Page 83 of Eluvonia
“They don’t look too deep,” he says eventually. “I packed some bandages and a spare shirt for you.”
“You thought this through, huh?”
The question lingers in the air before he finally speaks, his voice rough. “We didn’t know they started the execution early. We almost didn’t make it. I’m sorry.”
I glance over my shoulder, meeting his eyes. “You came. That’s all that matters.”
Kaida holds my gaze for a moment before looking away, busying himself with the bandages. I turn back around, and stare at the cavern floor. His silence feels heavier than the cave’s shadows. When he’s finished wrapping my wounds, he hands me the spare shirt.
I try to remove the remains of my old one, but everymovement sends sharp, searing pain through my body. Kaida moves in front of me, his hand hovering near mine. “Let me help you,” he says softly, his eyes searching mine.
I hesitate before nodding. His touch is careful, his fingers brushing lightly against my skin as he peels away the ruined fabric. Once I’m free, I cross my arms over my chest, my cheeks burning as I glance up at him. He doesn’t look, his focus entirely on the shirt in his hands.
When he helps me into it, his knuckles graze my ribs, and I hear him suck in a breath.
“Something wrong, Kaida?” I tease, a faint smirk on my lips. “Never seen a female before?”
His eyes snap to mine, a smile forming slowly. “I have,” he murmurs. “But none like you.”
The air between us shifts, the flickering firelight casting shadows across his face. He’s close now, his breath warm against my skin. His gaze dips to my lips before returning to my eyes, and my heart stumbles in its rhythm.
He leans in, his lips hovering just above mine, his eyes searching for permission. I don’t move, barely daring to breathe as the space between us disappears.
The warmth of the fire flickers against the cave walls, casting dancing shadows that seem alive in the otherwise still cavern. Kaida leans closer, his breath mingling with mine, his eyes half-lidded as they search my face. My heart pounds so loudly that I swear he can hear it. Just as I tilt my head toward him, closing the gap between us—
“Found a rabbit!” Declan’s voice booms as he stomps into the cave, breaking the moment like a rock crashing through glass.
I jump, startled, while Kaida straightens so fast he nearlytopples over. He turns away abruptly, his shoulders stiff, and I clear my throat, running a hand through my hair. My fingers snag in a knot, and I hiss a curse under my breath.
Declan stands in the mouth of the cave, a rabbit dangling from his outstretched hand, his grin smug as his eyes flick between us. “Did I interrupt something?” he asks, the knowing tilt of his grin as infuriating as it is accurate.
Kaida turns toward him, his glare sharp enough to cut. “I was tending to her wounds,” he grunts, striding over to snatch the rabbit from Declan’s grip. Without another word, he stalks to the farthest corner of the cavern, pulls out a dagger, and starts skinning the rabbit with quick, almost aggressive movements.
Declan raises his eyebrows, still grinning, and joins me by the fire. He tosses another piece of wood onto the flames, the embers crackling in appreciation. “He’s fun to mess with, huh?” he says, nudging me with his elbow gently. He waggles his eyebrows suggestively, his grin as wide as the Thaldrim Mountain range.
I roll my eyes and pull my legs closer to my chest, letting the warmth of the fire seep into my bones. “You have impeccable timing,” I say dryly, earning a laugh from Declan that echoes through the cavern.
Kaida, meanwhile, works in silence, his back to us, though I can see the tension in his shoulders. The rhythmic scrape of the knife against flesh is the only sound for a while, save for Declan’s occasional snickers. When Kaida finally approaches the fire, he threads the rabbit onto a makeshift spit and positions it over the flames. The smell of roasting meat soon fills the air, making my stomach growl loud enough to rival a Dragon’s roar.
Declan laughs, handing me a piece of the cooked rabbit once it’s done. “Here. You sound like you’re about to eat one of us instead.”
I tear into the meat, the smoky flavor rich and satisfying. The juices run down my fingers as I bite into the tender flesh, savoring the hint of wild herbs Kaida must have used. “This is amazing,” I mumble around a mouthful, wiping at my mouth with the back of my hand. “Who knew you were a decent cook, Kaida?”
Kaida glances up from his own portion, chewing thoughtfully. “At least you still have your appetite. That’s a good sign.”
Declan leans back, his face twisting in mock disgust. “Kai, chew your food first. Please, man, have some manners.”
I burst out laughing, nearly choking on my rabbit. Kaida snaps his mouth shut, a faint redness creeping up his cheeks as he avoids my gaze.
Declan pats my knee, his expression softening. “Go rest now. We’ll figure out what to do in the morning.”
I glance at the furs Kaida laid out earlier.He really thought of everything,I muse as I settle onto the one closest to me. The fur is softer than I expect, and the faint scent of pine clings to it. The moment my head touches it, the exhaustion pulls me under like a riptide, and I slip into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter 35
AERIS
The wind howls outside the cave like a wild, vengeful spirit, its icy breath seeping through the cracks in the stone. I stir, my limbs heavy and stiff, the ache in my muscles a cruel reminder of the battle we barely survived. With a low groan, I stretch my arms overhead until my shoulders pop, but the movement pulls sharply at my back.
