Page 47 of Unbetrothed

And what should I tell Mamá if Laude gets hurt or worse?

Zichri dipped his head toward me. “She needs time. Gonzalo won’t climb anymore, and a year has passed. We can still cross without her.”

“I won’t leave her alone, not with the creature lurking in the forest. What if something happened?” My insides throbbed as if the wasps stung my insides. Was this also part of my time running out?

“It will be all right. Jaime can stay with her.” Zichri pointed to his broad-shouldered friend.

Jaime gave a single nod.

“That’s not enough. If more creatures attack, Jaime is one man. Sorry, Jaime, you appear capable, but …”

Blas howled with laughter. “You hear that? She’s calling you weak.” He clapped Jaime’s back.

I met Laude’s gaze just in time to catch her roll her eyes. Blas had certainly lost her good favor.

Milo stalked to Laude’s side. “I’ll stay with them.”

Zichri held my hand. “Then it’s settled. Blas, Cypress, and I will cross.”

I hesitated to step into the river. In my mind, Laude would see the ruins with me—that might have been a new thought, but it was what I envisioned. River water rushed up past my ankles, climbing to my waist. Each step weighed heavy from the water and my conscience.

Once on the other side, I waved, still not wanting to part from Laude. For the first time in years, she had become like a sort of sister. I wasted so much time pushing her away over one silly comment Lux made as a child.

“We can’t stay at the river all day.” Zichri pressed a hand to my back, encouraging me to continue. “I’m sure you want to make it there and back before dusk.”

It did not seem right to leave Laude, but I peeled myself from the shore. Laude still held the sapling with one hand and waved with the other.

Blas led us deeper into the rows of trees. I trudged behind, and Zichri walked by my side. I should have asked more questions. But instead,I allowed my mind to wander.Perhaps, my gift will be mindreading.That would do away with all the pointless games I played to get to know a certain someone.

Sunlight peeked through the canopy of leaves. How odd. The skies were gray on the other side of the river. A sweet aroma drifted through the air, inviting us to travel into a sparser part of the forest.

Blas picked dull, blue berries with little hairs from a bush I’d never seen before.

“Come now, don’t tell me you’re going to eat that.” Zichri plucked the fruit from Blas’s hand.

“I had the same instructor as Jaime.” Blas lifted a cocky grin.

“As I recall,” Zichri squeezed the fruit between his fingers, “the instructor removed you from his group because you nearly got another pupil killed.”

“I was young. What can I say?” Blas popped the blue berry into his mouth.

Unease tensed in my stomach. I waited for him to fall over, but nothing happened. Blas strode along, shoveling a handful of the berries in his mouth.

“If they are poisonous, how long will it take to affect him?” I peered at Zichri, who examined a green leaf with orange around the edges.

“It depends on the berries. I’ve never seen these, but then again, I was also dismissed from that same class.” He tossed the leaf to the side, and we continued to stroll along a grassy path.

“The instructor must have been very strict to toss out so many students.”

“He was the most lenient of the bunch. And we all knew it.” Zichri reached for my hand.

I hesitated but slipped my fingers in his. Should I even allow myself to get closer to Zichri?Papá would never accept him—what am I thinking? There’s no real possibility of him being a match. Play your role.

My heart sank just a fraction as we walked along a grassy trail and swung our arms. Blas bounced along, merry to be in his own company.

“You’ve been distant this morning. I don’t know this look.” Zichri’s deep voice soothed the tumultuous emotions sifting within me. One second, Zichri was irresistible, and the next, he was an enemy.

Zichri edged closer and relaxed into an easy gait. “Why didn’t you want to wait to cross the river? No one would blame you for needing time to rest.”

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