She could only be thankful Polaris had offered her a way out that salvaged both Danyon's pride and hers.
Danyon looked away, an unhappy harrumph echoing in her mind.
Eva took a step and paused.
What is wrong?
"You have no saddle."
Much as she'd like to pretend otherwise, she wasn't entirely comfortable riding a Kyren without it.
We're not going far. I promise not to drop you.
That was reassuring. Not.
Get on a Kyren who had already given her every indication he abhorred her. Yeah. Definitely not Eva's idea of a good time.
Unfortunately, she also knew this was the closest she'd get to an assurance from any of them.
With little choice, Eva started for Polaris only for Jane to stop her.
"Caden won't like this," Jane warned.
That was an understatement. Chances were Caden would lose his mind when he found out where she'd gone—especially so soon after waking up.
A part of her wished she'd chosen to track him down first upon getting permission to walk around rather than Jason. At least then he'd have some visual confirmation about her good health.
Eva patted her hand in understanding. "I know, but this is an offer we can't refuse."
There was reluctance in Jane's face as she let Eva go.
Eva mounted, looking down on her friends as her lips parted. Whatever she'd been about to say was lost as Polaris launched himself into the sky.
Eva held on for dear life as he raced upwards, wind lashing stray pieces of hair into her face.
She huddled on his back, trying to preserve what little warmth she could as the evening air bit through her thin clothes.
Polaris winged his way toward one of the mountain tops, the last of the sun's rays fading and throwing the world into twilight.
Eva chanced a quick glance behind them, catching sight of a shadow, darker than the rest, darting after them.
Jason would be glad his Tenrin watcher had decided something else was more interesting finally.
The female used the natural shadows cast by the topography to flit from cover to cover, only exposing herself rarely.
Eva's lips curved. She didn't bother pointing out the fact they had a tail. If the Kyren didn't realize, that was their problem.
For Eva's part, she found it rather amusing. The powerful Kyren circumvented by a youth Jason's age. It made the sting of their previous rudeness toward him and Ollie fade.
Polaris was as good as his word. Only a short time passed before he set down on the flat top of a nearby mountain peak that was barely wide enough for him and Danyon to land.
Not waiting for permission, Eva slid from Polaris's back to find Orion waiting for her as he watched the setting sun.
Their passenger delivered, Polaris and Danyon ran toward the edge, taking off and leaving her alone with their herd master.
Eva watched them go before turning reluctantly back to Orion. She bolstered her courage. No sense standing here like an idiot waiting for an invitation.
With those thoughts in mind, Eva strode toward Orion, only stopping when she'd reached the edge of the stone ledge.
She paused, letting herself get swept away by the vista. You'd think she'd be used to such views by now. That eventually the awe would fade, and her breath wouldn't be stolen whenever she crossed a sight this spectacular.
Not so. It got her every time.
From here, it felt like she could see the entire world. The campsite Caden had chosen nestled at the foot of steep hills, the meandering path they'd journeyed winding through the peaks and valleys to allow them to reach this temporary outpost.
As she took in the view, the sun finished sinking below the neighboring mountains, silhouetting their peaks in a last dying display that painted the sky with brilliant colors of reds and pinks.
The silence passed untainted as they kept each other company, witnesses as day gave way to night.
It was only when the last of the colors faded from the sky that the spell was broken.
The cold made itself felt as Eva flexed one numb hand after the other, wishing she'd thought to bring gloves when she left the healer's tent.
Eva suppressed the urge to stomp one foot then the other as the first stars showed their faces in the night sky. An hour, maybe two and the velvety blackness would be dusted with millions of them, twinkling merrily. So many they would be impossible to count.
Eva would have enjoyed the view more if she was appropriately attired.
No matter how many times I see it, I never get tired of it, Orion mused, echoing Eva's thoughts from earlier.
"It's beautiful," she agreed. "But I don't think you called me here in such a dramatic fashion to talk about the Highland's ability to take a person's breath away."
To Orion's credit he didn't try to drag things out as he lifted his proud head toward the sky.
Your humans left the valley.
"There was a reason for that. Their lives were under threat. Did you really expect the Trateri to stay put under those circumstances?"
The Trateri were originally nomads. They were already predisposed to roam. They were never going to be obedient and stay where they were put forever. Even less so when they were in danger. He must know that.
Silence answered her.
Eva shifted, bringing her cupped hands up to her mouth and blowing on them before sticking them under her arms.
"You and the Trateri are a lot alike. Neither of you are willing to be tamed, even when bending would benefit you."
And make her life infinitely easier.
Eva dismissed the thought, looking up to find Orion's gaze trained on her. She rolled her eyes at him. "Don't give me that look. I should know. I'm the one who has to deal with both of your stubborn asses."
Eva turned her attention back to the night sky.
There has to be consequences for breaking faith.
"Is that what you're calling it?" Eva's smile was humorless. "What should they have done, Orion? Waited to die? If you think they would do that, you don't know them at all."
Sacrifices sometimes must be made for the good of the herd.
Eva scoffed. "That's easy to say when it's not your people doing the sacrificing."
Do you think the Kyren haven't sacrificed? Orion's calm voice echoed in Eva's mind. To gain something, you must give something.
"And if everyone died, there would be no point to any of this," Eva retorted.
She was going to fail. She could already feel it in her bones. The knowledge loomed over her head like an executioner's blade. There was no talking her way out of this.
The Kyren would break relations. Everything that had come before would be pointless. Laurell. The past few months. All of it.
And there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it.
That knowledge hurt as Eva tilted her face to the sky, ignoring the prickling in the bridge of her nose.
"I was wrong earlier. You're not like the Trateri. You're like me."
Too scared of getting hurt to take a chance. How fucking ironic.
At least now Eva understood Ollie's frustration all those months ago. Dealing with someone so closed off was akin to beating your head against a rock wall.
Futile, and in the end the only one who'd end up bloody is yourself.
"I sometimes have nightmares about all the things I would have missed if I remained in my bubble. If the first time I saw Sebastian, I fled because I feared what he'd do once I freed him."