She shifted with a sigh and laid back. "And disobey my first instructions as Commander?" she gave him a half-smile that he knew was forced. "I'll be fine, Prince. I've trained for this."
Dorian swallowed at the confirmation of her tone despite the wariness in her eyes, and he gave her a slow nod.
She turned over away from him then and slumped the cover over her bare shoulder. "Come back to bed. I'm missing my heater."
A quiet huff of amusement left him. He took another draw and proceeded to stand. Even if he couldn't go to sleep, he could at least be comforted by their presence.
The moment he got comfortable between the pair again, his eyes began to droop. Heartbeat steadying. Reverie had turned into him, her chilled body lying against his warm one. Despite her touch tracing the scars across his abs, he hadn't made a move on her. His busy mind wouldn't stop long enough for him to. Corbin's back shifted to where he was flush against Dorian's side as well, and at some point, Dorian's arm curled beneath the space between Corbin's head and shoulder, hand resting entwined in his Second's, while his other arm wrapped around Reverie's back and grazed her hip.
This was the position his body decided it was comfortable in. Secure between two people who trusted him and whom he trusted. Two people who both made his stomach knot and heart flutter. Two people who had a choice to follow or leave him, and they'd both chosenhim.
His chest tightened, and he hugged them a little closer. Without thinking, he kissed the top of Reverie's head, followed by Corbin's neck, and then he sighed his eyes closed, head leaning against the back of Corbin's, Reverie nearly lying atop him, as sleep took them.
The next thing he knew, Corbin was nudging him and telling him to get up.
Dorian stirred, grunting as he pushed his hands over his face. It was the smile on Corbin’s lips that made Dorian look twice at him upon opening his eyes.
"What?"
"No flames," Corbin told him.
The realization made his gaze narrow, but he didn't question it. Because Corbin was right. He'd not dreamt of fire or screams that night.
The winds had quieted down with the sun on the horizon. Another few inches of snow had fallen, though most of it hadn't stuck to the muddied trail. By the time the noon sun rose, they had reached the next cavern, and it was here that Reverie would have to go from on her own.
Dorian's stomach was in knots about sending her alone into a town she'd never been to before to find a monster capable of shifting and ripping her apart.
"If anything goes amiss, get out of there," Dorian said as Reverie strapped her blades to her body.
"I know," she said, a twinge of annoyance in her tone.
"They can shift. Trust no one. If someone discovers you and they try to take you to the Elder, just run."
"I know," she said again.
"You have to pierce the neck first—“
"Dorian," her hand pressed to his cheek, and between that and the noise of his name on her lips, he stopped talking. "I know. I'll be back before nightfall. With an Infi."
CHAPTER FIFTY
SMOKE ROSE FROM the cavern floor beneath Dorian’s feet as he paced. He hadn't stopped moving since Reverie had left them. He had a feeling there was something she wasn't telling them. He didn't have a clue as to what, but the fear in her eyes when he'd first mentioned the Infi had him curious.
It was nearing dark, and she still hadn't come back.
"At what point should we go after her?" Corbin asked as he watched the door.
"If she's not back by the time the sun shadows that valley, we go," Dorian said, wanting to give her as much time as he could and reminding himself that she was a good fighter and deserved a chance.
But Dorian went to the cavern entrance anyway to pace outside.
The moment he walked out, he heard a scuff in the snow above him. He looked up, and a black cloak came billowing with the figure jumping down past his head. He ducked, and Corbin drew his sword.
Reverie whipped her hood back off her head as she landed on the trail beside him.
"Fucking Infi, Rev," Dorian finally breathed. "Are you--"
Words ceased in his mouth. She had dirt on her face, a scratch across her cheek and down to her throat. Her nostrils flared, and the lavender gaze blazed into him.
