shoes. “Especially Lycas. He can’t go to the market for milk without acting like he’s being chased by wildfire.” She chuckled to herself, even as her heart fluttered with an inchoate fear.
    “It is him. And—my cousin Gorin?” He turned to her. “They don’t even like each other. Why would they—”
    Rhia held up her hand to silence him. She saw her brother, bent low over the neck of his white horse. His hair, shiny and black like their mother’s, streamed behind him in the wind. She began to run.
    They met quickly. The rear hooves