A Shade of Midnight

NINETEEN

Raven did not hesitate to slip his hand beneath my sweater, diving under my shirt. The warmth of his hands on my skin made me groan. I felt his hand scraping the top of my breast and circling around my n****e. 

"I love these," he breathed into my neck, his hand sliding to my other breast. "You have no idea how much I love these." 

I groaned as I could feel his knuckle caressing against my n****e and I arched my back more. Silently begging him for more. 

He was hard behind me, and I continued to grind against him and I heard a low, wicked hiss from him. 

"Stop that," he snarled lowly to my skin. "I want to have my fun with you."

Ngunit ayoko siyang sundin. So I began twisting, reaching for him, needing to just feel him, but I heard him click his tongue and pushed himself harder against me, hanggang sa hindi ko na maisiksik ang kamay ko papunta sa kanya. 

"I want to touch you first," he said, his voice so low that I barely recognized it. "Just let me touch you." His hands cupped both my breast for emphasis. A plea came out of my mouth. I paused, yielding to his touch as his hand trailed lazy lines on my stomach. 

I remembered all the things he had said to me. The bits of pieces that proved how much he desired me. And now that he's behind me, pleasing me, I couldn't understand why we didn't do this sooner. 

I shut out the thoughts. Naramdaman ko ang daliri niyang bumababa. It lingered on the band of my pants, like a cat playing with its dinner. And he did it again and again and again. He wanted me to tell him how much I want him. He's teasing me. And I have been too aroused with his touches that I didn't care anymore. 

"Please," I managed to say kahit na halos maubusan na ako ng hininga. 

Naramdaman ko ang ngiti niya sa aking leeg. "There are those missing manners." 

And then I felt his hand trail beneath my pants. The brush of his fingers against me dragged a throaty moan. I heard him let out a low chuckle when he felt the wetness waiting for him and then his thumb circled that spot at the apex of my thighs, teasing, brushing up against it, but I want more. And he's not giving it to me. 

Ang isa niyang kamay ay nasa aking dibdib, gently squeezing it the same time his thumb pressed down exactly where I want it to be. My head was fully back against his shoulder and I was panting as I felt his thumb flicked--

I let out another moan, and he laughed, low and soft. "You like that?" 

Tanging ungol lang ang naging sagot ko. I wanted more.

More more more. 

His fingers brazenly slid down, straight to the core of me. And the moment I felt his finger inside, every point in my body, my mind, narrowed to the feeling of his fingers poised there like he had all the time in the world. 

Teasing bastard. "Please," I said again and ground my ass against him for emphasis. 

He hissed at my action and slid a finger inside me. Narinig ko siyang nagmura. "Delta--" 

Ngunit gumagalaw na ang katawan ko. And then another curse came out of him. I felt his lips pressed into my neck and then his teeth as he gently bit me there, and then his tongue as he licked my neck up toward my eat. 

Nagpakawala ako ng malakas na ungol na sapat na para hindi ko marinig ang tunog ng ulan sa labas nang ipasok niya ang ikalawang daliri niya. I was full. He was filling me too much na hindi ako makapag-isip nang maayos. 

"That's it," he murmured, clearly satisfied at my reaction. His lips traced my ear. I twisted and looked at him and I found him staring at me too. His fingers still moving inside of me. At hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip. I captured his mouth with my own, biting his lower lip. 

Raven groaned, plunging his fingers deeper. Harder. 

I didn't care. I didn't care if I was moaning too loudly and the others would hear. I didn't where we are. I didn't care who I was. I yielded to his touch and I opened my mouth. His tongue swept in, moving in a way that I knew exactly what he'd do if he got between my legs. 

His fingers plunged in and out, slow and hard. Wala na akong naririnig kundi ang mga ungol ko, ang paghinga niya, at ang tunog ng mga daliri niya habang naglabas-pasok mula sa akin. 

"You have no idea how much I--" He cut himself off as I continued to meet his movements. "Delta." 

The sound of my name on his lips was my release. Release barreled down my spin and I cried out, only to have his lips cover mine as though he could devour the sound coming out of my mouth. I felt his tongue on the roof of my mouth while I shivered around him, clenching my legs tight. Narinig ko ulit siyang nagmura. He was also breathing hard, fingers still stroking me while I had my release until I was limp and still trembling in his arms. 

I was panting for air. Suddenly, the room didn't feel cold anymore. And when Raven withdrew his fingers, I looked at him. 

He said, "That's what I wanted to do that time you were perched on my lap and I felt how drenched you were. I wanted to have you right there in the middle of everyone. But mostly I just wanted to do this." His eyes never left mine as he brought those fingers to his mouth and sucked on them. 

On the wetness coating his fingers. 

On the taste of me. 

And then I wanted to eat him alive. So I twisted and faced him. I pushed a hand up to his chest to pin him down ngunit hinawakan niya ang pulsohan ko. 

"When you lick me," he said roughly. "I want it to happen when we're alone, far from everyone. Because when you lick me, Delta," he said, pressing small kisses to my jaw and my neck, "I'm going to moan so loud." 

And I instantly feel my wetness coming again, and he laughed under his breath. "And when I lick you," he said, sliding his around me and tucking me in tight to him, "I want you splayed out on a table like my own personal feast." 

I let out a sigh. 

"Marami akong oras para pag-isipan kung paano kita aangkinin," he said to my neck, his fingers sliding under the band of my pants, but stopped just beneath. "At wala akong planong gawin iyon sa isang gabi lang. Or in a room like this where I can't even f**k you against the wall." 

I felt the hair on my body rise as I heard it. I can still feel him long and hard against me. And I had to feel him. I had to feel that length inside of me--

"Sleep," he said. 

And then he began stroking my body again--not to arouse, but to soothe. And before I realized it, sleep found me faster than I'd thought. 

Perhaps it was the wine or the aftermath of the pleasure but I didn't have a single nightmare after that. 

*** 

I woke up the next morning and I could feel the warmth. I was well-rested and calm. Beams of sunlight streamed through the dirty window, illuminating the whole room. 

Raven's arms were tight around me, his breathing deep and even. And I knew it was just as rare for him to sleep that soundly and peacefully. 

What we'd done last night... 

Slowly and carefully, I twisted to face him, his arms tightening slightly as though he felt m move and he doesn't want me to go. And then his eyes were open when I settled my head against his arm. Nagkatinginan kami. I stared at his violet gaze and then his nose, and his mouth--the mouth that had devoured mine last night. I stared at how beautiful he was and I realized I would be contented to spend the rest of my life just staring at him. 

"Why did you make that bargain with me? Why demand a week from me every month?" 

He blinked. 

"Because I wanted to make a statement to Meredith. I wanted to piss off Maxim, and I needed to keep you alive in a way that wouldn't be seen as merciful." 

"Oh." 

His mouth tightened. "You know--you know there is nothing I wouldn't do for my people, for my family." 

And I had been a pawn in that game. 

He rested his head on his hand. "Bath or no bath?

Naalala ko ang banyo kagabi nang madaanan namin and I cringed at the memory of it. "I'd rather bathe in a stream," I said, pushing the gnawing feeling in my gut. 

Napatawa nang mahina si Raven at saka bumangon mula sa kama. "Then let's get out of here." 

For a moment, I wondered if what happened last night was just a dream. But from the slight, pleasant soreness between my legs, I knew it wasn't a dream, but...

I looked at Raven and he was already packing our things. Maybe it'd be easier to pretend that nothing had happened. 

Tumayo nalang ako at agad na naghanda para sa pag-alis namin. 

*** 

It was also a day for training but this time, we have to go back to the camps Nagalakad kami papasok sa kagubatan at hindi kami masyadong nag-uusap. We reached a clearing at doon kami tumigil para sa aming pagsasanay. And during that time, I could feel he wants to say something. I could feel the words rising in him as the hours passed. I caught him watching me whenever I took a break from the training. He would open his mouth...and then shut it. 

Biglang umulan nang kaunti ngunit saglit lang din iyon. At nang nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad, ramdam ko ang paglamig ng paligid, patunay na malapit na kaming makarating sa camp. And it was almost sundown when we reached the nearest hill. Hindi na ako nakatiis at tumingin ako sa kanya. 

"What is it?" I asked. 

His attention went from the sweeping land ahead of us to me. Then he sighed. "There is one more story I need to tell you."

I waited. He didn't continue. 

I reached to put my hand to his cheek, the first touch we'd had all day. His skin was cold and his eyes slid to me.

"I don't walk away, Raven. Not from you. So whatever it is, I will listen." 

His gaze softened. "Delta--" Then Raven roared in pain, arching his back. 

Everything happened so fast that I didn't understand what was happening at first. And then I saw it. I saw arrows flying from different directions and they pierced at Raven's back. 

"Raven!" 

I wasn't able to move as he hugged me, shielding me from the arrows that came from somewhere. And then I heard a gunshot and the next thing I knew Raven was kneeling. He was hit by the legs. I was screaming. Not for fear but for him--the blood that came trickling down his legs and his back.

The shooting stopped for a second and Raven took that chance to push me off the cliff, para hindi ako matamaan. The cliff was not too high and I felt my body slam into the dense canopy. The shooting continued and I didn't care if my body was shouting in agony. Raven is out there, being hunted. 

But who? 

Focus, Delta. Focus. Focus. 

And then I remembered Tyrell. He had tracked us yesterday. He found me in the dense forest. He might as well have found us today too. 

I listened to my surroundings when the shooting stopped. Listened for Raven to call my name. But...nothing. 

No no no no. 

"Raven!" I screamed. Agad akong bumangon mula sa pagkakabagsak. Raven is hurt. I had seen blood gushing out of him. He was shot. He shielded me. And now...and now---

"Raven!" 

Hindi ko alam kung ilang ang naging tama ni Raven but if there were a lot, it won't be long and he would---

No no no. I need to find him. I need to find him quickly. 

Marahas kong pinahid ang luha sa mga mata ko at umakyat sa puno na naroon. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko nakayang gawin iyon but I didn't care. All I want to do is to go to Raven. To save him. 

When I was high enough in the tree, I saw Raven's body, unconscious on the ground. Something inside me stirred. Something guttural, pure rage. And then I saw one soldier standing next to Raven's body. My blood turned cold and I did not hesitate to take out my bow and arrow. It didn't take long for me to aim. Pinakawalan ko ang pana at tumama iyon sa mata ng lalaki. I felt ruthless but I didn't care. They hurt Raven and they will receive my wrath. 

Tumalon ako mula sa puno and I landed almost soundless on the ground. I went to Raven and tears started streaming down my face as I beheld his state. His eyes were closed and blood started pooling underneath him, staining his clothes.

I let out a guttural scream. A scream full of rage and my eyes darted towards the endless darkness of the woods. It's almost sundown. It would be dark and I wouldn't be able to take Raven on time.

Napatingin ako sa taong pinatay ko kanina. And when I looked closer, it was a soldier I don't know. But I knew it's someone who shouldn't be here in the territory. They are enemy forces and I should kill them all. But I need to take Raven down the hill. Malapit na kami sa camp but with Raven's weight, I won't be able to bring him there on time. Or worse, he will--

No.

"Raven, please hang on—"

I whirled behind me when I heard the bushes rustling. At maya maya pa, several men came out, with their guns and arrows pointed at me. Cold rage ran in my spine. I wasn't even scared. I didn't feel anything aside from pure rage. I let out my dagger as I faced them. I can't let them go near Raven.

I dont know these men and they are too differemt from Valyrian warriors. Hindi ko alam kung paano nakapasok ang mga ito sa teritoryo ni Raven.

"Delta, duck!"

I whirled behind me only to see Aliana standing on a tree. Without hesitation, I ducked and covered Raven with my body. The next thing I heard was the multiple gunshots and the men in front of me falling down. And then I heard footsteps from behind me as Aliana jumped into where I was. And then there's more. Azrael and Bryen, no doubt. Hindi ako tumingin sa kanila. I trust they could handle a bunch of those enemies. My eyes never left Raven, his eyes closed, his face splattered with blood—his blood. I buried my face on his chest as I started to sob.

"Please hang on," I said and that's when I felt Bryen next to me.

"We have to get him to the camp or he will die."

Agad akong lumayo at hinayaan si Bryen na pasanin si Raven. I remained standing as I can't move my legs. I watched as Raven's limp hands move as Bryen carried him down the hill. And then my hands gripped on my dagger tightly. I could still hear Aliana and Azrael fighting against several enemies. They weren't allowing their enemies to use guns.

I will kill all of you.

The next thing I knew, I was running straight to the enemy and the first man I grabbed was dead in an instant as I stabbed the dagger straight to his heart. One man attempted to stab me too ngunit nasangga ko iyon. His dagger pierced right into my finger and I winced in pain. But that did not stop me from stabbing the dagger to his chin. I watched as blood gushed out of his mouth.

And when I loomed behind me, I saw a man with a gun. Agad akong lumapit sa kanya at bago pa man niya mabaril si Aliana ay hinawakan ko na ang ulo niya. I twisted it and I heard the crack before he fell to the ground, lifelss.

I stood in the middle of dead bodies and took the lives of the others. Hanggang sa walang natira sa kanila. My hands were warm with blood and my rage was still there. I looked at Aliana and Azrael as they, too, were looking at me. And then I felt the pain on my side dahilan para mapaluhod ako. They both rushed in my direction and that's when I realized there was a gash of a wound on the side of my stomach.

"We need to go," Aliana said. And we walked down the hill, leaving the dead bodies behind.

* * *