Chapter Thirty: Dreams and Nightmares

River Black

This time, she kissed him first. She took what she wanted. It was infinitely simple and complicated all at once. The rules of her old life were gone. She could do whatever she pleased. No one would talk about it in her friend group. Her mother wouldn't scold her. River was free to do whatever she wanted. And right now, she wanted to kiss Aelnith.

It helped her ignore that she was starving and exhausted. It helped her forget that she'd never see home, her friends or family ever again. That back home? She was as good as dead and buried. A ghost. A sad memory. A short story on the news. Nothing more. Endless potential interrupted.

River bit hard at his bottom lip, making him cry out in surprise and pleasure. It made her feel powerful, in control of an out of control situation. His hands drank in her body, skimming up her torso, filling his palm with her breast, his other hand cuppi