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I shake my head, “I’m fine. Just fatigued.”
He levels me with an assessing gaze, scanning my body as if it will tell him my ailments like he’s some kind of x-ray machine and frowns.
“Come sit for a few minutes then, we have time.” he says, gesturing to a fallen tree we passed only a few seconds ago.
The notion is more than tempting as I turn and pain lances through my body, originating in my abdomen.
Within seconds, Darian is at my side searching my face.
I didn’t realize I had even made a sound.
“What is it?” he asks, concern painted across his handsome features as his eyes drop to my hand covering my stomach.
Our gazes lock, and I don’t need to speak it out loud as his face becomes determined.
“Shit. Can you point us in the right direction?” he asks, and I nod, jutting my index finger toward the forest where we were headed.
My limbs grow increasingly heavier, as if gravity itself drags them to the ground as we draw nearer to the amulet. Each breath comes in more strained than the last as my lungs can’t seem to fill enough.
We finally pause, granting me another chance to rest as my knees tremble beneath my weight and threaten to give way. We can hardly make it more than a few feet before our next pause, and it feels like it will be an eternity by the time we get the amulet.
Within an instant Darian is by my side, his arm wrapping around my shoulder and with one motion he cradles me in his arms as he moves toward our destination.
We continue at a brisk pace, and while Darian shows no signs of fatigue, my grasp on his arm tightens into a vice-like grip with each step as we approach the location.
A small, weathered log cabin covered in moss and creeping vines comes into view and Darian moves toward without instruction. Though the roof seems intact, various plant life sprouts from its surface, camouflaging it with the forest surroundings. Peering through the open entryway as the sole entrance, Darian gingerly sets me on the ground.
He says nothing as he glances between Val and me before venturing inside, disappearing beyond view and the minutes stretch on in silence.
My heart slowly beats faster with his absence, and I’m about to call out as he emerges from the entryway grasping the amulet inthe palm of his hand.
The rusted chain falls to the ground, discarded, and I gently lift the piece from his grasp. The globe is covered in dirt and moss, but contained inside is a single delicate rose floating gracefully amongst a small pool of liquid, shimmering against the faint light.
Exhaling a breath, my shoulders sag as I unclasp the chain from around my neck, adding the rose amulet to the necklace before clasping it back on and tucking it safely into my shirt.
Darian glances up at the canopy above, “We should be able to hike a few hours back before dark.”
Agreeing with a nod, my limbs still shaky but no longer weighed down by lead as we retrace our steps through thedense terrain.
Chapter 37
As the forest darkens, we find a suitable location to pitch the tent while I gather tinder and firewood to ward off the evening chill.
I flick the lighter in the center repeatedly until it ignites. The wood darkens, the flame growing and elongating to reach the top. The larger slabs begin to catch, sending a steady stream of smoke into the air.
Shifting my weight to settle in cross-legged, my gaze is fixated on the amber glow of the fire as Darian takes a seat beside me.
I’m acutely aware of how close we are as he takes a piece of jerky before passing the bag to me. Our arms and fingers brush against each other, the contact sending butterflies through my body as I grasp the bag, and my heart frantically thrums loudly in my chest.
“Lara?” Darian’s baritone voice is soft, and I blink before glancing at him.
Meeting his gaze was a mistake.
I can feel the blood rush to my cheeks as our eyes lock. His dimples are on display with his smile, bathed in the warm, flickering glow of the fire.
He looks incredibly attractive, almost painfully so.
“Hmm?” My barely audible voice cracks.
