I look at Kyor, but Elska is already on her feet, starting to scout around the perimeter.
‘She’s on it,’ he reassures me.
‘The Quiet Ones! Why would they come?’ Loch continues. ‘Not for me. No, not for me. They’re all coming. Silent.’
‘It’s all right, buddy,’ Benny tries to soothe him. ‘No one’s coming for you. We’re here now.’
‘We’ve got you,’ Ruben helps with the reassurances. ‘No one’s getting past us.’
He flicks his hand to produce a flame ten times the size of the one he made earlier, but Loch only continues to shake his head. ‘Fire won’t stop them. They know where they are. The Quiet Ones know.’
Are the Quiet Ones protectors or enemies? I can’t tell. But my heart drums against my ribs as a tingle of magic floods through me. Before I decide what to do with it, a hand grabs mine and gives it a reassuring squeeze.
‘It’s fine.’ Kyor turns me around to face him. ‘It’s fine. There’s nothing to fear. There’s nothing but animals out there. I promise.’
I want to believe him, but it’s hard with Loch pacing crazily only a few feet away.
‘Els has checked,’ Kyor insists. ‘She would know. She wouldn’t let us stay here.’
‘She wouldn’t letyoustay here,’ I correct. ‘She’d happily let the rest of us be eaten by one of these quiet things.’
‘Well, in that case, you should definitely curl up with me. Just for safety’s sake, you know.’ He says the words so drily and matter-of-factly that I can’t help but let out a slight laugh. Kyor’s eyes lock on mine. ‘I’d never let anything happen to you, Rose. You know that.’
There’s no humour in his eyes now, no teasing lilt to his voice – just raw, unvarnished truth. He looks at me as if the world could burn and he’d still be standing between me and the flames, but we both know it isn’t true. He won’t even stand between his father and me.
But … do I believe he’ll keep me safe tonight, even from a Myrkr?
Godsdamn it. ‘I do,’ I whisper.
He reaches out and strokes my cheek, and it’s hard not to lean into his warmth. ‘I miss you,’ he murmurs softly, his voice heavy with longing. ‘I miss my best friend. My only friend.’
His words slice through me, sharper than any blade. I don’t want him to feel alone.
I love the stupid idiot. Though perhapsIam the stupid idiot for thinking that, still.
Kyor’s calloused thumb traces a slow line along my cheekbone, and a shiver chases down my spine. My traitorous body tilts almost imperceptibly towards his touch, starving for this caress even while my mind screams at me to pull away.
A lump forms in my throat and tears threaten. Gods, I miss him too. Miss his unquestioning support. Miss the one person who made me feel like I could achieve anything. Miss the feel of his lips on mine.
But would it even feel the same, being with a man I know would never choose me in the end? Would a second chance be the thing it took for him to put me first, or would it be the final nail in our coffin?
Kyor’s so close I can smell his scent all around me, intoxicating and heady. All it would take is moving forward a couple of inches, and I could taste his lips again.
Like I’ve been dreaming of.
His gaze drops to my mouth, his breath hitching, and for one suspended heartbeat the world narrows to that tiny stretch of air between us. If he leans in, I don’t know whether I’ll stop him. I don’t know if Ican.
Caz calls out, ‘Rose, there’s a comfy bed over here. I’ve got your stuff sorted.’
I turn to find the scribe standing a short distance away, with the blankets strewn on the ground near a moss-covered tree. She holds my gaze with a knowing look before I glance back to Kyor.
I don’t know whether to be grateful for her timely interruption or whether I should strangle her.
I blow out a breath. I should join her.
I take a step away from Kyor, and that’s enough to break the spell between us.
‘No practice tonight?’ he says, his tone businesslike.
