Staying the entire night hadn’t been my intention, but I was too tired to move. Definitely didn’t have the energy to get dressed and trek down the mountain and back to town.
“This was your plan all along, wasn’t it?” My lids felt heavy, matching the sluggishness in my muscles. “Ride me hard and wear me out so I can’t leave.”
The edge of his mouth hitched up. “I’m offended you’d think me capable of such deviousness.”
“Uh-huh.” My eyes closed, and I felt myself drifting off. “I’m… onto… you.”
The crackling of the fire and the distant rush of the waterfall lured me deeper into that sleepy place. The smell and feel ofRowan all around me did too. My soul calmed with him. Which was further proof that I belonged with him—and him with me.
Something soft pressed to my forehead. “Good night, my little treasure.” A shaky exhale tickled my temple. “I don’t ever want to leave your side, but one day, you’ll come to your senses and see how wrong I am for you. And then, you really will destroy me.”
***
Sunlight spilled in through the entrance of the cave, stirring me from sleep.
“Morning,” Rowan said, sitting by the fire. He’d changed into clean clothes, and his hair was damp, like he’d just washed it. The golden cuff was gone. It was the first time I’d seen him without it.
“Your hair’s down.” My voice was thick from sleep. “I like it.”
He combed his fingers through it before gathering it to one side, seeming self-conscious. “I keep it pinned so it’s not in the way. I should just cut it.”
“Do whatever makes you happy.” I sat up and stretched, a yawn following. “I love it long, but it’d look good short too.”
Rowan retrieved the cuff and clasped his hair together.
“Is there something special about the cuff?” I asked. “You’re always wearing it.”
“It’s gold. Of course it’s special. Stole it from some nobleman after he called me a street rat.” He grabbed a sliver of meat off the wooden rack and offered it to me. “Hungry?”
I eyed the meat. “Accepting food from you is like playing Russian roulette with my stomach. Spicy nuts? Amazing. But you also gave me a demonic apple once.”
“For your own benefit.” He took a bite of the meat. “See? Not poisoned. Now, eat. I know how you are in the morning.”
“Stalker.” I accepted the jerky and sniffed it. Smelled good, at least. I ate the sliver, then happily accepted a second when he offered. “Have you explored the caves yet?”
“Explored them?”
“Yeah, for gemstones and stuff.” I turned to look behind us. The cave didn’t go much farther in, so probably no passageways where shiny things could be hiding.
“You won’t find any in here,” he responded.
“Oh.” I ate more, thinking as I chewed. “What about secret tunnels? Maybe ones that lead to, like, some underground oasis or something. I bet the mountains go super deep, with twisting tunnels and all sorts of things just waiting to be discovered.”
“You aren’t allowed in any of those tunnels,” Rowan said with a sudden air of seriousness.
I stopped chewing as an unsettled pressure filled my tummy. “Why? Are there monsters? Grotesque things with no eyes and slimy skin that live deep in the darkness and rely on sound to hunt their prey? Have you seen them?”
“Monsters? No.” He snorted. “You’re too clumsy just walking across flat ground. Letting you wander through a mountain tunnel would be sending you to your death.”
“Rude.”
“It’s true, and you know it.”
I mumbled at him under my breath and ate more. “Anything to drink?”
Rowan went over to his satchel and pulled out a flask, taking a swig before handing it to me. “Here.”
“Yay. Thank you.” I tipped the flask back for a nice, big gulp… and then coughed, spewing that drink all over myself.
