I hesitate. The chain dangles from my fingers, catching the firelight as it sways between us. I don't want to give it back.
“I’m sorry,” I say, barely above a whisper.
She doesn’t reach for it right away. Her eyes study mine.Does she think this is a trick?
Eventually, she cups her hand beneath mine, fingers barely closing around it like she’s afraid it might crumble.
“Thank you,” her voice shakes. I blink, and she’s already pulling away from me.
“I’ve gotta get going now. How do I get back to the part of the forest you found me in?”
My chest tightens, and panic spreads through my system.
She wants to leave after everything? After the bond pulled us together? After she said my name in her sleep?—
She just wants to disappear back into the night like none of it ever happened?
Likewedidn’t?
My throat tightens.
“I—” I try, but my voice comes out too rough. I swallow hard. “You shouldn’t be out there alone.”
She tilts her head, her eyes narrowing on me. That spark she had in the forest is back in full swing—such a reckless defiance for someone who's no bigger than a forest sprite.
“I’ll be fine,” she snaps. “You dragged me here. I didn’t ask for help. I can take care of myself.”
“I believe that,” I murmur.And I do.
“But you’re not healed yet. You were out in the cold for hours. You won't have enough energy stored to make it back. Plus, the storm isn’t over.” I explain instead of telling her what I really want to say.
If I can’t hear you breathe anymore, I won’t survive it.
“Where did you bring me, anyway?” she asks, glancing around the cabin.
“This is my home,” I rasp. “And it’s a long journey to take you back to where I caught you.”
“Caught me?” she repeats.
“Yes.Caughtyou.” I gaze at the floor. “You passed out. I caught you before you hit the ground.”
She lifts her brows. “And they say chivalry is dead.”
Lumi
I can see the panic in his eyes the second I mention leaving. I try to soften the weight between us with a joke about chivalry, but he flinches. I wince at the way it lands. The truth is, I haven’t needed anyone for a very long time, and after losing Anna, I stopped believing that I could. Gratitude doesn’t come easily for me anymore, but he did save my life. I probably would’ve frozen to death if he hadn’t found me.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble. “That came out wrong. Thank you… for helping me.”
My eyes fall to the necklace resting heavy in my palm. I thought it would bring me comfort, but it feels like confusion passed back into my hands instead. I don’t know what to do with the ache sitting in my chest, or the way his apology curled under my defenses. I just know I need to get up. I swing my leg over the couch cushion and try to stand, but the second I put weight on my foot, my knees give out. He’s there before I fall. One clawed hand catches my elbow, the other presses against my lower back. His eyes flash brighter than before, and I swear I see his antlers twitch. I’d think that was impossible if I hadn’t just woken up curled against a literal yeti in the middle of nowhere.
“We’re making a habit out of this,” I tease.
“Hm?” He murmurs, not taking his eyes off mine.
“You catching me?” I murmur. “In the forest, right now, in my?—”
“Your dream about calculus?”
