“Because it’s already been compromised?” Rafferty asked slyly.
Brea shot him a fierce look. “Why don’t you try something and find out?”
Rafferty glanced down at the dagger she still twirled between her fingers. “I’ll pass.”
Thom snorted, then lifted a hand placatingly to the rest of the troop. “I’m not sleeping with you,” he said to Brea.
“Sharing a tent is not the same thing as sharing a bed,” she countered. “We will be on separate bedrolls and in full view of the rest of the camp. And should there be any attempts on my person,” she gave Thom a teasing look, “I’ll have you know that I sleep with five knives at all times.”
Rafferty pulled an intrigued face and nudged Thom’s side. “Not gonna lie,” he murmured, “that’s arousing.”
Thom tried not to imagine being at the end of one of Brea’s knives and turned to Deckard. “It’s fine,” he said. “We either split a couple, or it’s uneven.”
“It isn’t appropriate,” Deckard protested. “You three could share and give her a private tent.”
“Mírce d’Alle,” Brea exclaimed, her accent thick with agitation. “This argument is over. I will share a tent with Thom, or I will sleep under the stars.Conte?”
Gathering the context of her final word, Thom nodded. “Got it.”
“Béne.” She stood then and moved for the tent on the far side of the camp.
Thom pressed his lips together, feeling rather awkward. He glanced across at Auden, the Mage watching Brea’s departure with something like frustration on his face. And for the first time, Thom felt sorry for the man’s plight. While he couldn’t blame Brea for not wanting to live her life knowing she’d been a means to an end, he also couldn’t blame Auden for hoping.
While the rest of the troop began preparing for bed, Thom crossed to where Auden crouched, cleaning the cooking pot. He dropped into a squat beside him. “Just so you know,” he said, “I didn’t mean to make this—”
“You’re not to blame,” Auden interrupted with a sigh. “I’ve been trying to get Breata to work with me for the last decade. But I know...” A sad smile came to the Mage’s lips. He looked down at his hands. “Ilain confessed,” he said. “We don’t keep secrets from one another, and she told me that you know about Maura.”
“I do,” Thom admitted.
Auden’s vibrant eyes lifted to pierce Thom with determination. “I won’t let her languish in the Deep,” he said. “Not even if saving her kills me. Can you understand that?”
Though Thom had never been in love—not truly—he nodded. He could understand because he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he would do the same for his brother. “I can.”
“Breata won’t work with me. I’ve...” A vein flexed in his jaw as he paused. “I’ve come to accept that. But that doesn’t mean I’ve given up hope.”
Thom frowned. “You intend to . . . force her hand?”
“No,” Auden said immediately. “If she were to change her mind of her own accord, I would accept. But I don’t hold out hope for that. No, I intend to find another female Warrior, one who is compassionate to my cause rather than hard-hearted.”
The bitterness in Auden’s words struck Thom with force. The man was dejected and hurting. He wanted to save the woman he loved, though it would mean he could never be with her. And it seemed Allore was conspiring against him, taunting him with the means of her salvation in a Warrior who refused to comply.
Thom patted the man’s shoulder once. “Not that I’m much of a help, but....”
Auden nodded at the unfinished sentiment.
Thom began to rise, but Auden caught his elbow. “I’ve not forgotten,” he said.
“Pardon—”
“Ilain tells me everything, remember?” His eyes narrowed. “You helped her. You made her believe you were her friend. Then you betrayed her. If you do it again, it’ll be your ghost that Jonn needs to summon.”
Thom didn’t know how to feel at the threat. It was amusing, startling, and impressive all at once. As an older brother, he could relate to the protective action. As the one being threatened, he didn’t appreciate it. And as a man who was working to be better, he accepted it.
With a dry smile, Thom said, “I know.” Then he got up and left the Day Mage behind.
Nearly everyone was in their tent, ready for sleep. Ethenn and Ilain sat by the fire still, fixed on their watch. When he passed, Rafferty grumbled that he couldn’t believe Thom was leaving him to share a tent with the dreariest member of their troop.
“It isn’t as though I had much say in the matter,” Thom commented.
