Page 105 of The Blood Traitor

She broke off when Jaren strode toward her, debating whether to run back into the safety of her room. But she held her ground, turning rigid when he was close enough to slide one of the packs over her left shoulder, then her right, adjusting the straps until everything was secure, his movements gentle but efficient.

Kiva was barely breathing, the warmth of his body hitting her, his faceright thereas he examined his work.

Only when he was satisfied did he back away again and say, “We have a long journey ahead. Let’s go.”

He turned to leave, not giving her a chance to protest.

She wouldn’t have been able to anyway, too stunned by his tender actions to do anything but follow him out the door.

Chapter Twenty-Six

The first few hours of their hike were blessedly uneventful.

Their journey began with them riding out of the sleepy city, the sky still navy but beginning to turn indigo by the time they reached the foothills. They didn’t speak, which helped ease some of Kiva’s nerves, since she could almost imagine it was Caldon beside her, just as long as she didn’t look in Jaren’s direction.

Her tension continued to fade when they arrived at the base of Mount Nebu and found a clear path that was easy to traverse on horseback, leading them about a third of the way up the mountain. At that point, the trees were less dense and the terrain started to crumble underfoot, with the unstable salt threading deeper through the rock the higher they traveled. Queen Issa and Lady Silence had warned them to monitor the ground, and had also shared directions to an enclosed goatherders’ cave full of hay and straw that would keep the horses comfortable until the return trip.

Once Zephyr and Nightshade were settled, Kiva and Jaren set out on foot. The sky was now a dusty pink color and free of clouds, but they still had hours of climbing ahead. Kiva refused to worry about the weather changing, and focused on placing one foot in front of the other as they continued upward. Without the added weight of Zephyr, the mountain wasn’t at risk of crumbling beneath her, but it was rocky enough that she had to be careful not to trip. Jaren didn’t have healing magic — if she twisted an ankle, he would have to carry her, and that was something to be avoided at all costs.

As the slope intensified, Kiva began to pant lightly, and then much more heavily the higher they climbed. They were still beneath the treeline, and every so often she spotted a cave nestled into the rockface, reminding her about the potential need to seek quick shelter. But so far, everything had gone smoothly, and Kiva was feeling hopeful that they would reach the summit and return in record time.

“Let’s take a break,” Jaren said when the trees began to thin, the first either of them had spoken in hours.

Kiva nodded and sank onto the ground, groaning as she lowered her pack and rubbed her tired shoulders.

“How are you traveling?” Jaren asked, pulling a waterskin from his own pack, along with a pouch of nuts and berries.

Kiva’s stomach rumbled, and she dug through her supplies until she found the same items. “A bit sore, but nothing terrible,” she answered. Polite and casual, like two strangers making small talk — she could do this. She actually felt more comfortable with him than she had for a long time, her energy devoted to surviving the climb, with nothing left to fuel her nerves. “You?”

“Same,” Jaren said.

Given his fit physique, Kiva doubted the truth of his answer.Hehadn’t been panting at all, and she was certain he’d only suggested the break for her benefit. But she didn’t say anything, grateful for his consideration and eager to return to their companionable silence.

Knowing they would soon be without the privacy of the trees, they both made sure to relieve themselves before continuing onward, after which they set out again, the slope increasing to thigh-burning levels, the path vanishing along with the trees. Soon all that was left were jagged boulders and sharp rocks, all of which they had to carefully navigate, often by climbing over them. More than once, Jaren held out his hand to help Kiva, and each time she felt the burn of his touch long after he released her.

As the sun rose high in the sky, the gray sediment yielded to the white salt, indicating they were nearing the summit. The climb wasmore arduous now, and they had to take frequent breaks, but the wind chill above the tree line was too biting to allow for anything more than some water and a few mouthfuls of food before they moved off again.

It was after one of those breaks that they came across their first crevice, the salted ground cleaved in two and stretching as far as their eyes could see, like someone had taken a blade and cut it right through the mountain. Kiva froze at the sight, adrenaline flooding her as she looked over the edge and deep into the fissure. She couldn’t see how far down it went, causing a thrill of fear to travel up her spine at the very real reminder of where she was and the risks of their journey.

“We’re going to have to jump over it,” Jaren said, also peering into the cleft.

Kiva swallowed, looking again across the surface for an end to the fracture, seeing nothing but the fierce jagged line in both directions.

“Hey,” Jaren said, noting her fear and reaching for her hand. “It’s only a few feet across. We’ll jump together.”

Kiva stared numbly down at where his fingers tangled with hers, suddenly feeling too much. She quickly pulled away and croaked out, “You go first. I’ll follow.”

Jaren watched her for a long moment, likely seeing that her fear had increased — and wasn’t solely because of the mountain anymore. He nodded slowly and said, “Take a running leap, just to be safe. Like this.”

He backed up a few steps and then bounded forward, clearing the crevice with ease and landing lightly on the other side.

“Now your turn,” he called.

Kiva didn’t think about what she was doing, knowing that if she did, she would yield to her better judgment. Instead, she backed up and then sprang forward, pushing off from the hard white salt and leaping straight over the gap. She stumbled a little upon landing, the weight of her pack tipping her backwards toward the crevice, causing a second of instant, paralyzing terror. But then Jaren was there, his arms snaking around herand drawing her forward until she was a safe distance from the fissure, her heart thundering and legs trembling as she remained pressed against his body, unable to move.

“All right?” he asked quietly.

She couldn’t answer immediately, partly because of what had just happened, but also because he’d yet to let her go. Somehow, she managed to pull herself together and step away, brushing her hair behind her ear with a shaking hand as she nodded and replied with a hoarse, “Thank you.”

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