“I know.”
“If the others find out about this, it’ll be stripped bear with nothing left.”
She sighed. “Are you going to tell them?”
Nox looked around then back at her. “No. This will be our little secret.”
That should have reassured her but what she had learned over these past eight years was that no one did anything out of the goodness of their hearts. “Why would you keep this a secret? What do you want in return?”
He snorted. “Rooster has really done a number on you. Honey, there isn’t anything from you I want except honesty and the use of this place whenever my soul needs to be renewed.”
She relaxed in her seat. “You are welcome to come here any time.”
“I didn’t know you could paint like that. You’re a real artist.”
“I don’t know about that, but it is something I have always done since I was a little girl.”
“Felix never said anything about it.”
“He wouldn’t. All he cares about is being the boss of everyone and having the most supplies out of all the tribes. If he knew I spent free time here painting, he would kick me out.”
“I doubt that. He loves you; you’re his little sister.”
“I’m a tribe member to him. I help scavenge, make clothing repairs, and cook.”
He nudged her foot with his. “Honey, your cooking is seriously lacking. You know I’m the cook in the tribe.”
She laughed. “You’re right. I really am terrible at cooking anything.”
“You’re better than Rooster. So glad Felix banned him from cooking anything after last year. We all nearly died from food poisoning.”
They both broke out in laughter. “You’re funny. I wish we had done this a long time ago.”
“We didn’t have a private place to let our hair down. Now we do.”
“Yes, now we do,” she agreed. For the first time in eight years, she felt like she had a friend.
