“Not necessarily. I could just find you adorable when you’re flustered.”
I blush on Reid’s behalf, then sneak a glance at Taran.
He’s gone.
Their conversation fades as I peer through the darkness behind me and spot Taran at the edge of the woods.
This could be my chance.Even if this is entirely in my head, confirming that will help me focus on our task. I summon my courage, preparing to follow—
“Ellie, don’t. He probably just has things to take care of.” Firelight flickers on Reid’s surprisingly stern face, but hedoesknow men better than I do, so I reluctantly settle back down. I’ll finish my meal, and if Taran’s still not back, then I’ll go looking for him.
A coil slowly winds within me as the three of us quietly eat our food, their squabble having finally come to an end. When I finish, I wash my hands and face in the frigid creek as best I can, then hurry to the fire to dry off.
Taran still hasn’t returned.
The others seem unbothered. Reid tosses a couple more sticks onto the flames while Emlyn lounges next to him, staring at the blaze.
“Perhaps I should collect some more firewood,” I say.
“We have plenty,” Emlyn replies.
I shrug. “I thought you might appreciate some time with just the two of you.”
Reid goes stiff as a board. Emlyn eyes me for a moment, then laughs, shaking his head. He gets up, pulling his shirt off as he heads to the creek.
My jaw drops.What have I done?
Even in the darkness, Reid’s face couldn’t be any redder if he’d sat out in the sun all day. “What are you doing?” he asks, his gaze trackingEmlyn.
I tear my eyes away from the toned muscles of Emlyn’s arms and chest, then creep to my feet, trying not to make a sound.
“Bathing. It’s been like, four days.” Emlyn pulls his boots off and tugs at the waist of his pants while I pick up my pace toward the woods.
“You don’t have to take all your clothes off!”
“And you don’t have to look.”
I sprint the rest of the way to the trees.
* * *
I regret my choices almost immediately.
As dark as our campsite was, the woods are even worse. A wolf howls in the distance as I slowly slink through the trees, feeling my way around, praying my eyes will adjust soon.
Do fae see better in the dark, too?They must, otherwise I don’t know how Taran could be out here for so long.
“Taran?” I call softly, hoping he’s somewhere nearby. Avoiding each other won’t solve anything. We need to talk.
“Ellie, stop,” a voice says. Reid. I turn around to find him bumbling through the dark toward me.
I cross my arms. “What is it?”
“I’m not stupid, Ellie. I know what you’re doing—it’s obvious how you look at him.”
Reid sees it, too?Heat fills my face, and I’m glad for the dark so he can’t see me blushing. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. He’s been gone for a while. I’m worried.”
“Stay away from him,” Reid says. “We’re here to stop a war, not to get into bed with fae.”
