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I frowned, not liking the sound of that. “Doesn’t mean you don’t need to eat. Don’t burn yourself out before we get there. I’ll need your help.”

Soren scratched his head. “Yeah. You’re probably right.”

“Remember your time limit. Unless you want me to take that thing out of you.”

Soren’s eyes flickered. He glanced down at himself and then back at me, a curious look on his face. “Not yet,” he said softly.

Huh. A different, more thoughtful answer than yesterday. “Say the word, Soren, and I’ll do my best to cut that magic out of you.”

Our eyes met.

“I’ll do that.” Soren stepped out and held open the tent flap for me.

I followed him out and was able to stand to my full height. Soren let out a pained groan and raised his hands up to the sky.

I sighed in relief and yawned. Sunlight warmed our shoulders through the thick canopy of trees. Birds sang around us; insects chirped and buzzed. The crisp scent of pine rose through the air, fresh and clean.

“It’s beautiful here,” Soren said.

I had to agree. There was a wildness to this place not even present at Rowan’s Keep. Untouched and uninhabited, there was nothing about this place touched by man.

“Maybe Rowan would let you stay in his territory,” I mused aloud. “If you wanted to.”

Soren’s teeth flashed. “Doubtful. Lords aren’t keen on other Lords encroaching on their lands. Rowan is one of the gentler Lords, but with Evie pregnant, his emotions will be all over the place. He’s not in protective mode yet, but as soon as his people find out, he won’t want any unknowns around.”

“You aren’t an unknown.”

“Rowan and I haven’t spent a lot of time together. We know each other through our duties, but we don’t know each other in the way we need to in order for him to give me a free pass to stay. He and Ethan have a completely different relationship than the rest of us do.”

A thoughtful look crossed his face. “Though I didn’t sense Ethan’s touch on his lands anymore. Has Rowan revoked Ethan’s access?”

My brow furrowed. Had he? Ethan stayed with us a little while ago, but Rowan seemed fine.

“He hasn’t said anything, but he may have blocked him after Sarah showed up when Ethan came to visit me.”

Soren chuckled. “Jealous, I take it?”

“More than that.” I shuddered. “The spell holding her together is on shaky ground. Every time we injure my mother, the spell’s hold grows more tenuous. I wouldn’t be surprised if chunks start falling off of Sarah soon.”

“And that idiot probably won’t notice.”

I gave Soren a sharp look. “Not a fan of Ethan?”

His jaw tightened. “I’m surprised you’re still a fan.”

I felt like I should be angry, but Soren was right. “It’s complicated.”

“Just like it was with Evie and Caelan?”

“Go chase down a gazelle or something. I’m going to get dressed.”

Soren let out a soft snort. “You know I’m right.”

I went back into the tent and got dressed.

Half an hour later, we were trudging up the mountain once again. The sunshine from earlier had dimmed under a layer of heavy cloud cover. Thunder rumbled in the distance, the sound ominous enough to make the hair on the back of my neck rise.

“Think we’ll make it before the storm hits us?”