I immediately flattened my expression and coughed. “No, not at all. I shall endeavor to watch you with a straight face.”
He snorted lightly and resumed his struggles.
A few more grunts and two curses later, and Kole was finally inside.
“Let’s hope you don’t need to leave frequently to relieve yourself,” I called sweetly.
His soft chuff came from inside.
In the distance, a howl rose, but it didn’t send the hairs on the back of my neck rising. It was a wolverine from the sounds of it, a deadly predator in its own right, but not something a fully grown siltenite needed to fear.
I peered inside the opening. It was dark since the moonlight didn’t fully penetrate the rocky shelter, but Kole was able to comfortably stand and the ground looked even.
I hastily shimmied my way through the rocks, not having nearly as hard of a time as Kole, but the boulders still rubbed against my clothing.
Once inside, I stood beside the warrior, and his scent billowed around me. Cedar, pine, and the sea. My insides tightened, and once again, my body responded to him, as if on its own accord.
To distract myself, I hastily activated my elemental fire until I had a ball of light burning in my palm. I flamed my fire higher until it shone brightly and illuminated everything in the enclosure. Gray rocks greeted us on all sides, but the interior was surprisingly cozy.
Kole eyed the fire hovering above my palm and said in adry tone, “I thought you said you only possessed magic from one kingdom?”
I blushed. I knew he’d caught me in my fib last night when I’d burned the creature. Shrugging sheepishly, I replied, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to lie about my magic.”
“I wouldn’t have told anyone, if that’s why you kept it from me,” he said quietly.
I eyed him, and something about his comment rang true. “No, I imagine you wouldn’t have.”
He gestured to what he’d stuffed into the enclosure. “Should we unpack?” he asked.
Thankfully, Kole had already gathered kindling and firewood. I nodded. “Yeah, I’ll get a firepit going.”
While Kole pulled out food for an evening meal, I created a small pit near the rocky wall, then placed the kindling and larger bits of wood in its center. Once complete, I dipped my flame into it.
The kindling immediately caught fire, and it wasn’t long until it burned naturally. Leaning back, I admired my work. I could have used my magic to keep the fire burning all night, but that would have been exceedingly tiresome, so once the wood burned my flame on its own, I released my magic.
“Nice trick.” Kole’s deep voice filled the space and vibrated right through me.
I beamed. “A fire element certainly comes in handy when one’s camping.”
A sound emitted from him that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle.
“Was that another laugh I detected?” I teased.
“No. You’re hearing things.”
I snorted.
Kole handed me a plate filled with cheese, a few fresh plums, and thick bread covered with honey and butter.
“Oh, honey bread. My favorite!” I sat on the pebbly ground, and Kole sat across the fire from me.
Firelight flickered over his face, dipping his features into shadows.
Once again, awareness of him hummed through me.
I took a bite of cheese, then bit into a juicy plum. The butter and honey on the thick bread were divine. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I began eating.
Kole’s jaw worked as he chewed. “Are you harboring any other magic you haven’t shared?”
