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I’d seen Solin shave before.
He used the stone knife that was the brother to the blade Aktor had used on me. Most Nhil men kept their faces clear of hair, preferring to wear braids and adornment on their heads, rather than their faces. But the stranger’s way of shaving had taken much longer and left behind some growth that mimicked the shadows he could summon, darkening his skin and framing his mouth.
His mouth that kissed me.
Tearing my gaze from his lips, I forced myself to focus.
He’d stacked the wood where I’d pointed by the river’s edge, believing I knew what I was doing when really, I hadn’t slept last night with worry.
I’d tossed and turned beside him while Natim nuzzled me to settle.
I didn’t want to do this.
I didn’t know how to do this.
I glowered at the river innocently babbling in the sunshine. It hadn’t glowed or sung while we swam—it was just water making its endless journey through the earth.
“Runa?” The stranger came close, cupping my elbow with his calloused hand. I flinched and blinked away my fears. His handsome face and wild hair came into focus as I studied his dark smoky eyes, thick lashes, and perfect lips.
My heart fluttered like the tiny bees that always seemed to hum nearby.
“Sorry.” I shook myself, trying to recall his previous question. Glancing around the small clearing with pockets of wildflowers sprouting in river reeds, I spied Natim as he attempted to eat grass like a big stag and not bend his legs like a fumbling fawn.
My eyes caught on the mountain of sticks he’d stacked.
“Should I gather more?” He dropped his hand, raking his fingers through his messy black hair, revealing hidden nerves despite his urgency to do this.
“No.” I laughed awkwardly, my own nerves making me jittery. “That’s more than enough. Too much really.”
“Are you sure?” He scowled. “You said the trance with the Fire Reader lasted from dusk to dawn.”
“It did.”
“Then I didn’t gather enough fuel to burn.” He marched toward the treeline again. “I watched the Nhil fire the night the lynx bit me. It’s hungry, and that pile won’t last. I’ll return—”
“Wait.” I jogged after him.
I didn’t know how to explain how the trance would work. I didn’t know myself. All I could offer was what I’d seen Solin do and what the Fire Reader had told me.
Cutting in front of him, I said, “When I stepped into the trance with Solin, we were no longer a part of this world. I know we took a toxin, which we won’t use this time, but I don’t think we’ll be conscious to worry about more fuel.”
“What?” His eyebrows drew together. “What will we be if we’re not awake?”
“Not here.” I gave him a tight smile.
“Can we wake when we want?”
“I-I don’t know.” I grabbed my still-damp hair and twisted it into a white rope, draping it over my shoulder. “It depends on what the flames will share with us. The moment we become a part of the fire, we won’t need to add more fuel. As long as there’s enough to start a decent blaze, it will continue to burn until we’re back.”
He chewed the inside of his cheek before asking, “And if the trance takes all day?”
“Then it will burn until we return.”
I think.
I hope.
I stepped away from him as Natim came bounding toward us, his little white tail wagging. “Solin said that while we walked in the flames they couldn’t go out. Even if a river flowed right over its coals.”
He cast a dubious look at the river as if wondering if it would do such a thing.
After it’d spoken to me yesterday, I wondered the same thing. Were fire and water enemies, or did the two elements coexist happily? If I was now Quelis—adopted by the fire and given the gift of messages and summoning its flame children—why had the river decided to sing to me?
It was yet another question I had no answer for.
I glanced at the stranger—at the wolf pelt wrapped around his narrow hips and the muscular power in his belly. His legs were lean and long, his arms strong and sleek. His height and confidence granted me comfort that he’d protect me, all while I felt slightly threatened in his presence.
His honesty scared me.
His convictions about us made my doubt seem so much worse.
Inhaling sharply, the stranger put his hands on his hips. A position of defiance and confidence. “If we have enough wood, should we begin?”
Bending, I scooped Natim into my arms and forced a reluctant nod. “I can’t think of a reason to say no.”
His lips curled into a smile. “You sound as if you’re unwilling, Runa.”
I laughed, grateful at the tease in his voice. “Was I that obvious?” Cuddling the fawn, noticing he’d already put on weight and size, I turned and stepped back toward the mountain of sticks.
