Shea came out of it enough to see how worriedshe was making Clark. Caden was watching closely, cataloging everyreaction and assessing every word out of their mouths.
Knowing she needed to keep her guard up, shegave Clark a timid smile that she didn’t feel.
Satisfied she was feeling better, Clarkstepped back, once again looking excited for her fortune. He waslike a puppy, nearly vibrating out of his skin from having to staystill when he was this excited.
“Good. Now that that’s settled, I’m sure yourcommander would be happy to have his scout back,” Caden told Remyin dismissal. “Safe travels.”
Catching the hint, Remy gave him a chin dipsaying, “To you as well, warrior.”
Remy grabbed Clark’s shoulder and hauled himaway.
“I can’t wait to tell everyone,” Clark saidexcitedly.
Shea missed Remy’s response as the distancebetween them widened. She was left alone with Caden.
She couldn’t tear her eyes away from Clarkand Remy’s backs feeling suddenly bereft and adrift. Her perfectplan was a nonstarter, and she was left in the company of alethally dangerous man whose motives were unknown.
He tugged her bag from her back, and she letit go, feeling unsure with things changing so drastically. Did thismean he was her commander instead of Eamon?
She didn’t like that thought.
“Your quarters have been moved. You’ll beresiding with the rest of the Anateri,” Caden informed her. “Also,since I don’t want you disappearing without my knowledge, one of mymen will be accompanying you until I say otherwise.”
Shea saw a man join Caden out of the cornerof her eye.
His next sentence made Shea close her eyes indisbelief.
“Hawkvale is awake and wants to meet you andthe others for the evening meal. Trenton can show you the way.Don’t be late.”
He left with her bag, and Shea couldn’t evenunlock her voice enough to ask for it to be returned. Not that hewould have given it to her anyway.
What was she to do now? She was no longer ascout, and since Clark knew she was promoted to the Anateri, therewould be no getting on an outgoing mission. Her new shadow wouldn’tallow that anyway.
Hiding among a different group of Trateri wasimpossible as well. Her presence around camp and on missions allthese long months made it likely she would be recognized fairlyquickly.
No, her only choice was to bluff her waythrough this meeting with Hawkvale and pray he didn’t recognizeher. When they had relaxed a little she would try to sneakaway.
“We must go,” her companion said, breakinginto her silent contemplation.
She looked up, startled, only then noticinghe was one of the men who had sat watch over her through the priornight. He’d brought her the food and water. Caden had called himTrenton.
His head tilted as he studied her.
“Where do we need to go?”
“You need to bathe and change first.” Hewrinkled his nose in distaste.
She plucked her shirt away from her body andgave it a small sniff. He was right about that. Weeks in the fieldwith a bunch of guys meant she’d had little time for the luxury ofa bath.
“You can’t go before the Hawkvale looking orsmelling like that.”
Shea sighed inwardly. No, she supposed shecouldn’t. Finding a way to get cleaned up, while keeping her gendera secret, was going to be a pain. With the way exhaustion wasbeginning to pull at her, she didn’t have much faith she was goingto be on her feet for much longer.
Sleep was probably going to have to wait.Shea’s mood plummeted at the thought.
She began walking toward her oldquarters.
“Where are you going?” Trenton asked.
