He didn’t move or smirk, only watched her.
The moment stretched, taut as a drawn bowstring.
Ella was growing tired of the game, flustered by the endless dance between them. She was about to demand answers, drawn to him in a way she feared would make her reveal more than she ever intended.
Before she could speak, a howl rose in the trees, hollow and wrong. It echoed from every direction at once, and the entire camp stilled. She hadn’t even noticed the others return, too lost in the Commander’s godsdamned words.
Jakobav moved before she did, his hand already on his sword as the fire cracked behind him.
“Eyes up,” he said, voice like steel. “We’ve got company.”
“Not from this realm,” Maeren said, already unstrapping her blade. “That noise went straight through my skull.”
Thane grunted in agreement.
Ella turned to the others, pulse spiking, her hands tingling with rising heat that wasn’t her fire nor was it fear. It was something older, something deeper, and she got the sense that it had been waiting.
The howl came again, low and guttural, but this time, it didn’t fade. It lingered. The sound clawed through the trees like it was searching, testing for weakness. Then…silence that was full, heavy, waiting.
Ella held her breath, the forest doing the same. No one moved, but their weapons were drawn and holding steady, eyes scanning the shadows.
They waited, but nothing stirred, like it had completely vanished.
“Jake, stop staring at her and give the orders.” Savina snapped.
He leveled her with a look that would have made any other soldier falter. Savina held her ground, but Jakobav stepped fully into command, his voice slicing through the clearing as he issued orders.
The First Guard moved instantly, training snapping into place. Soren was already in motion before his name left Jakobav’s mouth. Ella would ask about his magic later. She hoped the answer wasn’t worse than the way he moved. Thane gave her a pat and a wink as he disappeared into the trees.
“Maeren, stay with her,” Jakobav said, voice clipped.
He didn’t even glance at Ella, which only made it worse. She bristled, but Maeren just rolled her eyes and dropped her pack beside the fire.
“Aye, commander,” she said, biting off the title with irritation. Then muttered, “As if I planned to wander off and let her die.”
Jakobav didn’t look back, the last to march off toward the ridge.
Silence settled behind him, thick and watchful, broken only by the low hiss of the fire and the rustle of leaves.
Ella shifted, unsure what to do with herself.
Maeren gave her a quick sideways look and snorted. “You don’t exactly need babysitting, from what I’ve heard.”
Ella stood awkwardly until Maeren tossed her a bundle of twine.
“We’re not going to stand here like statues,” Maeren said. “Help me secure the supplies and stoke the fire.”
Ella arched a brow. “Aren’t we supposed to be keeping watch?”
“Can’t stand around watching while I’m this tense,” Maeren muttered as she drove a stake into the earth. “And you look like you’ll combust if you stand still any longer.”
Ella didn’t argue.
Together they worked in silence, stoking the fire, tying down the supplies, unrolling bedrolls in a wide circle around the blaze until the rhythm of motion steadied her hands. Then, asif it were the most natural thing in the world, Maeren pulled a slender green bottle with an iridescent sheen from her pack.
“You just…carry wine around?” Ella asked.
“Fae wine. Worth the extra weight.” She grinned. “Don’t tell Jake. Or do. He could use some.”
