CHAPTER SEVEN
Eva unhooked Sebastian's straps, sliding them out of the slats until they rested on the floor. She began to guide the Kyren from the wagon with Ollie calling cues from outside.
Sebastian only made it two steps before he halted.
"Keep going," Eva urged. "You don't want to sleep here tonight, do you?"
Sebastian gave her an irritated look seconds before his wings flared. Eva barely had time to duck before Sebastian cleared her head with a powerful leap, flying out of the wagon as if it was no more of an obstacle than a blade of grass.
Eva waited until she deemed it safe before she straightened. "You're not supposed to be flying on those wings!" She propped her hands on her hips and glared after him. "I guess that means he's feeling better."
He'd better not have damaged his leg any further. Not after she'd spent the day soaking it to take some of the inflammation out.
She wished she knew more about birds and their wings. There had been little she could do for Sebastian besides put more ointment on the cuts and scrapes.
"Must be nice to have spent the day relaxing while the rest of us worked," Jason observed, coming up to stand beside her.
Eva didn't respond, biting back irritated words as she stalked away.
"You'll make more friends if you're a little nicer," he called out to her back.
"What makes you think I'm interested in friends?" she retorted, unable to help herself.
The other man was like a splinter continuously working his way under her skin. She should turn the other cheek, but sometimes the wisest course was not possible.
Her angry steps carried her to the edge of the camp.
Eva raised her hands to the sky, stretching out a back that had grown tense from riding in the wagon all day. Her body protested, warning her of its unhappiness as she twisted one way and then another to work out some of the kinks.
She dropped her hands and looked around the temporary camp. It bustled with activity as the warriors prepared for nightfall.
A gradual awareness that she wasn't alone filtered through her. She straightened, her shoulders going back, her expression composed. "Can I help you, commander?"
She glanced behind her to meet Caden's inscrutable gaze.
Eva controlled her instinctive need to retreat, wanting as much space between her and the Hawkvale's sword as possible.
"It was dangerous to travel with the Kyren," he said in an even tone. "Tomorrow, you will not do that."
Eva's raised her chin, even while she outwardly remained calm. "I'll do what needs to be done. If I think the Kyren needs me to sit with him so he can remain calm and not injure himself further, that is what I'll do."
She hadn't forgotten his threat from earlier. It would take little effort on his part to break her, but that didn’t mean she’d allow him to impede her purpose here. Otherwise, why was she even here?
He stepped closer and Eva held her breath, watching him with the instinctive caution of prey when faced with a predator bigger than themselves.
"I know you feel important now that the mythologicals have shown they need you, but don't let it go to your head. You're not the Battle Queen, and you won't get away with the same things she did," Caden cautioned her.
"I have no illusions of how I fit into this. If I fail, the Trateri will cut me loose. Which is why I can't fail and will do whatever is necessary to make this work."
Caden studied her for several heartbeats. She let him see her resolve. He could threaten her again, but it wouldn't change things. Her duty was to Sebastian. She'd carry out her purpose to the best of her ability, even if it meant going through Caden.
Caden shook his head and shoved her saddlebags into her arms before stalking off, leaving an Anateri behind. The woman, tall and lean, watched her with inscrutable eyes. Jane, Eva thought she’d heard her called.
Eva ignored the woman and shifted the bags so they were more comfortable in her arms.
