"It always is." Caden released Eva, looking at Jane. "Are you going to be alright?"
The Anateri lifted her head. "Yes. We always knew one of us might fall in the line of our duties."
Caden's nod was sympathetic. This loss would hurt. As did any loss.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to stay with him until the end," Jane said, her voice sounding tight.
"Of course," Caden said, taking Eva's hand and leading her away.
She let him, casting one last look over her shoulder at Jane and Drake. Try as she might, guilt and regret dragged at her.
It would be a long time before she forgot this—if she ever did.
At sunset the pyres were lit, their warm light lasting long into the night as the Trateri celebrated the lives and deaths of those they'd lost.
It was a loud affair that spoke of both happiness for the time they’d shared and sadness for the dead's departure. The ceremony would continue as long as the funeral pyres burned.
Tomorrow they'd set off for the herd lands, but tonight was about the people they'd lost. A time for remembrance.
Eva moved along the outskirts of the camp, keeping her distance from the fires. She was in a weird place in her mind. Happy she'd survived but still trying to process the guilt of Drake's death.
Movement in the darkness ahead caused Eva to pause as Chirron yanked his arm out of Van's hold. Eva debated whether she should interfere. As irritated as Chirron looked, she wasn't seeing violence.
There was patience on Van's face as he tried to reason with the other.
Eva's decision would be helped if she knew whether the two were friends or enemies. Sometimes it was hard to tell.
"I wouldn't," Gawain said as Eva started forward.
Gawain appeared out of the darkness as a slap sounded in the air.
Eva glanced back to find Van's face turned to the side from the force of the hit. He touched his tongue to the cut in his lip as he slowly glanced back at Chirron, a predatory look on his face.
Rather than upset, his expression was anticipatory. There was a prowl in his steps as he closed in on Chirron.
The healer stumbled backward before recovering his balance, lifting his chin at Lion Clan's leader in challenge.
"Protest all you want, but you're going to rest. I'm not going to watch you kill yourself," Van informed Chirron. "Just for that slap, you're also going to eat. I don't want to hear another word about how I don't have the right."
They both glared.
Then they started for each other at the same time, coming together in an embrace as their lips clung to each other's with a passion that almost made Eva blush.
After several seconds locked together, Van dipped, sweeping Chirron into his arms and striding away.
"Told you," Gawain said.
Eva shook her head, still not quite believing what she'd seen. "I thought they hated each other."
Gawain hummed. "Sometimes I think they do. There are feelings between them, but there's also a fundamental difference in their priorities. It's a barrier neither is willing to compromise on and so they remain stuck. Yearning for the other but not quite willing to set down their shields."
Eva stared at Gawain.
Seeing her look, he smiled. "Their story is an old one. It goes all the way back to their childhood. Chirron was in line to be the next clan leader when he gave it all up to become a healer. Van never forgave him. To him, Chirron threw away something precious to follow a path their clan considers weak."
"Chirron's not weak," Eva defended.
"No. That man is probably deadlier than all of us—your commander included," Gawain admitted.
Eva was quiet as she stared at the spot where they'd just been. "It seems like a waste."
"You're not wrong," Gawain admitted as they began walking again. "Everyone sees it except them."
They lapsed into silence. Gawain's presence unexpectedly peaceful.
"This place is so different from our home." Gawain's gaze lingered on the dark shapes of the mountains framed by a starry sky.
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Eva asked.
Gawain drew his attention from the scenery. "I haven't decided yet."
Eva watched him for a moment. "Something tells me you suit this place."
They had a lot in common. Both presented one façade to the eye when there was so much more happening in the places they hid from the world.
She could see why Caden was so cautious of this man. He was the type you'd never see coming. Despite that, Eva didn't think he meant her or them any harm.
The opposite in fact.
It was like he was searching for something. She didn't know. Maybe he didn't either.
"Maybe," Gawain said, moving away from Eva. "Either way, I'm glad I came."
Eva watched as he disappeared into the darkness in much the same way Van had.
"I like him," Eva said as Caden joined her. "And I didn't expect to."
"He's complicated."
Eva shifted to look up at him. "And you don't like complicated."
Caden's warm gaze met hers. "If I didn't like complicated, I would never have fallen for you."
"Me?" Eva shook her head. "I'm not complicated. I'm just Eva."
Caden threw his head back on a laugh before bending down to steal a kiss from her. When he drew back, his eyes were dark with desire. "Whatever you are, you're mine."
Eva looped her arms around his neck as she lifted her face to his. "I wouldn't mind you demonstrating just how much of yours I am."
Caden's expression was one of a man caught on the precipice of desire. Eva giggled as he took her hand leading her into the darkness.
twenty-six
A week later, Eva and a few others reached the bowl.
Sebastian and several of the Kyren had shown up a few days ago to transport Eva and their wounded the rest of the way, saying the path would be too difficult otherwise.
Privately, Eva thought their motivations had more to do with the fact they were simply impatient and tired of waiting for the Trateri to reach the bowl.
Whatever their reasons, Eva was happy to take them up on their offer.
Sebastian and the others had assured her there were passages that would allow the horses to reach the bowl, but even they weren't without their pitfalls. Travel would have been slow, forcing several stops as they negotiated the steep terrain.
Flying was far easier and let the rest of the group set their own pace.
As Sebastian approached the ground, Eva caught sight of a tall man standing in the middle of the field with his arms folded across his chest. His expression was impatient.
"It's about time you came back," Phillip called.
With everything that had happened, Eva had almost forgotten about him—and the fact she'd left him in the Kyren's herd lands.
Phillip watched her dismount. "Next time you decide to abandon me, maybe give a little warning. I had no way to leave this place and the winged monsters were no help."
Phillip glared at the Kyren youths standing nearby.
The angry two-legger made a lot of funny noises when we saved him from the cliff he was stuck on, the gray Kyren from her previous visit told Eva.