“You can share my tent,” Blaine offered immediately.
Vaelor’s eyes narrowed. Was that the plan? Sabotage her gear to force proximity?
“No need,” Vaelor said flatly. “Mara will stay with me in my tent.”
The air tightened. The two males faced one another, neither willing to yield.
Mara stepped between them, palms raised. “Wait. There might be a spare tent somewhere.”
Blaine shook his head. “Packs only came with one of each essential. No extras.” He glanced at Vaelor, then back to Mara. “Go sit by the fire while I set up. I’ll feed you.”
“She will share my tent,” Vaelor repeated.
Mara shoved them both. “You know what? I’ll sleep by the fire.”
She stormed off before either of them could respond.
Blaine laughed under his breath. “Guess she told us.” He turned back to his tent.
Vaelor watched Mara go, jaw tight. If she was sleeping by the fire, he would be there too. He wasn’t leaving her supplies unguarded—or her.
He grabbed both packs and carried them over.
Mara sat on a log, hands stretched toward the flames. She looked up, surprised, when he dropped the packs beside her.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m sleeping by the fire as well.”
“You don’t have to.”
He shrugged and crouched, opening her pack. He pulled out the inflatable bedding and handed it to her. “Just because your tent was destroyed doesn’t mean you should suffer. Between the fire, your suit, the bedding temperature, and the blanket, you’ll stay warm.”
She hesitated, then nodded. “Thanks.”
He set up his own beside hers.
“I’ll be fine,” she said again. “You don’t need to be out here with me.”
“Someone sabotaged you,” he said evenly. “That means they sabotaged me. We stay close. We watch for more.”
She considered that, then nodded. “Yeah. That makes sense.”
“You should check your food rations.”
“I am hungry,” she admitted.
She pulled out a meal pouch and set it in a pan near the fire. “Let me smell it before you eat,” he said.
“Why?”
“My senses are stronger. I’ll know if it’s been tampered with.”
Her eyes widened. “Do you really think someone would mess with my food and water?”
“I’m not ruling it out.”
She handed him the water first. He sniffed, then returned it. “It’s fine.”
