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“Don’t do that. Don’t minimize it. You saved my life. You were a warrior.”
My chest warmed. A warrior.
“I couldn’t just leave you there. Besides, you were a hero. That boy’s mother has been visiting every day, hoping to thank you.”
He waved that away. “You look tired.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m fine.”
“Come closer.”
His eyes were heavy-lidded. It wouldn’t be long before he fell back asleep, his body desperately needing the rest to recover from his healing.
But it was as if my legs were moving without my control as I stepped next to his bed.
He took my hand. I almost gasped at the heat of his skin. “Are you running a fever?”
“No.”
“Demos—”
“Quiet.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but he was pulling my hand close to his face. He pressed a gentle kiss to my palm. “Thank you.”
My mouth had gone dry, and my heart thundered so hard, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he could hear it.
“You’re welcome.”
“Next time I tell you to run, you run.”
And he had to ruin it. I yanked my hand from his. He was still weak enough that he couldn’t fight me on it, and his hand dropped to the bed, his eyelids drooping until they were almost closed.
He sighed, losing the battle against sleep. I pressed the back of my hand to his forehead, checking for fever. Despite my best intentions, I found myself gently running my hands through his hair.
His mouth curved. “I knew you wanted me.”
He hadn’t been asleep. My cheeks blazed, and I pulled my hand away. He let out a rough sound of want, but his eyes remained closed.
Turning, I forced myself to leave him to sleep. He was alive. That was all that mattered.
Over the next few days, with Demos and Tibris both confined to their tents, I helped with the human healers whenever possible, boiling water, bringing food, and taking orders from just about anyone. Not only did it mean I was actually doing something, but it gave me free rein to wander the camp. Every few hours, I’d catch a glimpse of Vynthar, strolling among the training warriors, delicately eating off a plate someone had offered him, or sitting as still as a sleepy house cat while the children petted him with sticky hands.
I’d shaken my head at the sight of him with the children. While several parents watched closely, no one had seemed alarmed by the huge monster in their midst.
I learned the camp’s schedule, the times the rebels hunted and where their sentries were stationed. Within days, I could have snuck Demos, Tibris, and myself out of the camp at any time—provided Demos was able to walk.
But that wasn’t what I wanted. At least not yet.
I’d received a message from Prisca. They were going to work with the Pirate Queen, before turning their attention to the barrier. I sent a message back––warning them about Regner’s creatures and letting them know what had happened with Tibris and Demos.
Just the thought of them all attempting to take down the barrier made my tongue itch, my skin turning chilled. I wanted to be there, helping. But Demos wasn’t able to travel, and by the time we reached the front, it would likely be too late.
Still, Herne didn’t need to know that.
The camp leader worked from dawn to dusk. I’d expected him to spend his time barking orders, and while he definitely did that, he also checked on the wounded, helped the hunters—many of whom had been wounded in the fight—and even spent time with the children. Each day, when he thought no one was paying attention, he snuck into Tibris’s tent and stayed for several long minutes.
It took me an entire day of shadowing him before I was finally able to get close enough to get his attention. Perhaps now, he would be willing to think logically.
