She looked at him. “Which are they?”
“Depends which captain they’ve got.” He went quiet for a moment. “We’ll hear them before we see them.”
He scanned the trees again, then apparently satisfied, turned to her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“So,” He stretched his legs out towards where the fire had been. “What do you think your father will make of all this, Kara?”
She snorted. “Oh, I can’t imagine he’ll be pleased.”
“No. I guess not.”
“You’re the one who stole the Shards,” she said, brow arched. “I’m just aiding and abetting.”
“So we’re co-conspirators now?” he asked.
“I believe that’s the legal term, yes.”
He laughed – a small, surprised sound – and she found herself joining him. It felt good. Easy. The laughter faded into a comfortable quiet between them, broken only by the hooting of a distant owl.
Sebastian hesitated, before asking, “I’m guessing the wedding’s off now?”
Kara sighed. “Ah, you know, leaving one’s fiancé knocked out and tied up in the woods is hardly a glowing endorsement for marriage.”
He huffed. “I suppose not.”
“Besides,” she added, softer, “My heart was never in it.”
Sebastian opened his mouth to say something, but snapped it shut again. His face darkened. He looked up awkwardly. “I’m sorry, you know.”
She tilted her head. “For what?”
“For grabbing you. Threatening you.” He glanced at her, then away, as if bracing for judgment. “I shouldn’t have. That’s not... that’s not me.”
He’s apologising... to me?
Kara studied him. His whole body had tensed, and he wouldn’t meet her eyes.
He meant it.
“That? Really, Sebastian, I think considering the circumstances it was fair play.”
His gaze darted back to her face, staring like she was completely mad.
“You were tied up, magic-less and thought I was taking you to be executed,” she said. “You were entitled to be a little threatening.”
His expression shifted – surprise, relief, then finally gratitude. “You’re unusually reasonable about this.”
She smiled. “People do desperate things when they’re cornered. Totally understandable.”
“You weren’t scared,” he said. “Not even for a second.”
“Should I have been?”
He held her gaze. “No. But most people would’ve been.”
“I knew you wouldn’t hurt me.”
He stared at her like he couldn’t understand the words she’d just spoken.
