30

~Vaela

My hands drag over the craggy cave walls as I struggle my way into the part of the cave Hale retreats to when he wants to paint.

Sure enough, a brush is in his hand, as he crouches down, working on a particularly detailed aspect at the bottom of the painting. It's a night sky. It hurts to look at, knowing I haven't seen one in quite a few weeks.

I seat my hands in my pockets. "I've made a decision."

Hale straightens, dumping his brush on his metal tray. "Is that right?"

"I want to go out again," I decide.

Finding my mate has nothing to do with this now. What I need is a distraction that isn't Hale. Being around him in most of my waking moments is getting to be too much, and with Will gone and Eyla busy, I need fresh company.

Hale rubs his hands together, fingers stained with midnight purple and cobalt blue. "For how long?"

I chew on my lower lip. "Not long. Just a night."

"A night? You may get sick..." he frowns.

"Okay, for a small portion of the night, then," I sigh. I wish I