Page 80

I looked around at the mostly flat area. We were hidden by a bunch of trees and brush. “Good eye.”

He shrugged off his pack and started pulling items out.

My stomach growled. “What kind of food did you bring?”

“Protein and nutrient bars. One of Rowan’s wolves had a few MREs, but I don’t know how old they are.”

“Dinner of champions,” Soren said. “Go take care of your business. I’ll have the tent set up in a little while.”

When I came back, I eyed the tent, then sent Soren a side-eye.

He grinned. “You can’t fit a large tent in a backpack, darling Moira. Plus it will be quite frigid this evening. You’ll just have to rob me of my body heat.” He rubbed his hands together in wicked glee. “It will be fun.”

“Your feet are going to stick out of that.”

“Not if I’m the big spoon.”

I sighed and bent to open the flap. Two thermal blankets, a battery-operated lantern, and two small pillows. “Tonight’s the only night we have to camp?”

Soren nodded. “Unless you feel like hanging out a little longer.”

“In the middle of nowhere in the creepy woods?” I shook my head. “No thanks.”

Soren pouted. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”

I left it inside that cabin with most of my life’s blood.

My expression must have shown my state of mind. Soren fell silent for a moment before he gestured to the tent. “We can’t light a fire, and it’s not actually that small in there. Want to head inside before the bugs get too bitey?”

I kicked off my shoes and picked them up, holding them under my arm as I went inside. Soren followed me, having to mostly crawl inside. My lips twitched as he situated himself.

“You cannot be comfortable.”

“I’ve been in worse positions. Soon enough, I’ll be lying down, so this isn’t too bad.” He gestured for my shoes and put them next to his in the corner of the tent. “Protein bar?”

“Might as well.” The thought of eating one of those turned my stomach, but we had to keep up our strength.

He tossed one over. “Will that be enough for you?”

I shrugged. “The infusion I had a while back is still holding.” Coursing through my body, more like it. I could feel all the different types of magic coalescing through my veins.

Soren bit into his bar and grimaced. “Hate these things,” he muttered. “I can go hunting if you like.”

“No fire. I’m not into rabbit sushi.” I flicked my hand. “But feel free if you want to.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

I didn’t respond. He couldn’t leave. There was no matter of want.

Soren physically could not abandon me. The thought made me wildly uncomfortable.

“Come closer. Let me see what he did to you.”

Soren stiffened. “You can’t fix this, Moira.”

I lifted my gaze to his face. “Since you won’t tell me why you did it, I’m not sure there’s anything to fix.”

He pressed his lips together and scooted over. “Sweater off.”