Gods, that smile.
By afternoon, the tone had shifted. The next village brought no laughter. Same black-stone houses, same market stalls – but the air was heavier, smiles tighter. At a well, two men clad in dark cloaks werespeaking in hushed tones, their voices carrying just enough for Kara to catch: “Thorne battalion passed through this morning – headed West.”
“May the Four have mercy.”
She looked over at Sebastian. His jaw was set, shoulders tense. His ice-blue eyes darted past her, checking every shadow, every doorway.
“Missed them,” he said at last.
“Or they missed us,” she replied.
They rode on warily. This was proof of what they’d feared. Thorne soldiers were involved now. And they were close. Watchful gazes had begun to follow them as they passed, sharp and lingering. It wasn’t the idle curiosity of strangers – they were paying attention.
“We’ll stick to the forest trail after this,” he said, breaking into a gallop.
Kara didn’t argue.
The day passed in tense watchfulness. Every traveller was a potential threat. Every snap of a branch had Sebastian’s hand darting to his sword. By late evening, even the valmares couldn’t go any further.
“Just until first light,” Sebastian said uneasily. He scanned the forest as they dismounted. “Then we keep moving.”
He settled against a large pine, as Kara threw out her bedroll by his side and sat, looking at him.
“Do you have a plan?” she asked.
“A plan for what?”
She raised her eyebrows. “For getting the Fire Shard. Thorne will have reinforced its protections by now.”
“I’ll figure it out,” he said confidently. “I’ve done okay so far.”
“So you’re making it up as you go along?”
“That’s usually how wars are won,” he said dryly.
“Or lost,” she countered.
He threw her a look. “So optimistic.” He gripped the strap of his satchel; the Shards clinking softly in response. “It was working pretty well until you showed up.”
He was smiling at her. Actually smiling. It took her a moment to process what he’d just said.
“We’re joking about this now?” she asked cautiously.
He shrugged. “Would you rather I brood?”
“Not sure I can tell the difference,” she muttered.
He laughed softly, and leant forward, elbows on his knees, his hand rubbing absentmindedly at his forearms. Kara had noticed him doing that a lot. The place where so many of his scars had been. She didn’tthink he realised he was doing it. Since they’d travelled beyond the lava flows, the air had gotten significantly cooler. With a rush of bravery, or perhaps foolishness, she shifted closer to Sebastian so they were shoulder to shoulder, her back leaning against the pine trunk next to him. He was warm beside her, his Hale cloak brushing against her arm. She told herself it was only for comfort.
Liar.
Her head found his shoulder.
Sebastian stilled.
Please don’t move away.
He didn’t. Didn’t create that usual distance between them. Instead he turned his head, and looked down at her. There was that look again. The one that made her forget rational thought. Neither of them moved. Time stretched. Minutes or hours, Kara couldn’t have said. The atmosphere between them changed. His gaze dropped to her mouth. Her heart leapt so hard it made her dizzy. He was thinking about it. About kissing her. She could see the want, the hesitation. Her pulse thundered.
