Page 42 of Run of Ruin

And dammit, I was already in trouble.

“Thanks,” I said, as we gathered the firewood into a pile. I crouched beside it, arranging the pieces in a way that would catch easily. Bex sat on a hollowed-out log nearby, watching with quiet focus, like she was memorizing every move. Maybe she was. I noticed she did that. Watched people, studied things. I had been watching her for a few minutes before I spoke to her at the ball. Her eyes darted around like she wascommitting everything to memory. Taking a mental snapshot of the world around her.

I collected the kindling, struck a match from the small pack I kept tucked away, and coaxed the flame to life. I didn’t need the match, I could’ve done it without them, but this was quicker. Within moments, the fire crackled, steady and bright.

When I was sure it would last, I looked over at her. She was still watching me.

“How did you know how to do that?” she asked.

“Darkbranch is a lot like The Wilds,” I said, brushing ash from my fingers. “We grew up in the woods. We’re comfortable here.”

She nodded thoughtfully. The flickering light played across her features, beautiful and bloodied. Splatter from the cat still marked her skin, dried in small, harsh flecks across her cheek and temple. I hated seeing it there, marring the face that had already started to haunt my thoughts.

I pulled my pack over and sat beside her on the log. The wood groaned under our weight. From inside my bag, I retrieved my canteen and the strip of fabric that used to be my blindfold. I poured a little water onto the cloth, then turned to her.

“Let me help?” I asked, voice low.

Her eyes, clear, bright, and impossibly blue, met mine. Something passed between us in that silence, then she gave a small nod.

Gently, I reached up and began to clean the blood from her face. My fingers moved slowly, careful not to startle her. Careful not to linger too long, even though every brush of the cloth against her skin made me want to memorize the feel of her. I was aware, acutely, of how much water I was using, how stupid it was to waste it, but I didn’t care. Not right now. Shedeserved to feel like herself, without the remnants of the attack splattered across her features.

As I moved toward her cheek, she winced. I immediately pulled back, heart lurching.

“Are you okay?” I asked, concern tightening my voice.

“I cut myself in the landing,” she said. Now that the blood was gone, I could see the thin slice beneath it. Not deep, but raw. Angry.

“I’ve got it,” I said softly. I returned to the task with even more care, dabbing gently, making sure I didn’t hurt her again.

After a moment, I let the silence stretch, then said, “So... how’s it been so far? You know, aside from the whole bobcat trying to eat you alive, part.”

Her mouth curved into a crooked, tired smile, and she laughed. The sound went directly to my core, but I forced a breath to calm my thoughts.

The fire crackled between us, sending small, fleeting sparks into the night sky. The warmth of it felt oddly comforting, like a shield against the wildness of the world outside the circle of light we’d created.

Bex stared into the flames, her expression distant, but I could see the tension still pulling at the corners of her face. She seemed to be sorting through something in her head, gathering the words she needed before speaking.

“I got stuck in a tree about twenty feet up on my way down,” she started, her voice soft but with a hint of amusement. “Was about three seconds from failing this trial before it even began.”

Her eyes never left the fire, but I could see the way her brow furrowed, that tight crease between her eyes that told me just how close she’d been to a fate similar to Dominic’s. I felt a small pang of protectiveness for her.

I let out a low sigh, my voice low but playful. “I landed in a clearing, lucky for me. I’m not much of a tree climber.”

She looked up at me then, a smirk playing on her lips, though I could still see the remnants of the nerves beneath her eyes. “But I thought you were a woodswoman. Shouldn’t climbing be one of your skills?” she teased.

I couldn’t resist. “Well, you know, I’m better at falling,” I replied, the flirtation slipping into my words so easily.

Her eyes softened, but she didn’t break eye contact. I hoped I hadn’t pushed her too far. Flirty innuendos were more my brother’s expertise, but something about her made me want to rise to the challenge.

After a moment, she spoke again, almost as though she was letting the air settle. “How did you find Thorne?”

I paused, pulling my thoughts back to that moment. “I pulled my chute as early as I could to slow my fall. Told him to aim for me when he jumped right after me.”

She raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. “That was... clever.”

I grinned, feeling a rush of pride. “I’m glad it worked. I wouldn’t have been able to focus on getting back to Praxis if I was worried about trying to find my brother out here. Not that he couldn’t handle it on his own. But…”

“You can focus when you know he’s safe,” she finished for me, her voice soft, understanding. Her gaze held mine, steady and warm.

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