Chapter 37
Chapter thirty-seven
“Glad to see you worked things out.” Kaelith looked her over, a slow, knowing smirk creeping across his face. “Though it looks like things got a little...messy.”
His dark tunic fit snug against his lean frame, carrying the faint scent of steel and earth.
Rynna’s own clothes were streaked with mud, her shirt torn from the night’s fight, and her hair matted from the rain and dried blood.
Rynna tensed, but before she could react, his hand reached out and plucked a twig from her tangled hair.
He took his time, flicking it aside before his thumb ghosted over her cheek, wiping a smudge of mud from her face.
By the time she had woken that morning and carefully disentangled herself from Fenn, who still lay slumped against the fence, the rain had stopped. The tent flaps rustled softly in the morning breeze, and outside, the faint clang of weapons being cleaned sounded through the camp.
They’d agreed to meet back at the command tent after breakfast, and with that, she had left in search of Kaelith, assuming he’d taken her pack and settled wherever the quartermaster had assigned them.
Now, standing before him, mud-streaked and weary, she was not sure how he would react.
Rynna crossed her arms, letting out a huff of air, sending a few loose strands of her dark brown hair fluttering out of her eyes. “You’re not...upset?”
“Pet. I meant what I said yesterday.” Kaelith’s smile widened as he turned to rummage through her pack, pulling out a clean shirt. “Your heart cleaves to him, even as it warms to me once more. Being angry about it serves no purpose other than to push you away.”
“You always were a cold, straightforward bastard,” she murmured, but there was no bite behind it.
“Same as you.” He tilted his head as he reached for a damp towel hanging on their makeshift sink. “Though I’d say Fenn’s influence has made you a touch more... hysterical in your feelings. Your response to our little predicament with the dead Hollow-born was rather...extreme.”
“And throwing yourself in front of a horde of zombies with your Source power locked down on the off chance I knew the girl wasn’t hysterical?” Rynna raised an eyebrow.
Kaelith moved closer, his steps unhurried, and carefully began peeling away the tattered remains of her shirt, his fingers brushing her skin as the fabric slipped from her shoulders. “Seems life has changed us both.”
He dipped the cloth into the water again, and with slow, precise strokes, he wiped the dirt and dried blood from her chest, revealing a fresh bruise blossoming across her ribs where Fenn’s kick had landed. He took her hands next, inspecting them before gently plucking splinters from her fingertips.
“Looks like the wolf likes to play rough.” His voice dropped to a hushed tone laced with dark amusement. “Lucky girl.”
“Kae...” This was strange, intimate in a way that caught her off guard, but she couldn’t deny the heat radiating from him, a slow burn that spread through the air between them as he continued his ministrations.
“And here I was worried,” he leaned in close, “that the hero might not be meeting...your baser needs.” His lips hovered just above her skin, his nose skimming over the curve of her throat, inhaling her scent.
“Kae...” Her voice wavered at the wet flick of his tongue as it grazed down the back of her ear and along her neck. “We need to get back to the command tent.”
But despite her words, her head tilted, her body betraying her as she leaned into him, nuzzling against his cheek.
“No breakfast?” His lips hovered dangerously close to hers.
For fuck’s sake, Rynna. Get it together. He’s messing with you.
“You are upset, you snake.” She let out a soft laugh, pushing him back with a firm shove. “And maybe even a little hysterical, coming on that strong here and now.”
Kaelith grinned, unbothered. If anything, it only seemed to amuse him more.
“I may be a little riled up, but can you blame me?” His smile widened, even as he put on a mock pout. “You smell like sex and another man. And I’ve been so good this last week. Always watched. Always restrained.”
Rynna folded her arms as she arched an eyebrow, remembering the dreams he had sent her. “You think you’ve been on good behavior?”
“I’ve changed.” He took a step back, letting his eyes linger. “But not that much.”
“Hmmm.” She grabbed the shirt from his hands, slipping it over her shoulders, much to his obvious disappointment. “And thank the stars for that. Any more change, and I’d think you were a changeling. Or maybe an alien double.”
Kaelith let out a low, rumbling purr. “I love it when you say things that make no sense. Probably some strange reference from a different life.”
“Huh?” Rynna blinked. Oh yeah. This world doesn’t have those things, does it?
He moved closer and slid his arms around her waist, pulling her gently to him, resting his chin on her shoulder. “It shows you’re still you,” he spoke softly. “And willing to let me see her, even after everything I’ve done.”
Rynna exhaled slowly and wrapped her arms around him, her chin naturally finding its place on his shoulder, too. “Let’s just get through this war, okay?”
For a moment, he said nothing, and only the steady rhythm of his heart thrummed softly against her breast. “What if we win, live to see another day, and then you disappear again? Off on some new Mission?”
She didn’t have an answer for that.
“Will I have to become an even greater monster than I was? Threaten this entire world to get you back?”
“No.” Her grip tightened around him. “I’ll find a way to stay. I won’t do that to you again.”
She had no idea how she would keep that promise, but she would. I’ll be the monster before I let him suffer like that again.
“Of course.” Kaelith pulled away, stretching his arms. “Well, we should probably get going. I hear rat’s on the menu for breakfast.”
“Rat,” she repeated, blinking. Back to business, then. Thank goodness.
“Yesssss,” he hissed, rubbing his hands together with exaggerated delight, flashing a hint of fang. “One of my favorites.”
“Right...” Rynna opened her mouth, then closed it again, uncertain whether he was serious or not. “Well, I’m sure it’s...delicious. Let’s just hope they’re on a stick, at least.”
“Rynna! We may be in an army garrison, but the Hollow-born here are not savages! My gods, woman.”
Her mouth quirked up as she stepped out of the tent, the cool morning air grazing her skin. This is...nice.
“He’s close, but I can’t quite pin him down,” Calli muttered, her hands resting on her hips as she studied the map spread out before her.
“Can you at least give us a general area? We could send scouts,” Henry suggested, his eyes following the lines she traced on the map.
Calli raised her hand, pointing to a section west of their position, but before she could elaborate, Fenn cut in.
“It’s too dangerous to send scouts without more specific information.”
“I’ll go,” Arthur offered immediately, stepping forward. “We won’t last much longer sitting around. It’s worth the risk.”
“No.” Fenn’s hand landed on the young man’s shoulder. “I’ll go.”
“You can’t be serious.” The older Hollow-born scoffed. “You’re too important to go outside the wall alone.”
“He’s right, Commander. Let me handle it,” Arthur agreed.
Fenn’s gaze hardened. “Every one of us is too important to just throw away. I’m the most likely to get in and out unnoticed.”
“Commander...” Henry began.
“End of discussion,” Fenn cut him off, raising a hand to silence any further argument.
“Sir...” Calli’s voice wavered as she pressed her fingers to her temple, closing her eyes in concentration.
“But—” The old man grunted, unwilling to let it go.
“Sir!” Calli’s voice shot through the tent, as the Source swirled around her, her hand slamming down on the map.
“What’s wrong?” Rynna rushed forward, catching Calli just as her body dipped, her legs buckling.
The girl’s eyes snapped open, the churning fog within them a sign of the farseeing technique she shared with the other seers. The energy pulsed through her, a web of Source power linking her mind to the distant figures on the battlefield.
“There!” she gasped, pointing to a spot on the map.
“Skarn?” Arthur leaned in, his nose practically touching the map as he studied where her hand rested.
“No.” Calli steadied herself. “Maybe. It’s hard to tell.”
Henry rolled his eyes, muttering, “Far-seers.”
“But,” Calli interrupted, her hand moving south on the map. “There’s a large group of civilians hiding here.” She followed the path further south. “And a horde of the dead here. They’ll reach the civilians by nightfall.”
Henry crossed his arms, skeptical. “And you just ‘saw’ this, just like that?”
“I’m linked with the other far-seers in the camp.” Calli waved her hands as she tried to explain. “It’s like...being on a constant patrol. We bolster each other’s abilities to keep it going, and the visions get shared between us instantly.”
“Your father invented the technique, right?” Fenn asked.
“Yes, Commander.” Calli’s chest puffed slightly, her back straightening.
Fenn gave a brief nod, then turned his attention back to the map.
“Here?” He paused, thinking. “The dead move faster than we do. They’ll reach the civilians before nightfall.
We need to leave immediately.” He looked up at Arthur and Henry.
“Volunteers only. Find me ten willing in the next twenty minutes. I’ll lead them. ”
“Commander—” Arthur began, but Fenn cut him off.
“Not including the two of you.” Fenn shook his head firmly. “If I fall, you need to lead the retreat back to Pulse Reach.”
Arthur’s jaw tightened as he glanced at Henry, who gave a slow, resigned nod. “Yes, Commander.” They bowed in unison and exited the tent.
Fenn turned back to the map, his finger tracing the best route. He spoke softly, calculating their chances.
“Obviously, I’m coming with you.” Rynna’s voice cut through the silence. She crossed her arms and planted her feet.