Van's expression darkened. "What's that supposed to mean?"
The healer ignored the clan leader to give Eva a beautiful smile that held warmth and kindness. His eyes were lined with black, making them even more expressive.
He bowed his head to Eva. "Lady tagalong, thank you for giving me an experience I'll remember to my dying day. I can only hope our presence here doesn't inconvenience you too much."
His words threw Eva off balance. All she could manage as a response was an awkward acknowledgment.
"Chirron?" Van frowned as the healer took his leave. "Hey, Chirron? What did you mean?"
Chirron didn't answer, sliding between the tents and disappearing.
Van's mouth closed as he stared after the man. "What just happened?"
"You got insulted," Ghost said, raising his eyebrows as if to ask if he was really so stupid he didn't realize that.
Van sent him a fulminating look. "I know that. I'm not an idiot."
The clan leader stalked away before Ghost could respond. With his departure, the rest of the Trateri dispersed, filtering back into camp. Gawain and the others who'd been watching from the sidelines followed. Only a few brave souls remained, the direction of their gazes telling Eva they wouldn't leave until Sebastian did.
Ghost made a disgusted sound and gave a full-bodied shiver as he watched Van go. "I don't know how Caden does it. These people are awful. If it was up to me, I'd murder them and be done with it."
That's all she needed. For Ghost to go on a rampage and earn her more enemies.
"What?" Ghost asked at her stare.
"If that's how you feel, I am grateful you found it in yourself to refrain."
Ghost's smile was sharp. "Anything for you, Lady Tagalong. I live to fulfill expectations and make your life easier."
See. This was why people underestimated Ghost. His crazy was well hidden.
"Thanks," Eva said in a dry voice.
"Anytime." Ghost nudged Eva with his shoulder, sending her a roguish look. "You could always repay me by putting in a good word with the chestnut Kyren."
"Is that all?"
"Never thought when I courted someone, they'd have four legs and wings," Ghost mused. "Always thought they'd have a pretty smile and a dirty mind."
Theo was right. His brain is broken.
"I'm with you there," Eva told Sebastian, not taking her gaze off Ghost.
Then again, sometimes crazy was exactly what you needed. The Kyren were a stubborn lot. Nearly as stubborn as the Trateri. If anyone could batter their defenses into rubble, it would be Ghost.
"I'm not sure any word I put in for you will help," Eva told Ghost.
He shrugged, ambling toward camp. "No matter. I've got my ways. I'll wear him down, eventually."
"You do that."
Theo is never going to choose him as a rider, Sebastian said.
Caia chose that second to stick her nose against the back of Eva's neck. The sudden cold, slightly wet, sensation made Eva jump before she reached up to smooth her hand down Caia's soft nose.
"Maybe so," Eva said with a sly grin. "But it'll certainly be fun to watch him try."
It was what she was counting on. Sometimes you had to take your entertainment where you could find it.
An aggravated rumble came from Sebastian. I can't take this anymore. I'm off.
"You'll be back though, right?" The question slipped out before Eva could stop it.
She pressed her lips together, not liking how vulnerable the question made her sound.
Sebastian's expression softened. I'm not going far. I won't abandon you again. Not like last time.
Eva's nod was forced. As much as she wanted to believe him, it was hard. His actions had hurt the nascent bond they'd been forming. It was hard to trust he wouldn't simply disappear for weeks or months.
Still, he was trying. She needed to meet him halfway. It was the only way to regain what they'd lost.
"See you soon." Her smile wasn't as heartfelt as usual, but it was a start.
Sebastian picked up one hoof and then set it down, hesitating. He turned his head, taking in those who remained. Many of them seemed to have derived courage from the fact Eva and Sebastian were alone, Ollie and Jason having drifted back to the herd a while ago. They inched closer, stopping only when Eva or Sebastian looked directly at them.
Before I go, I think a lesson is in order.
"Wait. Don't—" Eva warned.
Her words came too late as Sebastian charged. His wings snapped out, giving him lift as he leapt over the heads of their audience, his hooves nearly clipping their skulls before they ducked.
Shouts came as Sebastian barely missed crashing into a tent before lifting into the sky.
Laughter sounded in Eva's mind.
"Really? That was your plan?"
The Trateri Sebastian nearly decapitated with his hooves picked themselves up off the ground. Since Eva was the only culprit remaining, she became the target of their blame.
"Way to go winning their hearts and changing their minds, Sebastian," Eva growled, stalking toward her tent.
A dozen different methods to teach the Trateri to recognize their limits and he'd chosen the one that left her holding the bag.
If this was what "partners" meant, she would have been better off on her own.
nine
Eva found herself wandering in the dark. Monsters poked their heads out of their hiding spots, their predatory eyes watching her go. A lingering sense that she'd forgotten something important plagued her.
What was it?
It felt crucial, but she couldn't quite remember.
Fog skated across the path in hazy clouds, dispersing as she got close. It thickened in her peripheral vision, turning into soup.
Eva could just make out cliffs on either side, towering high into the sky. The faint shadows of trees loomed at their tops.
Where was she?
Eva didn't know, simply continuing forward as if compelled.
Claws clicked against stone as a fire fox with three tails trotted toward her out of the haze. He sat at her feet with a grin.
"What are you doing here?" Eva asked with a frown.
The fire fox got a crafty expression on his pointed face. A flame flickered to life behind him, fanning into a towering wall that looked like writhing tails.
Eva choked as it became hard to breathe. Like a weight was pressing down on her chest.
The dream shredded as Eva came awake with a jolt. She blinked drowsily up at the shadowy ceiling, the blue-black darkness reminding her of her dream.
Speaking of, she now knew why she'd had so much trouble breathing. Her chest felt heavy because someone was sitting on it.
A cold nose poked Eva's cheek before its owner licked her chin. Eva shoved the fire fox's head away.
"Gross."
Eva propped herself up on her elbow as the fire fox slid onto her lower abdomen. Just as he had in her dream, he gave her a fox-like grin, mischievousness written in his playful expression.
"What are you doing here?" Eva asked, still a little groggy from her abrupt wake up call.
The fire fox's three tails wagged behind him, reminding Eva of the unsettling wall of writhing flames.
She groaned, sitting up and pushing him off her. He hopped onto the blankets beside her and lay down.