They had a lot in common. Both presented one façade to the eye when there was so much more happening in the places they hid from the world.
She could see why Caden was so cautious of this man. He was the type you'd never see coming. Despite that, Eva didn't think he meant her or them any harm.
The opposite in fact.
It was like he was searching for something. She didn't know. Maybe he didn't either.
"Maybe," Gawain said, moving away from Eva. "Either way, I'm glad I came."
Eva watched as he disappeared into the darkness in much the same way Van had.
"I like him," Eva said as Caden joined her. "And I didn't expect to."
"He's complicated."
Eva shifted to look up at him. "And you don't like complicated."
Caden's warm gaze met hers. "If I didn't like complicated, I would never have fallen for you."
"Me?" Eva shook her head. "I'm not complicated. I'm just Eva."
Caden threw his head back on a laugh before bending down to steal a kiss from her. When he drew back, his eyes were dark with desire. "Whatever you are, you're mine."
Eva looped her arms around his neck as she lifted her face to his. "I wouldn't mind you demonstrating just how much of yours I am."
Caden's expression was one of a man caught on the precipice of desire. Eva giggled as he took her hand leading her into the darkness.
twenty-six
Aweeklater,Evaand a few others reached the bowl.
Sebastian and several of the Kyren had shown up a few days ago to transport Eva and their wounded the rest of the way, saying the path would be too difficult otherwise.
Privately, Eva thought their motivations had more to do with the fact they were simply impatient and tired of waiting for the Trateri to reach the bowl.
Whatever their reasons, Eva was happy to take them up on their offer.
Sebastian and the others had assured her there were passages that would allow the horses to reach the bowl, but even they weren't without their pitfalls. Travel would have been slow, forcing several stops as they negotiated the steep terrain.
Flying was far easier and let the rest of the group set their own pace.
As Sebastian approached the ground, Eva caught sight of a tall man standing in the middle of the field with his arms folded across his chest. His expression was impatient.
"It's about time you came back," Phillip called.
With everything that had happened, Eva had almost forgotten about him—and the fact she'd left him in the Kyren's herd lands.
Phillip watched her dismount. "Next time you decide to abandon me, maybe give a little warning. I had no way to leave this place and the winged monsters were no help."
Phillip glared at the Kyren youths standing nearby.
The angry two-legger made a lot of funny noises when we saved him from the cliff he was stuck on,the gray Kyren from her previous visit told Eva.
She pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. She had a feeling Phillip wasn't so much stuck as trying to escape.
"Oh, and can you do something about that menace? She showed up a day ago. She's nipped me several times and keeps trying to kick me. It's getting tiresome." Phillip nodded to his right.
A grumpy Caia glared at Eva from between two rock columns.
