Games

Hide and seek was a child’s game. Ashenivir had played it with Nilaena a hundred times—never had they played it like this.

His bare skin prickled in the shadows as he slipped through the unlit corridors of Rizeth’s house. One hand pressed over his mouth to dull his breathing, though his heart pounded so loud it must have been audible. Somewhere in the darkness hid his Master, seeking him as a hunter seeks his prey. The game was simple: do not get caught before the time is up.

Five more minutes, that was all he had to keep himself hidden for. Just five more minutes. Keeping his back to the wall, Ashenivir felt for the bedroom door and twisted the handle, silent and slow. A bluff, that was his hope, that Rizeth wouldn’t think he’d be so obvious as to hide here. The door opened without a sound, and he darted inside, holding his breath until it clicked softly closed. No footsteps hurried towards it, no call came of capture, and he sighed quietly.

An arm wrapped around his waist, a hand coming to his throat as he was pulled hard against a firm, familiar chest. Rizeth’s lips brushed his ear.

“Found you, Ra’soltha.”