Chapter Eight
“We can hide here for a while.”
The pile of lumber didn’t look like much, but based on my scanning of the area, it was a high traffic place with very little to complain about.
“Shouldn’t we hide somewhere more…discreet?”
The pile of lumber sat next to trees that hadn’t met the same fate and was nearly covered by moss and dead leaves. The front of it gave off the appearance of an abandoned logging camp—not that such places existed around here anymore.
“Now it just sounds like you’re trying to get me somewhere by myself,” I pointed out.
“Oh, come on! Can’t a man be alone with his mate?” His eyes were sparkling, and I was once again reminded of his average, yet extremely mesmerizing, appearance. How did such a man even stumble into this realm?
I glared at him before giving a firm, “No. A high traffic area means our trackings will be harder to pick up for the Realm Guard. We aren’t running from everyone; we’re only running from him.
If I were hiding from all, I’d seek a discreet place where no one would chance finding me.
It isn’t as though anyone knows we ran.”
“That logic appears to make sense, actually.”
“Don’t act so surprised.”
Walking behind the stack of lumber, I set my bag down and gently eased Dewdrop onto the ground next to it.
“Won’t she run away?” Aleixo asked, taking a few steps back.
What an odd thing to say.
“Run away? From what?”
“From you? From us?”
“Why on earth would she run away from me? We’re practically best friends. We’ve been together for years.”
“Right… How dare I ask a question about a tarantula sticking around an elf?” Sarcasm dripped from his voice, but there wasn’t much for me to respond with.
Except one thing.
“Jumping spider,” I corrected. “She’s a jumping spider.”
“In our world, anything that size is a tarantula.”
“That’s nice.” I brushed off his words. “There doesn’t appear to be a hole of any type back here to burrow into.”
“I’m sorry, were you expecting there to be a cave system in this pile of old wood?”
“Well, I had thought it, so I was certain something would happen, but perhaps I hadn’t given it enough time.
” Ignoring the crinkles on his forehead, I turned to Dewdrop.
“Darling, would you mind preparing something nice and cozy for our night? This burrow should open soon enough. Aleixo and I will find some food.”
“A burrow… Opening?” he questioned. “Oh, never mind… I thought we brought food.”
Honestly, this man had no survival skills, nothing at all. With a sigh bigger than the Realm Guard’s ego, I rubbed my forehead. “I brought non-perishables for when food is scarce. This morning, we find our own food. We will save the food in the bag for another time.”
“Oh… That’s very…”
“Logical? Yes, well, that happens here sometimes.”
We walked off, and I left Dewdrop to get her own work done without interruptions.
Aleixo wouldn’t stop talking about some incident he once had in his world.
Some kind of spider infestation and how he couldn’t share a room with a spider?
I suppose he would need to sleep outside, then.
Of course, there was nothing wrong with a night under the stars, but I wasn’t sure he would take to it, what with the other things he could happen upon.