She returned a few minutes later, her light dimmed.
“Just the wind,” she said.
I frowned, hating the sadness in her voice. The disappointment.
“I guess I should get back to sleep,” she said. “I mean, if you’re still okay to keep watch a bit longer?”
“Of course.”
“Wake me if the storm breaks, okay? If you see them?”
“You have my word.”
And my heart, I thought, but that was impossible.
My heart had been ripped from my chest and burned to ash long ago.
29
HALEY
The roar and crackle of a freshly made fire stirred me from sleep, and I sat up on the bedroll and stretched my arms over my head, feeling better than I had in days.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.” Evander offered a quick smile, but then ducked my gaze, turning his attention back to the fire. He’d just set another log on the flames, sparks cascading up to the cave ceiling. “You can keep sleeping if you’d like.”
“How long was I out?”
“Not long. Three, four hours at most.”
I got to my feet and stepped closer to the fire, rubbing my hands over the flames. Outside, the wind continued to howl, red snow blotting out the view.
My heart sank. “Still no break in the storm?”
“I’m afraid not.” He stood up and went to his pack, rearranging and repacking, setting a few supplies aside. I watched him for a few minutes in awkward silence, wondering if he still felt bad about the kiss last night. The near-kiss. The sweet, tender brush of lips that lingered in my dreams, making my stomach swoop even now.
“About last night,” I began, but he was already shaking his dark head.
“You don’t need to say anything, Haley. I meant what I said—I’m truly sorry for my actions.”
I nodded, but he wasn’t even looking at me, still so focused on his task.
It hit me then, what he was doing. Why he was divvying up his cooking supplies, his weapons, and transferring only a few essentials to a smaller pack.
“Are you… leaving?” I asked, unable to keep the alarm from my voice.
Evander let out a sigh, finally looking up to meet my eyes. “If the storm continues and your men don’t arrive in the next couple of hours, I’ll need to travel on ahead. We’re running out of time.”
I folded my arms across my chest, my panic turning into irritation. “I’mnotleaving this cave without them.”
“No, you’re not.”
“I’m serious. You’ll have to knock my ass out or drug me or… I don’t know. Do somethingreallybad, which means I’ll have no choice but to take back your friendship achievement.” I glared at him like a smug, petulant child, but the look in his eyes sent a new wave of panic crashing over me.
Evander got to his feet, coming to join me before the fire. In a soft voice full of regret, he said, “You’re not coming with me, Haley. I need to locate the fae who dwell in the mountains and begin the negotiations. You can meet me there when your men rejoin you.”
“How will you convince the fae to help without me? You said it yourself—it’s my magick they’ll want. My magick they’ll think can bring their ancestors back.”
“I must try, Haley. Melantha’s army encroaches. Every hour we wait is another hour she gains on us.”
