Page 68 of Facade

“Malachai?” Aiden’s breath was a welcomed warmth against my frigid skin. It brought me right back to where the heat of his mouth had been at the beach—

“Patch of ice. Careful,” Malachai hollered back.

Dimitri rode behind us, cursing as chunks of ice loosened and fell with a never-ending clink, clink, clink to the depths below. He’d caught up before we left, grumbling about finding nothing in the woods—though he insisted something or someone was still out there. Aiden brushed it off as his senses playing tricks on him.

“How much longer?” I asked, taking a deep, calming breath through my nose.

“Not much farther,” Aiden responded quietly. Focused. “Do you need a distraction?” he added.

“I would just like to get past this. Death is not the freedom I was hoping for,” I muttered.

He stayed quiet for a moment before responding.

“Is that what you were attempting last night?”

“Yes, it was.” Honesty didn’t matter at this point. My actions had already been bad enough to warrant any punishment he saw fit. Might as well own up to it, though my heart pounded in my ears as I waited for his response.

He took a deep breath. “How could you not think of it. I can’t imagine what your life has been like in that shack they kept you in,” he spat.

“I can see the end of the path,” Malachai interrupted. Again. I’d begun to wonder if he does that on purpose.

Snow started to fall, a bitter wind following close behind. Aiden stayed quiet, his attention locked on the dangerous trek as we hunkered down. After another hour or so, we finally made it. I wanted to kiss the frozen ground and believe the worst was behind us. I knew better.

The next morning, the clouds lingered, but the wind and snow had ceased. Dimitri and Aiden went to check the area for any followers and to catch some game for breakfast.

Malachai and I had been tasked with packing up supplies. I quickly braided my hair and followed him out, our bedrolls bundled in my arms. Malachai strapped various supplies to Luna. He handled her gently as he adjusted everything. His hair was pulled back, giving me a clear view of his smooth, dark face. Instead of the stern look permanently etched, he was relaxed. If I wasn’t mistaken, the corner of his mouth may have even kicked up slightly.

My brow arched as I started to work on the bedrolls when a flash of pain cut across my back. I tried to ignore it—until the sensation sharpened, skittering beneath my skin like something was alive. I scratched once. Then harder.

It didn’t help.

I growled, dropping the bedrolls and reaching back once more.

“You okay?” Malachai stared me down, gaze sharp.

“It’s nothing,” I said, balling my fists.

“Hmm,” he grunted, then walked to a vine growing on the outside of the cave and returned with several light-colored leaves.

“Chew on these. They’re bitter, but it’ll help the itching.”

I hesitated before taking them. He didn’t urge me—just watched, like he already knew I would. I snatched the leaves from his hand like a feral beast and threw them into my mouth. The bitterness hit first—sharp and punishing—but the ache beneath my skin retreated instantly. A shudder coursed through my body as the aftertaste clung to my tongue.

“How did you know I needed—”

“Your incessant scratching,” he responded dryly. I knew better than to push with him. If I couldn’t get clear answers from Aiden, trying to get them from Malachai would be laughable.

Dimitri, in his large wolf form, trotted toward us with two limp rabbits hanging from his blood-covered muzzle. Aiden followed close behind, and my breath caught—his hair was shining, water dripping from the dark strands. Bright eyes flicked my way, that smirk I’ve come to love sliding into place. I dropped my gaze and popped another leaf in my mouth, choking down a gag.

“Not much game in the area,” Aiden said, as Dimitri dropped the rabbits in his outstretched hand. “On the bright side, we stumbled across a hot spring. It’s a little deeper in the woods, but I thought you might enjoy it.”

“I don’t know… I mean, do we have time for that?” I asked, though any excuse to prolong this journey excited me. And the thought of heat had me biting my lip.

“We can make time. It wouldn’t hurt to let the morning warm up a bit before leaving.”

Malachai’s brows drew, his heavily muscled arms tightening as he folded them and studied Aiden.

Dimitri disappeared into the cave and returned a moment later as a man, fully dressed.