"He?" Kagome looked around, trying to see through the thousands of moving legs. The barrier rippled as the spiders hissed, and the stripes on the man's face grew jagged. Youki swirled, lifting her hair off her shoulders as he stepped away.
She immediately pulled him back, pale eyebrows lifting in surprise. "I won't let you go out there by yourself."
He stared at her for a moment, the murderous haze in his eyes eventually receding as he lowered his head, lips brushing against her temple. "Your tenacity knows no bounds, mate."
She shivered at the title, wishing there was time to question it—along with how much clearer his voice was. Her dreams used to blur around the edges, but ever since the spiders had appeared, the lines of his face had become more defined, though never losing their ethereal quality.
Turning back to the hoard, his arm snaked around her waist. "You must stay close. His power grows the longer we are separated." That seemed important somehow, and she frowned.
"But you're never around when I'm awake," she said, feeling him stiffen against her. Staring up at him again, she thought the marks on his cheeks darkened.
"That is not intentional."
"Isn't it?" she questioned, tugging at his haori. "If it's so dangerous, why aren't you around during the day?" The barrier wavered, the spiders barring their fangs in toothy grins.
"I cannot—"
"You could, you just choose not to," she accused. His brow furrowed, and she poked him with the tip of her bow. "How do I know you're—" His claws elongated before slicing through the air, cutting away the webs attaching her hand to her weapon. The doubt that had been building in her mind melted away, concerned gold fading to black as she collapsed.