Page 101 of Dream Reaper

Looking small but determined, Ava stood with her arms wrapped around her waist as Jerrid shoved the last of the supplies into his satchel. He would have to step into the woods to remove his clothes and pack those on the very top right before he shifted.

When he stood, he realized Ava was staring at him with a worried wrinkle between her eyebrows. The first rays of the sun were beginning to lighten the eastern sky beyond the treetops. It was time to say goodbye.

Now or never.

He shuffled toward her, unsure what he wanted to say… Worse, unsure what he could say.

“We’ll be back as quickly as we can.”

“I know.” She stared into his face, eyes flicking back and forth.

He would have given anything to know what she was thinking. A surge of jealousy swept through him that Dragon was privileged to these things while he was deliberately excluded.

I can tell you what she’s thinking…

“No. Don’t!” Jerrid spat out the words without realizing it.

Ava jumped and leaned back slightly, her frown increasing.

“Not you. Dragon. He’s being…annoying.” He could tell by her expression that this did nothing to allay her concerns. “Look, just hold on until we get back, all right? Do whatever you have to do. Just don’t trust Talos.”

She compressed her lips but nodded. “And I need you to do something for me.”

The gravitas in her tone sent a shiver down his spine.

“Whatever happens, however this ends—” Her voice broke, and she cleared her throat before continuing. “I don’t want you blaming yourself.”

His breath caught in his chest, as if giant fingers had pinched his lungs closed. “Don’t talk like that. Things are going to work out. You’re strong enough for this. You and Dragon can keep the shadow at bay until I get back.”

She turned her face away, her arms tightening around her waist. “Of course. Just in case, I want you to know that I’m okay with all of this. I don’t blame you. Or Dragon. Or anyone. That’s all I am saying.”

He studied her profile, fringed in the golden light of the rising sun. Her tone… He didn’t like it. If he didn’t know better, he’d guess she was giving up. Preparing for the worst.

She’s just being proactive, Dragon whispered. Trying to get you in a better headspace because you’re a mess.

But Jerrid shook his head. It was more than that. Something else was going on, something she wasn’t telling him. His fingers itched to reach out and catch her elbow, maybe even to simply brush against her skin. Featherlight and gentle.

But he didn’t dare. He wouldn’t lay a finger on her again unless he was convinced she wanted him to. Him. Not Dragon.

And here we go again, Dragon muttered, stirring restlessly.

Ava sighed, squared her shoulders, and faced him, a bright smile painted on her face. “We’ll be here waiting when you get back. Just trust Dragon, and…fly true, Jerrid.”

He nodded, a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. How true they flew would be a test of how well he and Dragon managed to work together. And they’d never been good at that.

Don’t blame me for that…

He hesitated a moment longer, waiting to see if Ava had anything else to say. The way she kept staring at him made him hope that more weighed on her mind, but she kept her mouth tightly sealed as if keeping her thoughts safely guarded.

And he wasn’t about to let Dragon invade her mind to steal secrets from her. She deserved her privacy. He wouldn’t steal that from her even if his life depended on it.

So noble. Dragon yawned noisily.

Jerrid tamped down his reluctance. It was time to go, and he needed to just leave. She wasn’t going to say anything. Wasn’t going to bring up their ill-timed kiss that they’d conveniently ignored ever since it happened.

Maybe it was a mistake, and she knew it was a mistake, and she planned to pretend it never happened. That might have been for the best.

It was for the best.