Page 26 of Escape from the Green

"And second of all?" I asked, brows drawing together when he handed me what was the top row.

To that, he let out a sound that was much like a humorless chuckle. "Nature will no doubt need to call. We will - no doubt - want some privacy for that."

"Right," I mumbled, feeling like an idiot, and maybe a bit embarrassed at the idea of nature calling while he was anywhere near the vicinity.

But at least he was thinking ahead, guarding our modesty, what little bit of it we could retain.

"It's not heavy," he added when I said nothing further. "It shouldn't slow us down. Plus, if we need it again, it will be a lot less work. You ready?"

I nodded a bit tightly, falling into step behind him, a bit annoyed when he fell back a step, moving in at my side, not letting me out of sight.

I should have been thankful, but every so often, I felt his gaze on me.

But, thankfully, he said nothing.

It was mid-day when we took a break, going off in opposite directions to take care of things no two people wanted to share, before settling down in an oddly clear section of the woods, allowing us to sit down on ground not covered in snow as we shared a small meal.

It was then that he seemed to lose whatever control had been there to keep him silent all morning.

"Think we need to talk about it," he said, voice a little low, like maybe he too was uncomfortable.

"No."

"Can't even look my way, honey. Stiffen up if I get too close. Think we do need to talk about it."

"It's not a big deal."

"Clearly, it is," he countered, reaching out, putting a finger under my chin, not forcing it up, simply waiting for me to do so myself. When I did, my eyes found his for the first time up so close, seeing flecks of red around the iris, something completely unusual, something that must have been unique to his kind. Beautiful, my brain added. "I never would have taken advantage of you if I was given any kind of choice, Amy. It was that or let you burn up."

"I understand that," I agreed, nodding a little, making his finger fall from my chin.

"You understand, but it still feels like an invasion."

"Yes." The word came out almost like a whisper. Like a secret.

His gaze fell for a long moment, considering the shells on the ground between us. It rose again though, eyes almost a little sad, guarded.

"I'm not the man."

"I'm sorry?"

His shoulders shrugged a bit at that. "I have nothing to do but observe, Amy. And I've seen how your mother has protected you. Kept men away from you. I understand," he said, voice dropping low with knowledge, "how things are. And that this was not the way you'd have wanted it. And that I am not the man you wanted it with either. I'm sorry for that. But I'm not sorry about saving you." My heart stuttered a bit at that, making my gaze fall, feeling very exposed around him suddenly. "It was the least I could do. You saved me first."

I felt my lips curl up slightly, a bit frustrated with myself for taking it so seriously when all he was trying to do was help. "So what you're saying is... we're even," I said, meeting his gaze.

To that, he did chuckle, but with the humor this time. "Something like that," he agreed, nodding. "So we can move on?" he asked. I was about to agree when he cut me off. "I mean, after all, you got a feel too. Granted, you were sleeping, but we're even on all fronts right now."

I was sure my entire face went beet red with how hot it felt.

"Come on," he invited, standing, reaching down to take my hand, pulling me to my feet. "I'm thinking we may be able to get into the human realm before dark. Can you feel it?" he asked, holding his arms out wide at his sides.

"Feel what?" Aside from the arctic cold.

"The buzz," he declared, reaching for my wrists to drag them up and widen my arms like his. "Just close your eyes and feel for a second," he demanded, seeming to pick up on my ignorance. I never had cause to really feel the veil before. I was usually hurtling through it at a dead run or in a carriage. I knew what The Green felt like from the other side. Like a pulling, like it was trying to drag me back. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, trying to clear my mind, trying only to feel. And there was the cold, sure, but under that, a low, tingling sensation. It felt weak to me, just a hint of something.

"It's far off still. But that is it. If you are looking for the veil, that is what you should be looking for. That feeling. It gets stronger as you get closer. It gets more uncomfortable too. Maybe not as much to you since you have spent so much time there, but for fae who have never left The Green, it is an uncomfortable thing that makes your skin feel like it is buzzing."

"Like electrocution," I suggested, only remembering after I had said so that the concept was likely lost on him. "Hey, Drake?" I asked, watching his back as he turned, seeming to try to feel for the right direction.