Page 73 of Her Ivory Flame

“Ever since we delegated sleeping pairs, you have closed me off.” His eyes searched hers but she didn’t let her wall down.

“I thought our dynamic was changing, but it seems you are still all about serving your king and finishing your mission.” she muttered and pulled her eyes away from him, the flickering flames drawing her attention.

“My mission is to keep you safe, but I would do it even if I wasn’t ordered to.” The tension in his voice made her look back at him, his eyes flaring and the maroon color brighter than she had yet seen. “You chose me to protect you and I will, orders or not.”

Her throat went dry as his eyes raked over her, the thin cotton sleep clothes she wore blowing in the wind. His words sounded more like a promise than a statement and it caused her skin to prickle.

A snapping twig caught her attention and both whipped their heads towards the woods, a deer hesitantly entering the small clearing.

They both let out a breath and she went back to staring at the fire to avoid his haunting eyes.

Canvas rustled next to her and Finnley exited his tent, his eyes going between her and Kaden.

“I can take over watch now, you better get some sleep.” His eyes stayed on Kaden, who just nodded and disappeared into the tent without another word.

“You should probably sleep too, my lady.”

She didn’t know much about the male staring at her, but her instinct told her he was good, which was something that didn’t typically happen.

“You’re probably right.” She smiled and ducked back into her tent, hoping sleep would take her again.

- - - - - - - -

“Alyra?” Raine’s voice stirred her from sleep and she blinked a few times up at her friend looking down at her. “We need to get going.”

She groaned and sat herself up, stretching her arms above her head trying to wake her muscles.

There was little light coming from the outside of the tent, and she figured the sun was barely coming over the horizon.

“Is everyone already up?” she asked in a groggy voice.

“Yes, everything but this tent is packed and ready.”

Slight embarrassment took over, the thought of her sleeping while everyone else was up working made her feel queasy to say the least.

“Why didn’t anyone wake me earlier?” she sighed.

“Kaden said to let you sleep.”

Of course he did, and she now had to thank him even though she wasn’t even sure how to act around him. His words to her last night hit her deep, and she wasn’t sure what to do about it.

She moved to get dressed quickly while Raine exited the tent to inform the males she was awake. Minutes later she was stepping out of the tent with her blankets rolled and ready to pack on the wagon.

Xander and Boone moved to start taking her tent down and Finnley grabbed towards her blankets. “Here.” He gestured towards her and she reluctantly handed them over.

She wasn’t used to being waited on so much. Even when she was in her home in Mydalsa, they didn’t have this many servants.

The sound of hooves made her head turn and Kaden was leading Zuri towards her, fully tacked up already.

“Did you get more sleep?” he asked hesitantly, his hand holding out the reins to her.

“I did,” she mumbled.

They stood in awkward silence for a short moment while everyone else finished packing. Zuri nudged her and she took a minute to give her face a good scratch.

“About yesterday-”

“It’s in the past.” Kaden cut her off, his eyes staring at her delicately as if he didn’t know how she would respond.