“Heal your ankle before you storm away.”
Hours later, we come across a small cottage, hidden between the trees. “Do you think they’re friendly?” Mayah whispers, kneeling beside me in the underbrush.
“Maybe. They could be in league with rebels, though,” I respond, scratching my jaw. “Regardless, they’re definitely not friendly to Tundraynis.”
“So we won’t tell them I’m Tundrayni.”
“Solid plan,” I chuckle, glancing at her. “Too bad your pretty blue eyes will give us away.” The smile freezes on my face, my mouth slamming shut.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. I can’t believe I said that.
I watch Mayah through the corner of my eye. A part of me hopes she’ll latch onto my comment and tease me about it.Careabout it.
But she doesn’t.
Why would she? I’m taking her to Tundrayn to marry my brother.
Any closeness she feels is platonic at best and only because we’ve been isolated together for weeks.
I clear my throat, avoiding her gaze. “It’s safer to double back and walk around.”
Faramir’s betrothed. She’s Faramir’s betrothed.
I can’t bring myself to look at her. I might do something foolish like profess my maddening feelings.
We head back the way we came.
Five minutes later, I freeze.
There’s something nearby—somethingbigbased on the vibrating energy signature.
A low rustle drifts through the trees.
Then we see it.
A massive black bear. And it’s blocking the path ahead.
I don’t think. Only react.
Shoving Mayah behind me, I unsheathe my sword with my other hand. I stretch myself to my full height, up onto the tips of my toes.
The bear doesn’t move.
I think it might run. Just another min—
Fuck.
A new energy signature pulls my attention. There’s someone in the bushes, someone small. I’ve barely turned my head when a boy emerges, perhaps eleven or twelve. Clutched in his hands is a too-large sword.
“Leave them alone!” he shouts at the bear.
My legs move, unbidden, bolting across the clearing.
But I’m too slow. And the boy, too close.
The bear swipes, claws tearing into his belly. I reach them seconds too late, plunging my sword into the bear’s side and yanking downward. It looses a weak roar, turning to swipe at me, but I easily avoid its claws.
Mayah is already there, pulling the boy’s head into her lap. Her hands glow white—
