Page 69 of A Wayward Movement

“I know,” Alina assured her. She gave her friend a quick hug. “But I’m tougher than either of you realize, you know. I’ve been looking after myself for a long time, and I’ve never gotten myself into strife yet.”

“Alina,” Lilah said, exasperated. “You just spent two days in bed recovering from nearly killing yourself.”

“Oh, well, that’s different,” Alina laughed. “And I didn’t nearly kill myself. I monitored my energy levels the whole time, and I wasn’t in danger of fully depleting myself. Obviously I pushed myself further than is ideal, but the circumstances warranted it, and I still had enough energy.”

Lilah sighed. “We can agree to differ on what ‘enough’ means. You always think you both need and deserve less than you really do.”

“If you say so,” Alina said lightly. “I’m very ready to acknowledge my needs right now. Namely, getting out of this room. Is the investigation team still at the inn?”

“Yes, but the prince said we should send someone to fetch him, or failing that, a guard, to escort you there when you’re ready,” Lilah said, following her out of the bedroom.

“Nonsense,” said Alina, frowning. “Who would we send? And who would safely escort that person? It’s a short distance, and it’s daytime. There’s no need for anyone to escort me to the inn.”

“I’ll take it further and say there’s no need for you to go there at all.”

The surly voice surprised Alina. “Benji! I thought you’d already left. Won’t you be late?”

“I’m not going to the farm today,” Benji said. “I haven’t been for days.”

“He’s wanted to keep an eye on you,” Lilah said, moving past Alina into the small living space.

“I just felt like hanging around and making myself ridiculous,” Benji said, scowling.

“I’m sorry, Benji,” Alina said. “I didn’t mean you to hear that.” She drank the last of her tea. “Although it is true.”

Benji protested, but she cut him off. “I don’t want to waste this lovely morning arguing with you. I’m desperate to stretch my legs.”

“Fine.” Benji sighed, rising. “Come on. I’ll walk you there.”

“What?” Alina raised an eyebrow. “Benji, if one of us is at risk, it’s you. You’re as skilled with magic as I am, and you don’t have the protection of being connected with the investigation.”

Benji ignored her, pulling on his boots. Since she knew there was no danger walking to the inn, she didn’t fight him. She could tell that his relief at her recovery was genuine, which helped her to be patient with his overstepping.

“I’m sorry you’ve been missing work at the farm because of me,” Alina told Benji, as they stepped out into the crisp morning air.

“They’re actually needing me less, anyway,” Benji admitted. “I might have to try somewhere further afield for work.”

Alina frowned. “I don’t think you should, Benji. Not while we still haven’t caught whoever’s taking people.”

Benji shrugged. “What choice do I have? I need work.”

“You can afford a break,” Alina insisted. “They’re paying me a ridiculous amount to help with the investigation. We’re covered for now.”

Benji’s face relaxed into a smile, the few freckles on his nose wrinkling. “You’re a good egg, Alina,” he told her, with the air of a gracious older brother. Alina’s lips twitched. “But I’ve taken too much help from you as it is.”

“You’ve given me much more than you’ve taken,” Alina told him. She saw his skeptical expression, and pushed on. “It’s true. With or without me, you and Lilah at least have each other. Before I met you both, I had no one at all. It’s awful being all alone, Benji. I’m so much happier now than I was then. I wouldn’t trade our little family, such as we are, for ten times the cost of covering your board.”

They’d reached the inn now, and Benji squeezed her upper arm encouragingly as they came to stop.

“Well, you’ve got us now. So let us look out for you. The ones on their own are the ones most at risk of being preyed on.”

Alina nodded agreement, the movement stilling as she realized Benji was looking over her shoulder, his brows pulling together.

“And I don’t just mean by the kidnappers,” he muttered.

Alina looked behind her to see that Xavier had appeared in the doorway of the inn. From the tightness of his expression, he’d heard Benji’s words. Turning back to Benji, she gave him an innocent smile.

“How do you know I’m not the hunter rather than the prey?”