Page 44 of Kingdoms of Tides and Twilight

With monumental effort, she managed to turn towards Grayden's voice and cracked open an eyelid. The dim light of the cabin felt like daggers to her sleep-addled eyes.

“Go away,” she mumbled, her voice muffled by the furs. “I'm tired and sore.” The words were half-joke, half-plea. She squeezed her eyes shut again, trying to ignore the gentle strokes against her back, even as her body instinctively leaned into his touch.

Warm lips pressed against her mouth, and for a moment, Renya tried to push him away. But as always, her resistance was short-lived. Almost against her will, she found herself responding, her lips moving against his with a mind of their own.

All too soon, Grayden broke away. Renya finally opened her eyes fully, blinking away the last bit of sleep that clung to her eyelashes. He sat on the edge of the mattress, already fully dressed, his eyes twinkling with amusement and something else...anticipation?

“Is it time to go?” she asked, finally convincing her tired limbs to cooperate.

“Yes, but not to the Twilight Kingdom. It's still late evening.”

Confusion settled in on Renya's face. “Then why are you waking me up?” she asked, already preparing to burrow back under the inviting warmth of the furs.

Before she could retreat, Grayden scooped her up with ease, settling her onto his lap. The sudden change in position sent a fresh wave of soreness through her muscles, but the warmth of his body was too comforting to resist.

“Because I promised to take you to see the springs,” he explained, his voice low and tinged with excitement.

Renya's mind flashed back to their earlier conversation. “That was before we found out about the spy,” she reminded him, concern creeping into her voice.

“I know,” Grayden acknowledged, his hand rubbing soothing circles on her back. “But I think it will make your muscle aches better.”

The prospect of soaking in hot water suddenly seemed incredibly appealing.

Renya sat up straighter, her eyes scanning the cabin for her discarded clothes. She spotted them across the room where she'd hastily shed them earlier, eager to escape under the warm covers after the tense dinner.

The memory of the campfire meal brought a frown to her face. Grayden's lingering irritation with Phillippe had cast a pall over the gathering, and Phillippe had barely acknowledged her, guilt radiating from him. Only Selenia had kept the conversation flowing, her excited chatter about the Twilight Kingdom and her training session with Jurel filling the awkward silences.

“Are you sure it's safe?” Renya asked as she pulled on a pair of softly lined leggings and a baby blue tunic. The fabric felt cool against her skin, a stark contrast to the lingering warmth of the furs.

Grayden nodded, his expression reassuring. “I think we'll be okay. The springs are only a couple of miles away, and they're pretty secluded. Very few people know they're there. And the people that do know won't bother us.”

Renya nodded, bending to tuck the steel blade into her boot. The weight of the dagger was becoming familiar, but the cold press of metal against her leg still sent a small shiver through her. It was a constant reminder of the dangers that lurked beyond their temporary haven.

Grayden retrieved her thickest cloak, its midnight blue fabric trimmed with pristine white fur. As he pinned the ends together with his elkten emblem, a soft smile played at his lips.

“What is it?” Renya asked.

“I just love seeing you with that little pin,” he admitted, his eyes warm with affection.

The memory of her time in the Tidal Kingdom surfaced, and Renya's hand unconsciously went to the pin. “I almost lost it,” she said softly. “Sion said Cressida would take it from me and punish me over it. He said she's still angry at your refusal of her.”

Grayden's forehead creased as he fiddled with his own emblem. “I really thought she just desired my lands and my lineage.”

“Apparently not,” Renya replied, pulling on a pair of dark leather riding gloves. “You seemed to have wounded her pride. Sion gave it back to me after the cave collapsed. I used it to get safe passage within the Tidal Kingdom as well.”

Pride swelled in Grayden's chest, the emotion so strong that Renya could feel it echoing through their bond. “I'm glad it served you well, Little Fawn.”

“It did,” she affirmed, her voice soft with gratitude. “Even in your absence, your name protected me.”

As Grayden slung his sword over his shoulder, Renya braced herself for the chill that awaited them. The moment the door opened, a blast of icy air rushed in, cutting through her layers and raising goosebumps on her skin. She stepped outside, following Grayden's lead as they made their way through the quiet camp.

The night air was crisp and clean, carrying the scent of pine and snow. Around them, the camp was mostly still, save for a few men talking in hushed tones around smoldering campfires. Their faces glowed orange in the firelight, reminding Renya of the jack-o-lanterns she used to carve with Aunt Agatha. The memory brought a bittersweet pang to her heart.

As they passed the armory and kitchen cabin, Renya's eyes were drawn to the small barn where the horses were kept. She spotted Frost's beautiful coat and moved towards the stall, but Grayden's hand on her arm stopped her.

“We're riding together this time,” he said, leading her to Damion's stall. He handed her a curry comb, and Renya set to work brushing the stallion's coat while Grayden expertly saddled him.

Once they were both settled on Damion's back, Grayden urged the horse into a leisurely pace along the outskirts of the encampment. They skirted the edges of the rocky terrain before passing through the large crevice in the mountain wall that marked the camp's boundary.

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