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“Walk to Shelby if you can, please,” he instructed.

Amaria stood beside me as we slowly followed his direction. With her help, I was able to manage it, but each time I tried to put my full weight on my left leg, it buckled, and I gasped in shock.

Reuben didn’t touch the tent’s flaps until they’d helped me back onto the cot, perched on its edge. Shelby guided the dark blue dress they’d laid out on the other cot over my head as Reuben spoke to whoever was outside. It was similar to hers, the same kind of embroidery along the hems and the sleeves overly long with small loops that she quickly put over my ring and pointer fingers. The dress was even warmer than the cloak, and I wanted to groan in the sudden comfort of it.

“It’s all right, Phillip,” he said. “No cause for concern.”

“She’s awake and well?” the other person—logically, Phillip—asked, excited curiosity weaving through the words. “Some are asking if we will be able to leave this morning rather than waiting until after lunch. They’re eager to get started back home.”

Reuben glanced over his shoulder as Shelby tightened a drawstring in the neckline of the dress and then tucked it underneath. He quickly tied one of the entrance panels back, allowing a flood of morning light into the tent. The man who stood just outside had the same vibrant red hair as Reuben pulled into a low, tight bun, silver plates of armor covering his chest and shoulders and thighs while the clothing underneath was a light brown. Did all of the men here have long hair? Maybe it was a cultural thing. His gaze skated over me, his face paling for a heartbeat. Then he inclined his head in greeting.

“If we are what’s causing the delay, it’s unnecessary,” Reuben said. “But she’ll need help into the saddle and will not be able to ride astride yet. Her ankle can’t support it.”

Ride… astride?

“I don’t know how to ride a horse,” I admitted, biting my lip.

Phillip frowned.

“You’ve never ridden?” he asked, his gaze sharpening on me.

“They weren’t something used.”

Which wasn’t technically a lie. Why use a horse when we had airplanes and cars? Besides, most of the time I just walked. We lived only a few blocks from the bar.

“I’ll make sure everything’s ready for you,” he said. Then he focused on Reuben. “Breakfast is ready.”

Then he was gone, disappearing to the left of the tent. There was a quiet conversation outside, but it was too low for the spell tattooed on my skin to trigger. Shelby and Amaria both fussed with the dress while Reuben cleaned up the various items strewn around the tent.

“Is sidesaddle harder?” I asked into the sudden quiet.

Shelby nodded, her lip curving into a half-hearted smile. “Especially with needing to be careful of your healing ankle. You won’t be able to get any kind of leverage, so it’ll be even harder to keep your balance.”

That sounded unappealing. I was probably going to fall on my face in front of these people, a prospect that was about as appetizing as those stress dreams where you show up to school naked.

“But we’ll make sure nothing bad happens,” Amaria said, looping her fingers around my wrist again. “And Callum will be with you, too, of course.”

As if summoned by his name, there was a low throat clearing. We all paused, focusing on the front of the tent. He stood just outside, his arms behind his back. He wore an identical outfit to what I’d seen him wear in the forest despite me having absolutely ruined his clothes yesterday when I couldn’t stop getting sick. Maybe he had a second set? Or maybe someone had washed the original. If they had the ability to permanently translate languages and heal shattered bones, laundry was probably a breeze.

The sword hilt peeked over his left shoulder as he ducked into the tent, avoiding the low-hanging panels of the tent’s entrance. His gold eyes were swirling again, moving as if liquid. His hair was pulled back like everyone else I’d seen. The hairstyle revealed pointed ears similar to Shelby’s. The silver-black circlet sat against his tanned skin, the opal reflecting the fires in the jars around the space.

Shelby and Amaria both moved away, though Reuben didn’t seem all that bothered with Callum’s appearance. He handed Shelby a small vial full of clear liquid that she quickly tucked into a pocket of her dress I hadn’t noticed. Holy crap. Did mine have those, too?

Then Reuben crouched in front of me. “Your head is still without pain?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Good. I’ll reevaluate both injuries tonight. Let me know at once if you have any pain in your leg or your temples, all right?”

I swallowed. “I can do that.”

With a nod, he rose and gestured to both women. “Let’s give them a few minutes.”

14

CALLUM

She was stunning.