Chapter 11
“Thanks, Sarah. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Eva said as she moved to the door to the storage room. They had been restocking the canned jars of fruits and vegetables for the coming winter.
Sarah placed the last jar on the shelf, then turned toward her. “Eva, before you go, I-I just wanted to say how nice it’s been talking with you lately. You seem... different. More social than I’ve ever known you to be.”
Eva paused, her hand on the handle. Was she different? ”Maybe you would help me get dressed for the Harvest Celebration? I could help you with your hair.”
Sarah’s smile widened. “I’d like that very much. I’ll be there.”
Eva’s lips turned up as she moved out onto the bridge and made her way back to her room.
What was she doing?She was breaking all her rules. Never get too close...
But it was important Krieger fit in with the settlement. That’s why she had lunch with them all after the training session the other day. She shook her head. That was the only reason—wasn’t it?
Anticipation coursed through her veins as she hurried to her hut. She was eager to spend her evening with Krieger.
It had been three days since her argument with her father. He had gotten wind of the fight between Krieger and Derek and wanted to know why they weren’t getting along. Once her father had caught sight of her and Krieger being “a little too close,” he had even more questions.Questions she wasn’t prepared to answer, which made him even more angry.
Her father reminded her of what was at stake with the peace treaty and that her decision was needed soon. The council wanted to announce it the night of the Harvest Celebration. They thought the settlement could prepare for the brutal season better if they knew if there was a peace agreement or not.
“What are you going to do?” he had asked, wanting to know which way she was leaning.
She couldn’t answer him. If she said it out loud, it would make it real. And she just wasn’t ready for that.
If she agreed, her life would truly no longer be her own. She would not only be marrying her enemy but truly giving her life to the settlements, not just protecting them. Could she do this? For her people?
One thing had become crystal clear to her. She had a few precious days left before she had to give her answer, and she was going to spend them exactly how she wanted to. Wasn’t she allowed that much?If she was going to commit her life to a man she didn’t know—for a political agreement, no less—couldn’t she at least take tonight and make memories with the man of her choosing?Memories that filled her with joy, not dread. And Krieger, he made her feel happy.
After she entered her hut, she filled her dry sink with fresh water from the pitcher and peeled off her work clothes. She grabbed a cloth from her trunk and began to wash the dirt of the day away. As the cool cloth glided over her skin, she felt the words of her father echo in her ear.
“What are you going to do?”
How many times had he said that during a training session? Testing her, training her for every possible situation. This choice that she had to make—he hadn’t warned her, hadn’t prepared her for this. There was no training session on how to give over her life to an enemy she’d spent years fighting.
She dipped the cloth back into the chilled water, wrung out the excess, and set it aside. She took a deep breath, her hands gripping the edge of the small wooden table the dry sink sat atop as she recalled the first time she had bested her father. The first time she felt the impact of what being powerful meant.
Sweat trickled down her neck, and her muscles ached with the pull of exhaustion. She rested her weight on her right knee as her breath came hard and fast. The air was thick with the smell of wood and musk—she tasted the salt of her skin on her lips, but that wouldn’t distract her. Nothing would.
Her father leaned over her, his breath hot on her ear. “Eva, there will come a time when the unexpected will happen. You will be taken by surprise, outnumbered, and on your last leg, and your life, the life of your people, will hang in the balance, with no hope of survival.”
He stood, circling her—a predator cornering his prey.
“What are you going to do?” Silence stretched out between them as her heart hammered in her chest, the sound loud in her head. “What do you do?” His words were rough, clipped, unforgiving.
She curled her fingers around the smooth, hard wood of her dagger that lay on the ground at her feet. The threat was imminent, the tension hanging heavy in the air. She closed her eyes as she let her other senses take over. Time seemed to slow as she waited... and waited.
She could feel the heat of his body, indicating he was close, so close...
When the floorboard creaked under his shifting weight, her eyes flew open, and she moved with speed and whirled around. His arm was swinging, wood dagger in hand, but she ducked, sidestepping his advance.
He was ready for her counter, his large frame striding toward her. Using her smaller physique, she crouched down and tucked, somersaulting through his outstretched legs. With the grace of a ballerina, she twisted up behind him, her wooden blade wrapping around his throat.
His movements stilled as the faux weapon fell from his raised hand, and the corner of his lips turned up into a grin.
She pressed her head close to his. “Be the hope.”
Eva held that power, that hope for her people, in her hands. Wanting—no, scratch that— needing the feud to end and peace to reign. For her mother.. .
But tonight wasn’t about power, or feuds, or even the people of Everwood. Tonight was just about her and Krieger.She would let down her walls, let the joy and safety she felt with Krieger surround her. She would hold him close and make a memory she could recall for the rest of her life.
Then she would have to shut out these feelings that had crept beyond her crumbling walls, plaster that shit shut, and be the soldier her father had raised her to be. The warrior she chose to be.
She let out a deep breath, removed her outfit from her chest of drawers, and began to dress. She could be the hope of her people.
Love was never her path; it couldn’t be. That only brought pain—made her weak and vulnerable. She had to be strong if she was going to secure peace for the settlements.
Besides, you can’t give a heart away that has already been shattered into a million pieces.
This night with Krieger, she would cherish for the rest of her life—then she would have to let him go. Duty came first. Wasn’t that the best way? Can’t lose anyone else.
He would be better off without her, anyway. She was broken, existing only now for the protection of Everwood. Being close to her long-term—hell, he would cut himself on her sharp edges, and she couldn’t let him do that. She didn’t know how to be with someone. Keeping people at a distance had become a way of life, one she wasn’t sure she could let go of.
This was best for them both. Tonight, she would say goodbye to the first man who had made her feel anything since her mother’s death.
And then she would give her father her answer to the peace treaty, and her life would be changed forever.
Krieger was waiting for her at the stairwell just past the bridge. When she came into view, his gaze trailed over her from head to toe before settling back on her face. And Mother Earth help her, he bit his bottom lip. At the sight, her mouth went dry and her palms began to sweat. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea?
She adjusted the bag she had slung over her shoulder as a cool breeze swept along her path. His clean pine and sunshine scent enveloped her. She inhaled deeply, holding his intense stare. What was going through his head right now?
He pressed off the railing and took a step toward her, the tips of their boots touching as his body heat kissed the exposed skin on her neck.
His deep voice filled the silence. “Ready?”
It started as a quiver under her boots, a feeling that grew a moment later, shaking her to her core. Was her heart pounding so hard? Or had she been mistaken?
Dread settled in her gut as the realization set in that Mother Earth was rearing her ugly head. The floorboards vibrated, and a deep rumble erupted from the ground. Leaves and acorns fell around them—screams and a baby’s cry filled the settlement.
Eva reached for the railing behind Krieger to steady herself, but her foot caught the quaking boards beneath her and she tumbled into him.
Before she knew what was happening, his strong arms were encircling her as he twisted to take the brunt of the fall, landing hard on his back. He rolled them, her body now wedged between the floorboards and his frame. Large hands wrapped around her head, shielding her from the debris falling from the forest above.
As she clutched his shirt, he braced himself above her, careful not to hurt her with his weight. His eyes never left hers as the earth kept trembling around them. Glass shattered as a large branch came crashing into the roof of the dining hall, only feet from them. Wood splinters, glass, and leaves sprayed across the floor.
Krieger raised the edge of his coat to cover her face. “I’ve got you, Angel.”
Warmth filled her chest at his words. How many times had he said that to her now? How many times had he acted upon it—meant it?
Then, as if Mother Earth was done with her tantrum, the shock waves began to ease, only a tremor remaining. Krieger lowered his coat as he observed their surroundings. Her grip loosened on his shirt as he moved to stand. Once upright, he picked up her bag that had tumbled from her shoulder as she fell, then extended a hand to her.
The air was thick with the scent of fresh wood. Fine particles and leaves still floated to the floor beneath their feet. People were moving about now, assessing the damage.
Eva straightened her jacket. “Been a while since we felt a quake up here.”
“But it’s not uncommon?”
She shook her head. “No, unfortunately. But that one seemed... worse. Come, let’s see if anyone needs our help.”
Even now, men were moving to the downed branch and appraising the damage to the building. Overall, it was minor, and they could chop the branch up for usable wood.
They moved through the stairwell to the other floors, but nothing else seemed amiss besides the shaken residents.
As they rounded the bend to the other side of the settlement, Sarah came into view. “Hey, you both okay?”
“We’re good. Did you hear of any injuries or damage?” Eva asked, still surveying the buildings.
Sarah shook her head. “We heard a part of a tree took out a window at the food hall, but some of the men are already on it.”
Eva nodded. “Okay, we saw that, but that’s still good news. Krieger and I will check the ground floor. Sarah, why don’t you check on the rest of the crew?”
Keeping track of the safety of her crew was important, but seeing Derek after what had happened the other day, she just wasn’t ready for that. It would have to be a problem for another day.
Sarah smiled as she looked between Eva and Krieger. “Yeah, no problem. I’m sure everyone is fine. We’ve been through worse.”
Eva’s cheeks heated under Sarah’s scrutiny. “True, but better to make sure anyway.”
With one last nod, Sarah took off to check on the other members of the crew. Krieger and Eva moved to another flight of stairs and descended to the last level. Everwood was flooded with people checking on the animals and on each other, and sharing stories of where they were when the quake started.
“Eva, Krieger... you two okay?” Tucker Sanders strode to their side and placed a hand on Krieger’s shoulder.
“We are. Any issues down here?” Krieger asked as a goat went barreling past him, bleating.
“Just a bunch of gossiping busybodies. They will be talking about this for a month!”
Eva covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. “If everyone is okay, then there was something that we had to see to, isn’t that right, Krieger?”
“O-oh, yeah, very important. Catch you later, Tucker?”
Tucker patted Krieger’s shoulder. “Ahh, get out of here. Go enjoy the full moon. You know I will be at the pub tonight, making the most of it. All the crazies come out on nights like tonight.”
“You go easy on the drinks, Tucker, there is still a lot to do with the Harvest Celebration and winter prep. I’m gonna need your help tomorrow.” Eva said, with her commanding officer voice.
Tucker waved them off as Krieger and Eva moved through the crowd.
“This way.” She pointed to the back of the settlement, toward the edge of the fence, where a small shed stood.
The crowd had thinned, those around busy with other duties. She looked around, then eased the door open and stepped inside, motioning for him to join her.
“Where are we going? Does this have anything to do with the full moon Tucker just mentioned?” Krieger asked, ducking into the dark building.
Without answering, Eva fumbled with a latch and pressed her weight against the back of the shed. The back wall swung open and filled the dark area with the dying light of the day.
Eva stepped onto the ground and moved so Krieger could follow. As he gained his footing on the soft, leaf-covered forest floor, Eva watched as he took note of their surroundings. “Are we outside the wall?”
“Yes. Not many know of this secret passage. So, mum’s the word. The front gate is guarded, and you need permission to leave. This is easier.” Eva shut the makeshift door and started into the forest.
“You gonna tell me what this is about?”
With a half grin, she looked over her shoulder at him, and when they locked eyes, she winked and said, “You’ll see.”
Eva led the way through the forest as the setting sunlight reflected through the trees, all the while resisting the urge to look over at Krieger. Instead, she arranged the straps of her bag so one laid over each of her shoulders.
When he laced his fingers through hers, she gasped at the sudden contact. Her eyes shot to his.
“I figure outside the walls is safe to do this? Derek isn’t in sight, or your father, for that matter... so, is this okay?”
A smile played at her lips as her stomach fluttered, and her heart hammered in her chest. With slow movements, she nodded and said, “Yes.”
Birds above them swooped from branch to branch, their evening songs filling the air. Their boots kicked up the forest floor as they made their way through the brush.
“It’s just over here.” Eva stepped over a downed log and pushed past a bush.
The terrain changed from leafy soil to hard rock. The stone-covered ground left the canopy of the trees, opening to a cliff edge.
Krieger slowed his steps and let his hand fall away from hers as he beheld the landscape. Eva studied him, and Mother Earth, it shouldn’t have been possible, but in this evening light, he was even better looking.
She reluctantly let her eyes drift from him to the horizon. “You’re looking at some of our hunting grounds. My parents used to bring me here on the nights there was a full moon. Isn’t it beautiful?”
He was silent for several long moments, the birds’ songs and the rustling of squirrels the only sound hanging between them. She scanned the tree-covered rolling hills, the distant setting sun wedged between the skyline, and the peaks of snowcapped mountains.
Taking a deep breath, she inhaled the crisp, earthy musk of pine and decaying leaves, then turned her attention back to Krieger.
His eyes were on her, his lips parted as their gazes met. He reached out and cupped the side of her face. “I’ve never seen anything quite as stunning.”
Her insides squeezed at his words. Was she even breathing?
A predatory howl on the wind drew their attention to the tree line.
She removed her bag from her shoulder, cleared her throat, and said, “We should start a fire, it will keep animals at bay.”
He nodded and moved to the edge of the woods to collect kindling. “What’s in the bag?” Krieger addressed her over his shoulder.
After she knelt beside a downed log, she emptied the contents. “Just a few things I thought we might need.” She removed a rolled blanket and her ferro rod to start a fire, then pulled out a jar filled with a dark red liquid. “And something I thought we might want,” she said as she shook the container.
His lips widened into a smile as he made his way back to her to arrange the wood and dry grass. She used the rod to spark a flame and blew on it until it began to smolder. The light spread, the kindling crackling as the fire took hold.
Krieger moved to the log and rested his back against it. The sun had nearly set now, the last light of the day extinguished, and the stars burned brighter as the darkness overtook the sky. The full moon would come into view soon.
Eva held her hand above the flame, the warmth a welcomed delight this time of year. Krieger picked up the rolled blanket and unfolded it, offering her to join him. She eased next to him and arranged the fabric around her body. Once she was settled, she grabbed and unscrewed the top of the jar, took a long pull of the ruby liquid, then turned to him.
“Here, I think you’ll like it. It’s Tucker’s famous wine.”
He accepted the glass from her, and she watched as he drank deeply. A bead of wine escaped his lips, and she had to force herself not to reach for it.
“You got a little something, here.” She pointed to the corner of her mouth.
Eva couldn’t help but to watch as his tongue removed the excess wine from his lips, and she swore her heart stopped beating. To be that droplet...
After he took another drink, he handed her the jar of wine. “You’re right, it is delicious.”
A smile played on her lips as she put the top back on, and after she set it beside them, he put his arm around her shoulders, tucking her against the warmth of his side.
She closed her eyes just for a moment as she absorbed this feeling. Safe, protected, cared for.
For years now, she had to be strong, take the lead, be in charge. But with Krieger... He was a man she could truly rely on. Even trust.
He rubbed her arm and asked, “Are you warm enough?”
As she stared into the fire, filled with contentment, she nodded.
“So, that conversation with your father the other day, I couldn’t help overhearing, what does ausl?nder mean? He seemed to be saying it a lot.”
She tried to muffle the laugh that escaped her. “You picked up on that?”
“Well, yeah, I was worried. He didn’t look happy.”
“Ausl?nder is German for outlander, it means foreigner.” She turned in his arms to better see his face and pointed to his chest. “You.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Me?”
“He believed you could still be in earshot, so he didn’t use your name. But he thought—” She paused, not knowing if she should tell him.
“What did he think, Eva?”
She released a heavy sigh. “My father thinks there is something going on between us.”
Her eyes bored into his chest, afraid to see what his gaze held. Nervous if he pressed her, she would tell him about the peace treaty and ruin this night with him.
He put his finger under her chin, lifting it to tilt her face up. “Your father is a perceptive man.”
Her heart was hammering in her chest so loud. Could he hear it?
With slow motions, he leaned toward her. Heat coiled in her abdomen as her eyes dropped to his lips. His arm tightened around her, bringing her closer to his chest as she inhaled his pine and completely male scent, which was all his own. One she swore she would remember for the rest of her life.
When had she fallen for him? What words and events laid a foundation for these... feelings? This once attraction had turned into more for her—so much more. The moment of their inception, she didn’t know—didn’t care. Eva threaded her hand through his hair as her thumb caressed the side of his cheek. She needed him to know—wanted to show him—how much he meant to her. Yet, she had never let herself be this intimate with another soul, and her inexperience caused her to tremble—to question her every move.
Mustering her courage, she dared to meet his intense, questioning stare. Is this okay?
Couldn’t he tell how much she wanted him? But if he needed her consent, then she would give it.
She licked her lips and whispered, “Kiss me.”
His eyes dilated as his mouth crashed into hers. His breath was heavy with the scent of the sweet wine as his lips moved against hers. She became lightheaded. From the wine? Or him? It didn’t matter. The only thing that was important, in this moment, was getting closer to him.
He wrapped his arms around her, the back of his hand entangling roughly in her hair. She opened for him, allowing his tongue to find hers. A shiver swept through her as her heart beat even faster in her chest. Was everyone’s first kiss this perfect?
The need to wrap around him, like the bittersweet vines that wound around the trunks of the forest trees, consumed her. To claim him as her own and never let go would be a dream she would never want to wake up from.
Over and over, his lips claimed her, and she met his desire with a fervor that should have frightened her. His tongue was soft yet demanding. Her toes curled as an ache settled deep in her belly.
She pulled back, her breaths coming fast as their eyes locked. He looked like a man come undone. “Do you know what Krieger means?” She didn’t know why, but it seemed important to tell him now.
His head tilted to the side as he regarded her. “No, but you said it was something important to you.”
“After my mom—” She swallowed hard, her throat becoming tight. “Well, I became a soldier, a survivor—to protect my people and myself. When you were injured and burning with fever, I didn’t think you were going to make it. But then you did.” She caressed his hard chest. “You have a strong will to survive—like me. So, I thought your name should reflect that. Krieger is German for warrior.”
He smoothed her hair. “Angel...” His lips were tender as they met hers, caressing her sensitive flesh.
When the cool wind kicked up and the fire crackled beside them, he broke their contact. Mother Earth, she mourned the loss of his perfect lips already.
The breeze had caused a strand of his hair to fall onto his forehead, and the sight made her breath catch in her throat. Would she ever get used to his utter beauty?
He pointed over her shoulder and said, “Look.”
She turned in his arms, her eyes locking on the glowing moon that had risen high in the sky. In this moment, she wished she could stop time, just for a little while, and be the only two people left in the world.
No apocalypse, no feud with Stone Haven, no brooding Derek—and definitely no peace treaty that required her to give up her free will and marry her enemy.
Krieger was a man she could lose herself to. One who she would be willing to, if the circumstances were different.
But she couldn’t think of that. Here and now, it was her with him—alone under a full moon by a crackling fire. She didn’t know she was capable of feeling this—of wanting someone this much—and the way he was looking at her right now told her he understood the sentiment.
As she turned back to him, she took his face in her hand. “What have you done to me?”
He smiled and gently pressed his lips on her temple, her cheek, then the tip of her nose. Slowly, he eased his thumb over her bottom lip before moving to cusp the back of her neck. “My angel. . .”
She didn’t know who moved first, but their bodies came together in a deep, passionate kiss she wished would never end. And as he laid her back onto the blanket, with the weight of his large frame hovering over her and the roughness of his callous fingers gliding along her soft skin, the answer to her question became clear.
He had irrecoverably destroyed her.