Stars above, I wish she would complain. I don’t understand why she won’t let anyone help her. I begged her several times today, to please let the healer do something for the pain she swears is not a problem, despite all the signs that insist otherwise.
I miss her sharp tongue, and the way she would make impossible demands along our journey. I never wanted to extinguish the bold and fiery spirit that burns so brightly inside her.
She loved me yesterday morning. Gods help me, she looked at me like a man she wanted to build a future with. And now she won’t even meet my gaze.
The thought that she might never look at me that way again twists through me with quiet brutality. My jaw tightens as resolve floods my veins. She is everything to me, and I will find a way to convince her to fall in love with me again.
When she enters our tent, I follow after her. The canvas shifts as I step inside. The Fae lantern hanging from the center pole throws pale gold light over the small space, illuminating the two bedrolls already laid out across the floor.
Vaelen is already lying down in his nest of blankets in the corner, his golden eyes observing us with quiet judgment.
For a moment I simply stand there, watching her as she tries to unfasten the ties of her tunic dress so she can sleep in only her shift.
“Would you like some help removing your—”
“No,” she says sharply. “I’ll just sleep in my clothes.”
I give her a reluctant nod as I bite my tongue.
Vivienne kneels slowly beside one of the bedrolls, one hand pressing lightly against her side as though steadying the ache before it can steal her breath.
I force myself to speak. “Please, let me help you.”
She glances up at me. For a heartbeat I think she might refuse. Then her gaze drops to the hand I have extended toward her. After a moment, she slips her palm into mine and allows me to help her lower herself the rest of the way onto the bedding.
As soon as she’s settled, she releases my hand. She adjusts the blankets around herself, then lies down on her side, her back turned to me.
Sighing heavily, I grab a pillow and walk over to Vaelen’s nest of furs and blankets in the corner of the tent, lowering myself beside him.
Vaelen chuffs. Then, without so much as a glance, he shifts his weight just enough to crowd me toward the edge of the furs. Through our connection, he shows me an image of myself lying beside Vivienne while he sleeps comfortably in his pile of blankets, alone.
“I know,” I say in a low voice so she won’t hear. “But she doesn’t want me there.”
Vaelen nudges me with his snout, rolling me off the edge of his nest and closer to Vivienne.
“Scoot over.” I push back against him, but he doesn’t budge.
Instead, he grabs my pillow between his fangs and jerks his head, tossing it toward Vivienne. The world shifts into slow motion as it hits her back.
“What is going on over there?”Vivienne’s voice cuts through the dark.
“That was Vaelen,” I reply quickly, giving him a pointed look. “I’m trying to sleep, but he doesn’t want to share his bed.”
“Why are you trying to sleep in his corner?”
“Because.” I retrieve my pillow and adjust the blankets—what little of them Vaelen hasn’t claimed. “I thought you might prefer the space.”
“That’s Vaelen’s bed,” she says, a touch sharper now.
The furs rustle behind me as Vaelen chuffs in agreement.
“I’m aware, but he can share,” I add, narrowing my eyes at him.
Vaelen’s golden eyes lock onto mine and he flicks his tail. His gaze shifts to my pillow again, and I gasp. “Don’t do it,” I hiss under my breath, but before I can stop him, he snatches it up anyway and tosses it back toward her with far more force this time.
I wince as it lands next to her head.
“That’s it,” she snaps. “Auren, get over here!”
