Page 4 of Of Blood and Banes
“For this,” I motion down toward the food, “and for getting me to the Dragon Lands. Marge said you carried me the whole way.”
“I told you one way or another I’d be getting you and Daeja to the Dragon Lands, didn’t I? Though, I wanted to be here when you woke up…” His smile weakens, the warmth in his eyes fading. He clears his throat, breaking our eye contact. “I’m sorry I couldn’t.”
I stop mid-chew, analyzing his expression as if it’ll tell me what he’s actually thinking. “And where were you instead?”
“Negotiating.”
“Sethan mentioned his proposal was to leave Darian here and we could all go home, right?”
He sighs, shaking his head and still not looking me in the eyes. “His proposal has changed.”
“To what?”
He pats my shin, then stands. “Don’t worry, I’ll figure out a way to get us home. The only thing I want you focusing on is recovering.”
I lean forward to weakly grip the hem of his shirt, garnering a side-glance and pause.
“Don’t do this again,” I mutter under my breath. “What is it you’re discussing with Sethan?”
“I don’t want you to worry about it. You can hardly keep your eyes open as is.” He gently plucks my fingers from his shirt until the fabric falls loose. He lifts my hand to his lips and dusts a soft kiss to my knuckles. “Get some rest, and let me take care of it.”
Before I can argue, he lays my hand back down on the bed and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch is lightning in my nerves as he swipes a nostalgic slow line around the corner of my jaw. Those calloused fingertips graze the column of my neck, before he tosses me a small smile that cracks the ice in my heart.
Then he leaves.
As the door closes behind him, it jolts me out of my distant longing. I snort, popping a piece of cheese into my mouth as I stare at the door. I know he’ll figure out a way to get us home, but…
Where is home now?
When I turn onto my side in my sleep, my injured ribs scream at the contact with the bed. Wincing, I flip over onto my back and stare up at the dark ceiling. Sucking in a slow breath, I fight against the pain until it dissipates. A collection of deep exhalations echo around me, and I flick my gaze to the left.
Rows of beds stretch out into the room, all occupied by Arterians: Cole, Archie, Melaina, Marge, Gavin, Nolan, and several others I hadn’t quite gotten to know back at the military outpost. Archie is tucked under the sheets with his hand stretched out, holding Melaina’s in the bed next to his. Cole looks pained even in the depths of his dreams. And, unfortunately for those of us sharing this room with her, Marge’s snoring seesaws in and out of the otherwise quiet room.
I peer over at the door. My skin prickles, and an uneasiness settles into my stomach as I stare at the wood. When the light seeping through the crack of space between the bottom of the door and floor flickers with the passing of shadows, I slowly shift out of bed and slip my boots on. With no one awake to scold me, it’s the most opportune time to slip out and see Daeja. Tip-toeing around the room and between the beds of other sleeping Arterians, I slink closer to the door. When the shadows stretching into the room from the outside disappear, I press an ear to the wood and wait.
A heartbeat.
Two.
Three.
Lowering to the floor and ignoring the ache in my side, I scan underneath the door to find the cobblestone street stretching out into the town empty. Instinctively, I pat my sides for a dagger to use as a reflective surface to better my range of visibility. Or to use it in the event I need to defend myself. It’s too damn bad they’ve confiscated all our weapons. Though, not sure I blame them.
Slowly creeping back to my feet, I glance over my shoulder to ensure everyone is still fast asleep. I push the door handle down in what might as well be slow motion. Swallowing against my building apprehension, I part the door open and peer out. The streets are still empty. When I slip out of the rebels’ so-called“healer’s quadrant,” the cold winter air immediately kisses my skin numb.
A glimmer of movement off to the left catches my attention, about fifty feet away, and I make out only enough in the darkness to see two separate groups of guards exchanging hushed whispers.
They must be changing watches.
Before they notice me, I sneak off through the quiet streets toward the forest, following that magnetic thread. I’ll be damned if they think they can keep me from seeing Daeja. And they can kiss my ass if they think they’ll dictate when and where I can see her. I won’t allow the distance forced between us back in Arterias to resurface. Because one thing’s for certain—we belong together.
And no king, man, nor law will ever separate us again.
My heart rate slows with each step I take closer to her. The pine trees’ sticky sap is the smell of home, and their towering skinny silhouettes frame me in a dark nostalgia. It must feel familiar to Daeja, too, because she spends her nights out here.
Her dark figure is curled in on itself, and the steady rise and fall of her silhouette makes me pause mid-step. But as her muscles shift beneath her, she lifts her head out from where it was tucked beneath her wing. Those breathtaking white eyes flash open, her pupils adjusting to the moonlight.
She exhales, her breath visibly billowing out in a soft cloud.“You’re awake. What are you doing out here?”
