“Not unless she asks,” Torren said with zero inflection.
Every man in the clearing froze.
But Torren turned and smiled gently at me before quietly sitting down at the base of a tree, sword across his lap, back straight, eyes on the darkness beyond us—protecting us as if he belonged there.
Like he’d done it a thousand times.
“I’m not leaving, so you might as well get a few hours of rest.”
Oren snarled. “This isn’t over.”
Torren nodded once. “I didn’t think it was.”
And for a brief moment, so short that I couldn’t be sure… I thought I saw a malicious gleam of satisfaction in his eyes.
Chapter 21
Reverie
The morning tastes like smoke.
Not the sweet kind from campfires—this is the burned metal ash of the coliseum still dying behind us. The sky is a washed-out purple, like even dawn isn’t brave enough to shine here.
I push myself up on my elbows, and for a heart-stopping second, pain flashes up my side—then fades. Gone. Skin smooth, muscles knitted, blood vanished as if I hadn’t fought for my life last night.
Aurathion healing.
Fast, relentless, and efficient.
My men rouse with me, each immediately alert. Jet takes the lead, examining the corners of the fallen hunting cabin. Thanks to Torren and his annoyingly practical knowledge of Bellona’s secret structures, we managed to find this place.
Zeke rubbed his face, his voice gravelly. “How long have we been asleep?”
“Two, maybe three hours,” Oren said, already armed and ready to go.
Chloe yawned. “Feels like six minutes.”
Zane scoffed. “Be thankful you got to sleep. I spent two hours being Reverie’s mattress.”
I slapped his chest. “You volunteered.”
He kissed the tip of my nose. “I did no such thing. I was forced by destiny, gravity, and the need to have those incredibly perky boobs smooshed to my chest.”
Nathan sulked, “And the fact that your Draxon wouldn’t allow any of us to get near her.”
We laughed briefly, none of us able to forget the danger we’re in for long. If caught, none of us would survive. I could accept my death, but I couldn’t bear the deaths of the people I love.
Jet catches my gaze. “You healed?”
“Seems like it.” I touch the spot where the Cryptfiend bit deep enough to scrape bone. Nothing. Not even a scar. “Faction perks?”
Zeke huffs a laugh. “Perks? More like blessings from the Ancestors.”
Across the cabin, Torren pushed off the wall, obviously annoyed. “We need to move. Selene and Seamus were in the coliseum when the explosions started. Ubel too. They’ll be screaming for your return.”
I shivered at the thought of what that would mean. But it also reminded me of his strange fight with Ubel. Why did it seem like I was the only one who noticed? And why hadn’t I mentioned it to one of my men yet?
Silence cracked through the room like lightning.
