Page 74 of Under the Mistletoe
She set down the rock. Her hand shook as she picked up another log. She tossed it on top and sent Rand’s wooden tower crashing down, snuffing out the light.
Astryn jumped back as a few orange embers rolled toward her skirt.
She took a stick and pushed them toward the pit, but their light quickly faded, stealing any hint of sight.
“Rand?” The word came out just above a whisper. She drew a breath and tried again. “Rand!”
This time the word echoed around the chamber.
Astryn stilled as hoofbeats echoed in the cave. Had the enemy found them? What would she do if they killed Rand? She couldn’t do this on her own. She didn’t even know where they were going.
“Astryn.” Rand’s voice was quick and desperate. “Astryn, where are you?”
She took a few steps in the direction he’d gone, then tripped but fell smack into his solid chest. The earthy scent she remembered from the night he saved her in the woods surrounded her once more.
He wrapped his arms tight around her. “I thought…” He released a deep sigh and brushed her hair back from her face. “I didn’t check this room thoroughly. Are you all right?”
Was she all right? No, she wasn’t. He’dlefther. Not to mention he was being bossy and reckless, and she’d failed them all. And she would tell him some of that as soon as these tears stopped filling her eyes and clogging her throat.
“The fire went out.” Her voice sounded braver than she felt. “Where is the torch?”
“I had set it down when I was getting out the bags. When you screamed, I just ran. But I can get it.”
“Oh.” But she didn’t let go.
Rand’s hand smoothed over her hair again, his fingers playing with the ends of the curls. His lips pressed against her forehead. She lifted her face toward his. When he didn’t move, she rose up on her toes and pressed a kiss to his jawline. A small groan vibrated in his chest, but he pulled back and stepped away.
His warmth was replaced by a cold breeze that sent a shiver through her. “Astryn, you’re Orin’s.”
“Orin is dead.”And it is my fault.
“Don’t you think I know that?” He dropped his hands and took a few more steps back. “That is the only reason I’m here and he’s not. Every time I look at you, I think of Orin and how you should be his. You will always be his in my mind.”
And if he only knew her failures, he’d probably hate her even more. But she would keep that information locked away, because being his obligation was better than being truly hated by him.
* * *
He polished it up and sent it off to Christina. He glanced at the time and cringed, stood, and grabbed his coat. Hopefully, Devin would be more gracious than Rand.
* * *
When Logan parked his Bronco along the square, Devin didn’t know whether to hug him or pelt him with snowballs. He’d texted he might be late, but an hour and a half? Most of the kids had already left.
Whatever they did for their second date tonight better be good.
“Need help with anything else, boss?” Greyson appeared next to her. He wore a black coat and a U of M hat with a blue-and-yellow pom-pom on top. It should make him look ridiculous, but the guy just had a suaveness about him. She was pretty sure he could pull anything off. No doubt Jess wished she’d been able to join in their afternoon rather than attend some event she and Piper had at the high school today.
“I think we are good.” She scanned the square. “Logan just arrived, so he’ll help me with cleaning up the refreshments.”
Maybe she shouldn’t volunteer him, but he’d been the one who’d talked her into this event, and then he hadn’t shown. He could help with the refreshments.
Greyson slipped his hands in his back pockets. “Logan knows there’s nothing going on between you and me, right?”
“Of course.” That was a weird thing to bring up. “Why would you ask?”
“Because if looks could kill…” Greyson nodded in Logan’s direction.
She let out a laugh, but the smile froze on her face when her gaze landed on Logan.
