Page 23 of A Shard of Ice

“I doubt it will be very comfortable, but at least it will be relatively safe. We can rest up when we reach the oasis.”

There is almost no space inside the larger crevice. The camels are huge. I squeeze my way in to the side, keeping my back against the rocky wall. Then I wrap the blanket over my shoulders, staying upright with my knees against my chest.

The camels have calmed down. They are standing quietly. One well-placed kick to the face, and I am dead.

“That’s a good girl,” Damon says. For a second, I think that he is talking to me, but then I realize that he is stroking the camel’s neck.

“I thought you were an icefae. Surely you don’t have camels in your kingdom? I’ve heard it’s covered in snow all year round.”

“We have horses and dogs to pull our sleighs. It’s a matter of reading a creature…of understanding them. You should try to get some sleep.”

I yawn. “I’ll try,” I mutter. “Wake me up to take over the watch.”

“I will.”

Then Damon sits at the opening of the crevice, right in front of me. So close I can feel his warmth. When his back brushes against my thigh, I know that he is right up close.

I don’t like it, but I understand why he is doing it, so I bite my tongue. He’s trying to protect me. Putting himself in the line of danger to do so.

There’s definitely no sleep for me tonight. First the wurm and now this. I’m uncomfortable against the rock, sitting upright with Damon touching me.

I must fall asleep, and Damon omits to wake me because the sun is on the horizon when my eyes flutter open.

My cheek is plastered against his warm, muscular back. My whole body is leaning against Damon instead of the wall. I’m sleeping on the fae.

I suck in a breath and sit up.

“Good morning,” he says in a rumble.

“You didn’t wake me up.” My voice is groggy with sleep. I really crashed hard. I must have been far more tired than I ever thought.

“You needed the rest.”

“You need rest, too.” My cheeks feel hot with embarrassment. I’m so glad he isn’t looking at me. This is awkward. I slept against him. It’s not like Taylor and I haven’t slept in the same bed on occasion. It was never weird or awkward.

This feels different.

It feels wrong.

I need air. I need to get away from him.

“I need to check on Cyrano.” There is that, too.

Damon moves away and stands, offering me a hand. I roll my eyes and take it, letting go as soon as I am standing. “You should have woken me up.”

I go to check on Cyrano. His skin is now hot to the touch. It’s flushed pink. I coax him to drink some water. He mutters something incoherent.

“He’s worse,” I tell Damon, who nods, his expression grave.

“We need to get moving.”

We make quick work of breakfast and tacking up the camels. This time, Damon has us tie Cyrano onto the injured camel,although I am happy to note that the minor wounds are healing nicely.

“We’ll ride together,” Damon says. “We need to be as fast as possible, or he might not make it.”

He’s right.

I mount up first, and then Damon gets on behind me, his arms on either side of me as he takes up the reins. His muscular thighs brush against me.

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