His dark eyes narrowed. “You didn’t give it, Soren.”
She stiffened, taking a step back. “How do you?—”
“Commander Eton told me, believe it or not.”
She blinked. “I didn’t know he bothered to learn it.”
Vane’s mouth twitched, but the amusement quickly faded. “Enlightening as this conversation has been, get on the ground before I make you.”
She reined in the urge to roll her eyes at his dramatics. It shocked her a bit, this person she became around him. Fleetingly, she wondered if this was who she might be without a life in shackles. But the thought was gone quickly, like a passing breeze, and she began her exercises. Vane remained standing above her, his jaw occasionally twitching between barked orders of ways she could better her form.
When she finally stood to begin running her laps, her vision swam, but she ignored it. Vane ran beside her, his breath even while hers was ragged. Vaguely, she observed others in the camp staring as they ran by.
“Keep up the pace,” he ordered, not at all out of breath.
She blinked hazily, forcing her legs to move faster, even though they felt as though they were made of stiff, heavy iron. By the time they had reached the clearing again, black dots swarmed her vision, and her body began to feel light.
“Soren.”
Vane’s voice sounded far away.
“Sorry…sir,” she slurred just as her legs gave out beneath her.
Instead of the hard, muddy ground she expected to hit, strong arms caught her. A scent enveloped her, one that reminded her of sitting around a blazing campfire, warm and smoky and…
Firelight danced all around her, blazing torches lighting the chamber, where no one would find them. Tonight was theirs alone, no matter what the morning brought.
Strong hands brushed through her hair, and the torches flared.
“Careful. I’m not fire resistant.”
Lips touched her neck, a soft chuckle vibrating against her skin?—
With a gasp, Soren opened her eyes. Backlit by the gray sky, Vane’s face hovered above her, his brow creased and his full lips set. Still half in a haze, she reached up and touched his forehead, a few strands of hair catching on her fingertips. His lips parted before he pulled away, but she caught it: the moment of vulnerability, when the hard look in his eyes softened just a fraction. There was something he wasn’t revealing, some card he had yet to play.
“Are you alright?” he asked gruffly, his voice catching just slightly, just enough that she heard it.
She dropped her hand abruptly and tried to sit up, but he pressed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.
She sighed. “I’m fine. I just missed breakfast.”
Vane shut his eyes briefly and muttered something under his breath, words she could not understand.
“Eejja caileag.”
“What?”
He opened his eyes, and this time, he let her shove away from him. Cold rain had begun to fall, storm clouds thickening above them. The frigid water sluiced down Vane’s face as his moodquickly shifted. His entire body was tense as he stood, crossing his arms.
“You are an idiot.”
She ignored the scathing words and instead scrambled to her feet, still barely reaching his chest. “The language you just spoke, what was it?”
Lightning flashed, reflecting in his onyx eyes. “It doesn’t matter. Next time, if you miss a meal, tell me so I can get you something.”
She snorted, shaking her head. “Why?”
“Why what?”
