Something warm flutters in my chest. I’m overcome by the urge to tease him, to ask if he really thinks my eyes are pretty. If he thinks anything else about me is pretty. If he thinks about me at all.
But I don’t. I need to do a better job of keeping my distance.
We’ll reach Arbinj soon. Where I’ll marry his brother.
Zevayr and I have spent so much time alone, and my feelings are becoming muddled. I respect him, consider him a friend now, even. I’mdefinitelyattracted to him. But I can’t let myself feel more than that.
And it’s best if he doesn’t, either.
Zevayr clears his throat, jolting me from my thoughts. “It’s safer to double back and walk around.”
He doesn’t look at me.
We head back the way we came, but unfortunately, remaining undetected is not in our fate.
Zevayr freezes, shoulders tight, and I nearly collide with his back. The scent of musk and something feral hits me a breath too late.
A low rustle sounds through the trees.
Then we see it.
A massive black bear. And it’s blocking the path ahead.
Chapter Thirteen
It’sgigantic.
Monstrous.
The bear stands on its hind legs, towering over Zevayr, and looses a menacing growl. Before I can react, Zevayr shoves me behind him, stretching himself to his full height, sword unsheathed and ready.
A heartbeat, then another.
The bear doesn’t move. Neither does Zevayr.
And then the worst possible thing happens.
Zevayr turns his head seconds before there’s a rustling in the underbrush, and then, a boy emerges, perhaps twelve or thirteen. Clutched in his hands is a large sword that eclipses him.
“Leave them alone!” he shouts at the bear.
“Zevayr,” I urge, but he’s already darting toward the boy.
He’s too late.
The bear swipes through the air, his claws tearing into the boy’s abdomen.
My feet move before I can register it.
Zevayr plunges his sword into the distracted bear’s side and yanks downward, ducking to avoid its weak retaliatory swipe.
But my focus is on the boy. His shirt is shredded, skin along with it—and the gashes aredeep. Kneeling, I lift his head into my lap. His skin is already clammy, eyes glassy.
Tides help me.
Without a second thought, I summon my power when—
“Georg! Oh, Georg!”
