Daire shrugged. “Turns out I’m pretty good at sailing. And I love it. When those gods-damned Wolves aren’t whipping us every day.” He nudged Ruru. “Now tell me how you got caught up in this.”
Ruru hadn’t even reached the part where he met me by the time the longboats returned. Daire happily joined us for the trip inland.
My heart warmed at the familiar sight of the Yargoth camp. I immediately checked on Maz, who seemed to breathe more easily in his bed, but was still shockingly pale.
The fear of losing him wasn’t likely to leave me until he opened his eyes.
I kissed his cold, sweaty brow and whispered that I’d be back. I nodded to Yarina, Sigrid, and Bruna, who had already set up their beds around Maz in his lodge. Aiden and Ruru would have to find somewhere else to sleep.
I trudged through the camp, nodding to people I recognized. I found Aiden by the fire, pressing a molten iron to Ruru’s remaining cuff. A pile of twisted, melted shackles lay in a heap next to them.
Steam rose from the metal. Ruru’s face tensed as he breathed hard through his teeth. Brow creased, Aiden removed the iron, and Daire wrenched open the remaining shackle.
The brothers grinned with relief. Daire shook Aiden’s hand and helped Ruru toward a table full of food.
Aiden’s gaze met mine, and his face softened. He gestured for me to take a seat.
I did, extending my feet toward him as he reheated the iron. “This already feels too familiar,” I said, my throat suddenly feeling parched.
“It will never happen again if I can help it,” he said quietly.
His tone, his manner... He was acting strangely. Did he regret the mine? Or was he second-guessing our future plan? Henry would hear of Calimber’s destruction and start gathering his forces. We’d promised to meet him in Aquinon.
Aiden carefully pressed the iron to one of my shackles. The heat soaked through the metal and into my skin.
More to distract myself than anything, I asked, “What did you want to talk about? Now that we’re back at camp.”
He stayed focused on his task. “It can wait until you’re free and fed. Perhaps after some sleep as well. It’s not a conversation I want to rush.”
I swallowed hard. Gods, it must be bad.
Suddenly, I remembered I used to share a lodge with Nikella. The weight of her death slammed into my stomach yet again.
“I don’t want to sleep in my old bed,” I whispered.
“Helene and Isabel took that lodge anyway,” he said. Then he snapped the shackle off my ankle. He looked up at me, his eyes tide pools of sadness and yearning. “You can sleep in my lodge, if you wish.”
My heart tapped faster. “I’m pretty sure Maz’s sisters and Bruna have taken over that one.”
“I found another,” he said, thrusting the iron back into the fire without breaking our gaze. “It only has one bed, though.”
I swallowed and almost choked on my dry throat. Gods damn it, I needed some water. My whole body felt like the metal rod he held—submerged in embers.
“Only to sleep,” he added gently, then turned his focus to my other shackle. “I sleep better with you next to me.”
My soul brightened. “I do, too.”
His smile felt like a victory, since I hadn’t seen it in days. He broke off my other shackle.
I didn’t stand immediately. Instead, I kneeled down and gently took the iron out of his hands. Then I hugged him as tightly as I could, pouring every unspoken thought, word, and emotion into the embrace.
He let out a deep sigh and crushed me to him.
My sore body needed many things—a bath, food, sleep. But my heart was in far worse pain. And it yearned for Aiden most of all.
He pulled back and rested his forehead against mine. “I was going to wait, but I can’t. I have to tell you now.”
Chapter 51
