Pursing his lips, he nodded once. “Fair enough.”
“Do you have any idea where we are?” I swiftly changed the subject.
Sawyer looked to the stars as if they held the answer. “Honestly, I have no clue. Kade said we should reach the portion of the River of Riesneim that borders Draemor by day two. But I have no idea where Lumosia even lies on a map, so that information isn’t super helpful.”
Our continent was fairly small all things considered. Draemor was about a three day ride from Caelestis’ castle, though traveling to Mealioria from the palace pushed a week’s time. If you were to look at a map, the Prilarean empire held a minuscule amount of land compared to the bordering continents.
“So basically, we're putting all our faith in Kade and Jensen?”
“Yep,” he answered dully, tossing his stick to the dirt.
“That's…scary.”
“Eh. I’m pretty confident that Seb and I could take them both if we had to.”
Nowthatwas something I could put my faith in.
A few heartbeats of silence surrounded us, the only noise being the chirp of a nearby cricket.
“How are things with you and Seb?” Sawyer shot the words out so fast I could hardly understand him.
Air blew from my nostrils. “Shitty.”
“Have you guys talked at all?”
“Here and there. But not the kind of conversation he wants to have.”
The fire surged, reflecting in the green of Sawyer's eyes. “And what kind of conversation would that be?”
My thumbs found each other and twiddled. “The kind that discusses what this all means for us—if I still want to be with him.”
Sawyer shuffled forward, clearing his throat. “Well. Do you?”
My heavy breath poured into the night sky. “I don't think it matters what I want, because I don't know that I can be with him after this, anyway. At least not right away.”
That was the first time I truly said the words out loud. And they hurt. They fuckingkilled.
“I dunno.” I shrugged, pointing my stinging nose to the sky.
“You don’t have to decide anything right now.” Sawyer's hand found my shoulder. “But when you do, I’ll be here for you. If you need me.”
I forced a half smile.
Eyelids falling heavy, a deep yawn uncaged itself from my lungs. I turned my gaze back to the flames and sent a prayer up to the veil that Kade didn’t screw us over.
“Comfy?”
My eyes shot open to a blur of smoke from the extinguished fire—stomped out by Sebastian’s boot.
I wiped drool from the side of my mouth. My neck cracked as I bent it back to a normal angle. Glancing around, my eyes dilated.
Sleep had finally found me—on Sawyer's shoulder. He roused as well, running a hand down his stubbled face to try and wake himself up.
Sebastian tossed me my rucksack.
I was barely coherent, but enough so to catch the pack against my chest.
“I packed your tent up for you. We’re leaving,” he muttered flatly before stomping off.
