“You’re awake.” His relief was subtle, but there. “Good.”
Eve bumped Lionel’s shoulder with hers. “He’s awake and flirting, which means he’s fine.”
Jaden stretched lazily. “So, what’s next? Haunted ruins or cursed mountain adventure?”
Lionel nodded towards the horizon. “We spotted rooftops. Looks like the village. Darkshire.”
My pulse jumped with a mix of hope and dread. “We should move before the sun sets. The longer we stay out in the open—” I began ordering but was cut off mid-sentence.
“The more likely something sees us,” Lionel finished for me, a teasing smile lingering on his lips as he read my thoughts.
I glared at him.
“I’ll heat some food for Nate before we leave,” Lionel chuckled.
“Yes please,” Nate sighed relieved.
Malakai’s thumb brushed the top of my arm in reassurance, warm and grounding. I leaned into him without thinking, and he nuzzled against me with his soft hair.
It felt weird, having moments like these, something feeling so normal was more out of the ordinary than the chaos and ruins around us.
Ashley finally let Nate rest against her chest, gently this time. “No moving unless I say so. Got it?”
Nate’s smile softened, all bravado gone for a moment. “Got it, Ash.”
Jaden clapped his hands. “Aw, adorable, snuggle into her chest while you can.”
Ashley glared murderously at him. “Jaden, shut—”
“Up,” Nate finished with her, grinning.
She blinked, momentarily startled into silence. Coming back to herself, she shoved his head lightly. “Copycat.”
“Takes one to stab one,” he shot back, immediately wincing. “Ouch. Too soon for stab jokes?”
“Way too soon,” she hissed.
But she didn’t let go of him.
We packed up quickly, everyone eager to get out of this sandy wasteland and leave the Whispering Woods far behind us.
Nate insisted he could walk. “I still have two functioning legs,” he declared, pushing himself upright.
He immediately swayed like a drunk.
Ashley lunged, grabbing his good arm. “Functioning is a bit of a reach.”
Nate offered her a wobbly grin. “Functioning enough to reel you in, apparently.”
She rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might leave their sockets. “You lost half of your blood. Your strength is currently equal to a bowl of soup.”
“Hot soup?” he asked.
“If you fall, I’m letting you fall face first,” she warned.
“I believe you,” he whispered dramatically, leaning more heavily against her.
Malakai stepped up beside them, silently bracing Nate from the other side.
