We made camp that night under a scatter of scrub oaks where the ground rose into a knoll high enough to break the wind and still give us sightlines. A fire was out of the question, so we stuck to cold rations, finishing up the last of the bread and meat.
Across from me, Amanti lay back with one wing half-open while Keres rubbed salve on it. I watched as my aunt pretended not to wince. Beside them, Aurelia sat, staring up at the stars like she could force them to tell her what came next.
She’d barely spoken all day. Ever since the attack, something had shuttered behind her eyes. I’d seen her hands shake when she thought no one was looking, seen the way she stared at her palms as if searching for bloodstains only she could see.
I wanted to go to her. Wanted to pull her against me and swear I’d never let her face that fear alone. Wanted to kiss her the way I’d almost kissed her three days ago, before Slade’sinterruption saved us both from my catastrophically poor judgment.
Instead, I watched her until she caught me staring. Our eyes held across the space. Something electric snapped in the air between us, hot and hungry and dangerous.
She looked away first.
I felt the loss like a punch to the chest.
“Get some sleep,” I said to no one in particular. “Long day tomorrow.”
Aurelia took my advice and retreated to her bedroll. It didn’t take long for her breaths to even out as sleep claimed her. Amanti and Keres followed soon after, leaving Slade and me.
Thorne had taken first watch. Daegel was already snoring soundly and had been for an hour. The tough bastard could sleep anywhere, anytime.
Slade waited until the others’ breathing had evened into sleep before speaking. “We going to talk about it?”
“About what?”
“About the fact that you’re one bad day away from doing something truly stupid where she’s concerned.” He nodded toward Aurelia’s sleeping form.
I reached into my pack and pulled out a skin of whiskey, drinking deeply. “I’m handling it.”
“Handling it,” Slade repeated. “Is that what we’re calling the longing looks and the general aura of sexual frustration you’ve been projecting for the past week?”
“Fuck off.”
He grinned, unrepentant. “At least, your face is healed. Though I can’t say it’s improved any without the rainbow of colors.”
“It’s better than your ugly mug,” I told him.
He laughed.
“Your mother’s going to be disappointed,” he said after amoment, sobering. “That you didn’t stay long enough to let her meet Aurelia properly.”
My shoulders tensed. “Keres said she chose not to.”
“You and I both know she was only waiting for you to return first.”
I didn’t bother to argue. My mother’s belief in me was a tired subject. “It’s better this way. For now.”
“Better for who?”
“Everyone.” I looked out into the dark, not meeting his eyes.
Slade was quiet for a long moment. “You’re going to have to tell her eventually.”
“Iknow.” The words came out sharper than I intended. I forced myself to breathe, to unclench my jaw. “After we secure this alliance.”
Ifwe secured this alliance. The doubt sat heavy in my gut.
Slade must have read something in my expression because he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “What is it?”
I glanced at Aurelia again, making sure she was truly asleep. Then I said quietly, “The river people hate us.”
