“For what?” she asked.
Daric uncorked the small flask of spirits he’d brought out of precaution. He never drank the stuff, but he knew how the shrewdest of healers used it to prevent infection. He soaked aclean cloth with the strong-smelling liquid and then took a deep breath, steeling himself.
“This won’t hurt at all,” he lied, pressing the cloth to the slice across Rain’s shoulder.
Rain screeched. Daric winced but held on to her other shoulder to keep her steady. An owl hooted in the distance.
She finally let out a slow breath, relaxing her tense back. Daric removed the cloth. The injury bledonly minimally, not flowing but rather forming a new scab.
“It’ll be difficult to bind,” he said, inspecting the long but shallow cut.
“Just let it dry. I can hardly feel it.” Rain gathered the cloaks and arranged them in front of her.
“Turn your back to the fire, then. To warm it,” Daric suggested.
Rain nodded and turned. Daric stood beside her in silence.
“You’re awfully quiet,” she eventuallysaid.
That was because every instinct that railed at him was physical. Hold her. Touch her. Kiss her. Raw desire speared him. He didn’t want to talk.
To focus on something other than Rain’s bare skin by firelight, Daric began making camp for the night. The horses were already corralled in the farmyard. He laid out bedrolls and blankets. Food was next. He handed Rain bread, cheese, a small pouchof dried fruit, and a little weak tea, brewed right in their cups.
The distraction hardly worked. The need he felt for Rain consumed him. His desire had always been on a tight leash and buried under the truest of friendships. These past days had snapped the leash and unearthed the truth. He wanted her in every way possible. Forever.
But if he made her truly his only to lose her…
He didn’t knowhow he could go on.
He already didn’t know how to face a future without her. Everything had changed the moment his father had announced her engagement to Aldo Lockwood. Daric’s engagement to Astraea was repugnant, but he’d stupidly believed it would hardly come between Rain and him. Astraea didn’t signify in his heart. Rain would have stayed with him. They would have continued as usual.
Whatan ass he’d been.
“Stop staring at me, Daric.”
He blinked and turned away. “Of course.” He left to collect more firewood.
The heat inDaric’s eyes could have started a forest fire. Rain took a deep breath. Then another. It took three to settle her racing heart. As soon as he disappeared around the corner, she gently probed her injuryto make sure it was dry, pulled on a clean tunic, and then settled her cloak back around her. She returned to her seat by the fire, waiting for Daric, her thoughts in turmoil.
If she’d beckoned to him just then instead of sending him outside, would he have come to her? She wanted him more than anything, and in all ways, but he was right: they weren’t free, and duty was a heavy burden.
Before,the obligations had been all Daric’s. Now, responsibility was hers as well. She would soon be the last Ash, honor bound by fifteen years of love and obedience to carry on a name that was only hers because the king and queen had declared it.
King Wilder could be heavy-handed, but he was a good man governed by fair principles. He was correct to say that Daric was selfish to want to keep Rain withhim when she could have a better life in Parr with Aldo Lockwood. A husband. A kingdom. Safety. Her own children. Kindness and possibly even affection.
But she was also selfish, because she wanted to stay with Daric.
Only the thought of saving their entire household and a contingent of soldiers from losing their livelihoods and positions made her hesitate.
Rain squeezed her eyes shut, tryingto block out the feelings that battered her. Life had been much less complicated before emotion played a role in it.
She hardly remembered that time in her existence. It was vague and shapeless, too vast for what she was now, leaving her with only fragments of memories—impressions more than anything—and piddling power she innately knew was laughable compared to the might and ferocity of a season.
Daric eventually returned with enough wood to keep them warm all night. He stacked it near the fire and then sat across from her.
“Why did you name me Rain?” she asked, watching him over the flames that danced between them.
“Why?” He frowned at her. “Do you hate it?”
