“Keep your head up.” He sounded colder than usual. He must be upset with her over the jam.
The guilt already growing in her chest weighed heavier.
After another ten minutes, they rose out of the water again, thank the Gods. Soon they were back in the shallow creek, and she slid down Klyde’s back.
“Thank you…”
He nodded without looking at her. They came up past another curve of the path and at last reached the cascades. It crashed down in a small, beautiful pool on the bottom, a soft mist brushing against her cheeks.
“This way,” Klyde told them as he recovered Onyx’s reins.
They followed him on a path of moss curving against the wall to come behind the fall of the water and found a narrow cave opening. It was dark, but there was light ahead. A curtain of vines covered the exit.
Klyde pushed them aside. He went in, and Lucenna followed. They entered a thick, vibrant forest. It was bright with sunlight, peaceful, as if they had not fought their way through Death’s Gate to get here.
Slowing down, Klyde stopped in the glade with his back to the gorge. His clenched fists shook at his sides, his posture rigid. He wanted to go back.
They will be all right, Lucenna wanted to say, but it wouldn’t be welcomed from her.
“Come.” Klyde turned away. “We have a ways to go before we can make camp.”
Klyde ledthem through the forest for several miles before bringing them to another ridge. He dismounted and said it was safe now. Lucenna sighed with relief. The day had drained her.
Opening up her satchel, she called out her enchanted tent. It spun out with a twirl of pixie dust, enlarging as it went. They were quick to set up camp and light a fire. Lucenna and Dyna went into her tent to change out of their damp clothes first. When they came out, Rawn went in next. Zev laid by the crackling campfire in his wolf form, already dried.
But Klyde was missing.
Dyna went to the pot hanging over the campfire and stirred the contents, the air wafting with the scent of mushroom soup.
“The captain?” Lucenna whispered to Zev.
The wolf pointed his nose east.
Lucenna went in that direction, passing by a crop of bushes and coming out onto a clifftop. Klyde stood there, staring at the edge of the gorge in the distance. The brisk wind blew against him, rustling his hair and coat.
“Klyde,” Lucenna called hesitantly. She twisted her hands together. “Are you all right?”
“No,” he said gruffly.
She lowered her gaze at his tone.
“I am not angry about the logjam,” Klyde muttered. “You likely saved our arses. I am angry with myself for being so arrogant. I never expected…” He rubbed his face. “Merceries died today. The weight of that fault lies on me alone. Now I don’t know if my best mate made it out. But I believe in him. That must be enough.”
He turned around and glowered at her. “However, I am angry that you didn’t tell me you couldn’t swim until you were guzzling down water. For what? Pride, or because you simply refused to accept my help? Is that worth drowning for?”
She glared back, ignoring the flush filling her face. “Why would I tell you that?”
“Stubborn woman,” Klyde growled and stormed to her, taking her arms. “Why is it so hard for you to ask for help, Lucenna?”
She stared up at him, taken back by his eyes. They were so scorching blue they simmered. His hands were firm and warm on her arms. But instead of restraining, they felt supportive. Holding her up as if she might fall.
That only infuriated her more, because Lucenna didn’t need support. She stepped out of his hold. “You were raised with family and friends there to watch your back. I didn’t. I have relied on myself since I was a girl. There wasno onethere to ask for help.”
Klyde’s anger softened. “And now? You’re not alone anymore, Lucenna.”
She looked away to the ground. “I know … but…”
He sighed. “But habits are hard to break?”
