I wavered in place. “Can I hug you?”
“I’d be quite offended if you didn’t.” He stepped forward and pulled me in for a hug. “This won’t be the last we see of each other. Perhaps I can visit Bremloc someday.”
“You better,” I murmured into his chest. “When I add new dishes and drinks to the menu, you’ll have to come and train for a few days. I can come back to Exalos too.”
“I look forward to it.”
After another hug and promises to visit each other soon, the two of us parted ways, with him heading in the opposite direction.
“You cryin’?” a voice came from above me.
I spun around and spotted Rowan on the lowest-hanging branch of the tree. I wiped at my eyes. “No. I’m not.”
“Liar.” He jumped down and closed the gap between us, gliding the backs of his knuckles down my neck. “You always cry. Even when you’re happy.”
“Speaking of liars, how were the truffles? Did you eat them all?”
His lips twitched. “Keep being sassy and you won’t get your surprise.”
“A surprise? What is it?”
“If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise now, will it?” He nudged my arm. “Follow me.”
I glanced around us, searching for the huge shadows who followed me everywhere.
“They’re taking the night off,” Rowan said. I was so easy to read. “You should be proud of me. I asked them for permission before stealing you away this time.”
I snorted. Being around him made everything seem lighter, easing the heaviness that pressed down on my chest when I recalled Lupin’s warning.
Rowan wove our fingers together as he led me toward the woods. The sun kissed the horizon now, so close to setting. Golden light shone on the treetops and filtered through the branches, like the world around us was holding on to the sun for as long as possible.
Just like I was, with Rowan’s hand in mine.
I squeezed it a bit tighter. “Is this it then? The time you drag me into the woods and finally shut my rambling mouth for good?”
He snickered. “Tempting. But no.”
Entering the woods and moving through the dense foliage and trees, the temperature dropped several degrees, sending chills along my arms. Winter hadn’t made much of an appearance during my time in Exalos, but on the eve of the solstice, it finally did.
“Are you taking me back to the cave?”
“Maybe I am. Maybe I’m not.”
“Yep. You totally are,” I said when the ground began to incline. “I recognize this tortuous terrain. My thighs are already cursing your name.”
Rowan laughed and used our joined hands to tug me to his chest. “Then, how would you like to fly?”
My heart fluttered.
He didn’t wait for a response before tossing me on his back and climbing up the trunk of the nearest tree. The sun had set now, but the sky was still light in some areas, leaving the world suspended between night and day as dusk moved in. In the thickcoverage of trees, however, shadows danced and thrived. Those shadows circled Rowan’s feet as he leapt from one branch to another.
“Your eyes better be open, little treasure.”
“They are,” I said, only a little terrified as I caught sight of the ground far below us. But I trusted him and knew he wouldn’t let me fall. He made me feel brave.
“Good. Keep holding on to me.”
I never wanted to let him go.
