Esha shrugged and wrinkled her nose. “Whether it’s you or me, if we’re together, does it matter?”
“Nay,” he said after a brief pause.
She cleared her throat. “This looks like a good area to rest for the night.”
“Are there any Wood Elves near? I’d rather no’ run across anyone else until we get more answers.”
Esha climbed onto one of the massive boulders and tried to get her bearings. She heard the distant rumble of the river to her left. She and her squad had been this way before, but it had been some time. She jumped to the ground. “They already know we’re here. If they want to interact with us, they’ll come regardless.”
Kendrick’s lips quirked in a grin. “In that case, we rest.”
She wasn’t sure she could. Pent-up energy churned through her, and it needed a release. Unfortunately, her mind was too jumbled with questions and unease, and all she could do was stand there. She had no idea how long she remained before she smelled food. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten much that day.
Esha found Kendrick before a fire, roasting what looked like a bird. “What’s that?”
“We call it chicken. I decided to improvise.” He tore off a leg and handed it to her.
She sniffed it before taking a bite. There was no gamey flavor, which surprised her. “Not bad.”
“Have as much as you’d like. I’ve already eaten my fill. I asked you earlier if you were hungry, but you were too deep in your thoughts.”
“I’m sorry,” she said as she sat beside him.
“My thoughts are also full.”
They fell into a comfortable silence as she ate her meal. Esha kept trying to form a plan, but it was nearly impossible to do when she didn’t know what might come for them. And sitting next to Kendrick, it was impossible to ignore him. She wasn’t surprised by her attraction. He was a Dragon King, after all. But the more she learned about him, the more his allure became less about lust and more about…something else.
She thought about him in the water and the visceral reaction of her body to seeing him. She thought of being underground and how he had wrapped an arm around her. Holding on to him had gotten her through her time in the dark without completely losing control of herself. The feelings he stirred within her were dangerous. Every Ranger was warned to stay away from anyone who caused such emotions.
And yet, she was alone with him.
Esha shook herself. Whatever this thing was with Kendrick was new and exciting, but she needed to keep her sights on the future she wanted. He would be gone in a few days. Did she really want to destroy everything she had worked so hard for? It was better to remove herself from anyone who tempted her in such a way. She got to her feet and started walking away when she saw the two tents. They were smaller than Kendrick’s previous one but still round.
“Take your pick,” he told her with a smile.
She chose the one on the right. The bed was decent-sized, but she barely noticed. She paced the confines of the enclosure as she repeatedly tried to get her mind to rest. But she couldn’t stop thinking about Kendrick.
Esha closed her eyes and tried to center herself. Emotions used to rule her as a child. Ranger training had taught her how to control the feelings that got away from her—like now. She slowed her breathing and imagined the rays of the sun warming her. Little by little, the strong emotions began to ebb, as all things did.
When she felt like herself again, she opened her eyes and took a good look around the shelter. Besides the bed, there was a chair and a small table. Tiny lights ringed the inside of the tent, casting a soft glow. Esha sat on the bed and grinned as she sank into the softness. She lay back and stared up at the top of the round lodging.
She heard Kendrick moving around outside. She could picture him tending to the fire, his muscles stretching and bunching beneath his shirt. If she were in his place, she would’ve returned to her people, but he remained, even as the threats intensified.
Savita had said that Esha had three days with Kendrick. The first day had passed quickly and without much tracking. Three days wasn’t enough time to do anything. Esha bit the inside of her lip as she contemplated what might happen if she took longer. Would Savita cover for her?
Regardless, the entity killing elves and dragons needed to be stopped.
If Esha took that stand, it could cost her her position. But lives would be saved—not just elves but dragons, too. She thought about what she would say to anyone who questioned her decisions. Would anyone believe she had been targeted? What about Kendrick? Others would likely think he had been the focus, but would they care? It was doubtful. Of course, she was contemplating all of this on the word of a Dark.
Esha wanted to hate Dain and all he’d said, but too much of it made sense. Too many things caused her to question everything. And that was why she would continue hunting the foe.
As for Savita, her sister was resourceful. The Reader could take care of herself—she always had. The real concern was whether Esha could complete this mission. Kendrick could leave anytime he wanted. Dain, however, would face the same wrath from the Conclave that Esha did.
If they were caught.
The sound of Kendrick moving in his tent halted her thoughts. She wondered if he was getting undressed. She could picture him bending over to tug off his boots, causing the material of his shirt to stretch tightly over his back and shoulders. He would likely stand and yank his shirt from his trousers before grabbing the hem and pulling it over his head. Would he toss it aside or fold it? She imagined he would fold it because he seemed the meticulous type. Then, he would unbutton his pants and push them down before stepping out of them. Of course, he’d fold them to lie next to his shirt.
She heard a splash of water. She turned her head toward his tent, wishing she could see through the material. Was he washing his face? Esha smiled as she thought about seeing the beaded droplets traveling down his hard body as she had that morning.
She bit her lip as her body heated. Her sex clenched with need. The object of her desire was so close. All she had to do was walk over.
If she did, she would be crossing a line she’d sworn never to cross.
Esha pushed to her feet and made her way to the side of her tent nearest to Kendrick’s. She placed her hand on the thick, rough fabric. She closed her eyes and sought to center herself again, but nothing worked.
There was only one thing she wanted.
Chapter Fifteen
Kendrick paced and then sat before pacing some more. Esha had been withdrawn all evening. He wished he’d found some words to ease her concern, but that was more Merrill’s department. His friend always had a pep talk at the ready and somehow always knew what to say. Kendrick didn’t have that gift, and this was the first time he wished he did.
Seeing Esha so troubled bothered him. Mainly because he liked her. A lot. He appreciated her cleverness, her wit, and her loyalty—not to mention her dedication to her people. She knew her strengths and how to use them, but she also knew her weaknesses and had learned how to work around them. To top it off, she was, hands down, the most exquisite being he had ever seen.
He remembered the moment of fear in her eyes when he shifted, but it hadn’t lasted long. Since then, she had been open and friendly. He had looked close for any deception in her words or actions, but he had found none. Her demeanor and voice had held empathy when he told her about his history. And while he might have only briefly seen her fight, she had been magnificent. If a King couldn’t be there to aid him, he couldn’t imagine anyone else by his side.