Chapter Twelve
I cannot trust to luck that she simply falls asleep and has lust defeat her willpower. Runa needs to be encouraged to summon her demon. She will be aware that the possibility exists, with Aleks banished into the night to make his bed despite sensing the mara close. In my nightgown I creep to her room, see her dim shape, her eyes watching me and brightened by the flickering firelight, the bloom of nervous expectation on her cheeks. I see the furs pulled tight around her, but this meagre defense is just so easily breached.
Our warmth joins and mingles. Our hot breath meets. It is not like before, where I molded myself into her from behind. This time I am right upon her, my weight full down, my face just above hers and my hands either side of her head, trapping her by her spr
