“Thank you.” I take the food from her, the aroma of the bread making my mouth water.
“You’re welcome.” She gives me a gentle smile before exiting the tent and leaving me alone to eat.
As I savor the food, my mind drifts back to Hector and the way he kissed me. It wasn’t enough. My body needs more.Ineed more.
When I finish eating, I lie down on the mattress, my thoughts consumed by him. I close my eyes and remember the feel of his touch, the sound of his voice, the way he looks at me. Really looks.
Earlier, he had been gracious, but nothing else. I grab a blanket and tug it to my chest. Maybe he won’t forgive me this time. Maybe there will always be this enormous wall between us again. A wall he will never allow me to rip down.
How I want to tear it down. How I want to walk back to that tent and beg his forgiveness for leaving without saying goodbye. Because I know that as much as I cannot stand the distance between us, I had to renew myself or the darkness would have separated us permanently. Surely, he knows that too.
Still, six months have passed for him. Six months during which he could have started to regret binding himself to me.
It’s impossible to sleep, knowing he’s so close, yet so far away. I could step from this tent, walk back to him, and throw my arms around him. Maybe then some of his ice would melt.
Stubbornness keeps me from acting on it. If he doesn’t want me, I will not force myself on him. Nor will I beg for his touch.
Well, I might beg.
ChapterTwenty-Three
The same woman fetches me the following morning and brings me to a river, where she provides herbs for me to bathe with. I sink into the water, allowing it to soothe my muscles.
I spot those familiar black crows in the nearby tree as my thoughts shift to Hector again and to what he might be planning with his army. Is he at war with the Hematites? He’ll need power and might to overtake them and their fire magic.
After I finish washing, I climb from the stream. The woman hands me a drying cloth and a clean surcoat, chemise, and pants.
I hurry into the clothes and let out a sigh at the softness against my skin. These clothes are better than everything I stole when I was in Rock Mountain.
Instead of leading me to Hector, the woman leads me back to the tent I was in before, then she leaves me all alone.I sit on the bed and study the tent. It’s surprisingly spacious, with enough room for a bed, a washing stand, two chairs, and an intricately carved wooden chest.
I scan the space and stop at the entrance where Hector stands. His broad shoulders fill the entrance, and his eyes trace over me, lingering long enough to heat my skin.
“I thought you planned to stay away from me.” My words come out soft, raw.
“Did you think that was possible?” He allows the flap to settle into place as he steps further into the tent.
My pulse thrashes as I resist the powerful urge to jump to my feet and throw my arms around him.
“You sent me away from you.” The accusation burns my tongue.
“You looked exhausted.”
“Hector...”
“Sol...”
“You’re avoiding everything.” I wrap my arms around my body, trying to not tremble, to not fall apart.
“Would you prefer I yell at you?”
“I would prefer to know where you stand.”
He sinks his fingers into his weapon belt. “I don’t know where I stand, Sol. I have done everything in my power to find you. I even sent teams of men to search for someone who could cast magic like Everly. Of course, they never found anyone.”
“I’m sorry,” the words burst out of me.
Pain glints behind his eyes, branding my heart with guilt. “You didn’t even say goodbye.”
