Page 74 of Her Ivory Flame

“Aren’t we supposed to be training while we travel too?” she asked casually.

“I would have last night but you ran off.” he smirked and she looked away towards Zuri, her cheeks flushing. “As long as you stick around tonight, we will train.”

His voice was the softer tone she had come to hear in recent days and she glanced at him with a small pull of her lip.

“We are ready when you are.” Boone spoke behind her and she glanced back over her shoulder seeing he was speaking to Kaden.

“Then let's go.” Kaden responded and turned to mount his horse.

She threw her reins over Zuri’s neck and proceeded to mount into the saddle, her muscles aching slightly from the long ride the day before.

They had a three day ride till Grimstone, and she knew today they would start their climb up the mountain which would take two days to get over.

Once everyone was settled into their saddles and Titus on the wagon, they began to make their way towards the road.

Raine settled in next to her just like the day before and everyone rode in silence as the trees continued to surround them. A few birds sang to them but it was rare they heard much else besides the horses.

After a few hours, she noticed Raine glancing behind her with a sheepish smile on her face. When she looked over her own shoulder, she saw Finnley smirking back.

“You can go back with him if you like, it seems you two are getting along.” she teased.

“I don’t want to leave you alone.” Raine replied hesitantly.

“It’s ok, I’m used to being alone. Plus, out of all these brutes he seems the sweetest,” she whispered.

Raine just smiled before slowing her horse, the wagon passing her and she heard the two start talking behind her. She was happy for her friend, even hoped something good came out of it for her. If she really had no one else like she said, she deserved to have someone.

The sound of hooves getting closer to her made her head turn, Xander taking Raine’s place next to her.

“The road isn’t wide enough for three,” he said plainly, his eyes stayingforward.

He was a man of few words, the quietest of them all and the most mysterious. She realized those were the first words he had said directly to her, and she looked at him with a questioning look.

“So you can talk?” she said in a playful tone.

He just glanced her way for a second, then continued forward and remained silent. His body was tense, his large sword across his back and she realized he was the only other person besides Kaden that looked lethal in their group.

Titus was of course no threat at all, Finnley looked more friendly than foe and Boone just looked muscly but not dangerous.

Xander held an aura around him, one of caution and danger that she couldn’t place. Maybe it was a front to keep people away, or maybe Kaden chose him because in the end if he failed, Xander would take his place.

She didn’t want to think of that scenario, even if things were confusing with Kaden, she would never wish him dead.

She didn’t let herself want things anymore, it was too heartbreaking when she was disappointed so she avoided the whole concept entirely.

So, she just kept quiet next to Xander and tried to chip away at the wall inside her that blocked the only thing that made her worthy, the only thing that people wanted from her when it came down to it.

Chapter 27

“We will camp here.” Kaden’s voice pulled her out of her daze she had put herself in for the last few hours and she tried to make herself aware of her surroundings.

They had climbed up the mountain for miles now and she could see some snow still at the highest points. Luckily for them, the road cut halfway along the mountain side, a river down the ravine next to them.

They stopped next to an alcove in the mountain side, the large cave being plenty big enough for their group.

Another spot that they could guard better and she could hear a waterfall nearby. Her ears perked at the sound and a smile crossed her face. She hadn’t seen a waterfall since she was home, and she knew instantly she would be searching for it before they left in the morning.

“Let’s get set up and then I need to train with Alyra.” Kaden spoke in his commanding voice, the rest of the group dismounting and starting to unpack.