Page 78 of Her Ivory Flame

Zuri was calm as Alyra walked her last into the small pen and set the hobbles she had previously taken off the horse.

By the time everything was either tied down or reinforced, Titus had dinner made by the fire and everyone took a seat on the logs they had brought over.

She didn’t know what he had made the night before, her attitude getting the best of her, but tonight looked like some kind of stew. It was hot and the weather was changing rapidly around her, the cold air making her shiver even by the fire.

No one said a word as they ate, Raine and Finnley snuggled next to each other across from her and she purposely avoided looking at them.

She knew it was jealousy that was pulling at her, the wound Silas left still wide open and she could feel her emotional wall at its breaking point.

When everyone was done, she helped clean up and headed for her tent, her body exhausted for the day. Raine cleared her throat next to her just before was about to duck through the door and gave her a sheepish look.

“Do you mind if I bunk with Finnley tonight?” she whispered shyly.

She tried not to let the annoyance she was feeling show on her face but she wasn’t going to say no, even if she wanted to. She didn’t know who Finnley was bunking with, and at this point she didn’t care.

“Sure,” she whispered back. “Who is taking your place?”

“Kaden.”

“Of course.” she huffed.

Raine smiled and started to walk to the other tent but she reached out to grab her arm.

“Please Raine,” she mumbled, “Be careful with your heart. I don’t want you to go through what I did.”

Raine placed her hand gently on hers and gave her a soft smile. “I will.”

They parted and she ducked into the tent without another glance, a spark of jealousy rolling through her. She wanted to be happy for her friend but she also ached for the pain in her chest to go away.

She changed into her cotton sleep clothes and got under the animal pelt they had brought along for extra warmth. She didn’t use it the night before, but with the storm she figured it was a good idea.

She was almost asleep when she heard someone enter the tent, her eyes squinting open to see Kaden shuffling in.

This shouldn’t feel so awkward, she had been in the same room and even the same bed with him before but for some reason her stomach tightened.

She kept her back to him and tried to concentrate on sleep and not the fact he was undressing two feet from her. She took a quiet deep breath and let it out just before he laid down next to her.

They had their own blankets, but were closer together than they had been in her bed due to the small tent size. She could tell his arm was only a few inches from her back, the heat radiating from his arm and she suddenly found herself wanting comfort.

She fought herself from scooting back into him, her body missing the feeling of someone curled around her and she knew it was only because memories had been stirred up recently.

An entire month had gone by without wanting anyone’s touch, but then Silas reappeared, sending her body into overdrive.

She didn’t want Silas back, but she missed the feeling of comfort he gave her. At this point, it seems she was used to Kaden’s touch enough to not panic and maybe she should take advantage of it even if it didn’t mean anything more than comfort.

The weather started to change outside, rain now pouring onto the mountain and she could hear small waterfalls coming from the edge of the alcove.

Maybe the sounds of nature would help ease her mind, another deep breath filling her lungs before she burrowed into her blankets more, praying for sleep.

Thunder cracked in the air and she shot upright off the ground, her back soaked with typical nightmare sweat and her chest heaving.

The sound reminded her of Mavros’s dungeon, the crashing of whips and the storm the day of the battle.

Kaden sat up next to her, fully aware of her distress.

“It’s ok,” he whispered, another crack rumbling around them.

It was completely black around her, the moon hidden behind the storm clouds and the fire had long died out.