Page 59 of Unbetrothed

The dim light reflected off her bubbling cheeks. “He likes me.”

“I gathered that much. Did anything happen while I was away?” Stooping low to avoid hitting a rock, I noticed Zichri and Milo stop at a fork in the path.

Laude glanced back, and smacked her head against the rock and yelped. “Ai-yi-yi!”

I rushed to her side and reached for her shadowed head. My hand came back dripping with warm liquid. “Speak to me. Are you all right?”

“I think my nose is bleeding.”

Relief flooded through my body. Blas stumbled forward, passing us.

Jaime rushed to her side, bumping into my shoulder, and he gave her his handkerchief. She covered her nose with the fabric, blood coloring the light material—noticeable even in the dim lighting. He scooped her up.

Something about Jaime carrying Laude released a yearning inside my heart right in that moment.

My intention was always to get married and hope I could have some semblance ofwhat my parents had. The way they always addressed each other with respect. The way Papá kissed Mamá’s hand, inspiring a blush to creep up Mamá’s neck.

Jaime and I lumbered toward the fork in the cave while Laude swayed in Jaime’s arms. Seeing Jaime dote over Laude brought about a sinking feeling because I couldn’t imagine that ever happening to me with the person I married. Lux could never be mine now. Though, I suspected even if we were to marry, we’d never romance each other like Laude and Jaime.

And Zichri?He waited for us at the fork alongside Milo and Blas.

I drank in the sight of Zichri, who met my gaze with a tender smile.He, too, can never be mine.My heart thumped wildly, but I pushed feelings aside. I still needed to bury fanciful dreams. We continued to move, and my mind searched for a way out of the troubles that awaited me back home.

Jaime held onto Laude, guiding her and whispering in her ear. She giggled.At times, they strayed so far behind the rest of us that we had to stop and wait for them. Zichri slowed to walk next to me, but I kept my gaze ahead on Milo’s lamp.

“What are you going to do now thatyou’re heading back home?” Zichri kicked up a pebble. “Before you left, you were choosing a husband.”

A moan vibrated low in my throat as I imagined a life with Marden, the suitor of Papá’s choice. Siding with Papá would surely be the prudent thing to do after running away, and he’d be pleased with Marden’s ability to change the water currents to be in our favor. A sourness filled my belly. I would do nothing exciting ever again. Mamá warned me that stealing Papá’s personal sailboat and going out to sea with Lux would not be appropriate for a betrothed woman.

I answered, “Perhaps, I could stay lost in the woods forever and learn how to fish and wander from town to town.”

“If you do that, then I’m going with you.” A mischievous grin played on his lips.

For the first time since the encounter with my whyzer, I laughed. What would it be like to wander with him? Threats lurked behind every turn as we walked the dark caverns, yet I let myself forget my worries.

Zichri leaned closer and grazed my side. “Of course, we’d also need to make you some better clothes. You can’t go around dressed like me all the time.”

“Why not? I kind of enjoy wearing pants.” I lifted my belt, which had slipped down to my hips.

“You can wear pants if you like, but at least let me get you something nice.”

I considered his proposition. Stars above, a campfire at night, singing until sleep befell one of us. “I’ll let you make my clothesifyou dance with me while singing that song. The one you sang so beautifully.”

“It would be my pleasure. I never got my dance at the ball.”

“So, you wanted to dance with me at the ball?” I lifted my chin and held my breath. My heart devoured this little game. Part of me wished he’d sayno,so I could easily walk away.

“More than anything in the world.”

Biting my bottom lip, I looked away, trying to be reasonable, but the conversation moved into murkier waters.

The path flattened, though we still descended. Zichri’s expression sobered. “We weren’t going to go to the ball that day, but curiosity got the better of me. I watched you dance with every one of those suitors, wishing that was me. Something about you, Beatriz, drew me in.”

His sweet words drizzled over me like melted chocolate. I wanted more, but I didn’t want to seem desperate. “You may get your dance and several moreafter all.”

He slipped his hand in mine again, and I smiled. Lux and I never ever shared these tantalizing moments. Lux, the ever-faithful friend whom I talked to for hours, never sent me floating into an imaginary world.

Zichri continued, “Just so you know, we’ll sleep in hammocks if we wander the forests.”

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