Page 29 of Restored

“You’re saying it like I have a choice. You think of me as some weak, sheltered girl, easily manipulated and compliant. You know nothing,” I spit the words at him yanking my ankle from his grasp.

“Believe me, I am well aware. I have never had less of a grip on who someone is in my entire life. Enlighten me, please.” His hands gesture towards me expectantly.

I narrow my eyes at him before speaking. “As you know, healers are one of the rarest abilities, and Sandor loves to have what others do not possess. I was able to leverage my…compliance in exchange for my mother to live in the castle. I do as he demands, and she stays safe.”

“You said she was not of healthy mind?”

“The death of my father took a toll on her. For months I begged Sandor to let me see her and once he finally agreed and brought her to the castle–she wasn’t the same woman I remembered. In that time her brain had become addled, forgetful, confused, and she could hardly recognize me most days.” Ledger listens intently, his expression blank, and body still.

“When I came fully into my power, I attempted to heal her but, it turns out, my powers only work for physical wounds, not mental.” I huff a bitter laugh. “She was never the same. And now without me there to protect her, who knows what Sandor will do.”

“I was not aware.” His expression is almost remorseful. “It sounds like you would do anything for your family. We aren’t all that different.”

We sit in silence for a long while unsure of how to continue. Archie ambles over to us, a hesitant expression on his face. “We are going to try and get some sleep before the sun rises.”

“Good idea,” Ledger responds, and we both stand, following Archie to the group.

“It looks like the soldiers burned our camp, so I guess we are going to be one with nature for a few nights.” I can smell the smoke in the air and see the plumes of it in the distance. Cam lay back in a pile of moss, crossing his arms behind his head and gazing up at the stars.

“I’ll take the first watch,” he offers.

A shiver courses through me as the chill of the night sets over my skin.

“It isn’t particularly warm tonight, so if you want to huddle together to preserve body heat, I’d be happy to.” Archie appears next to me, and I halfway consider his offer.

“Like hell, Archie; go keep Cam warm. I’m sure he’d appreciate the heat,” Ledger comments, making Mia chuckle before she curls up on the ground.

Archie sighs and saunters over, collapsing on the ground next to her.

“Don’t get any ideas,” she mumbles.

Ledger’s eyes track me as I sink to the ground and curl my legs into my chest. I begin to tremble, the adrenaline from the day wearing off and the cold seeping into my bones.

Ledger lays next to me, and a second later a root seals around my ankle. I yank at it and huff, too tired to argue. The heat from his body taunts me, close enough to sense but too far to warm me.

As the time drags on, my shivering becomes a violent tremor. I inch myself towards Ledger, my pride fading until my back is inches from the side of his body.

“She is going to wake the gods with the chattering of her teeth, Ledger. Just let me—” Archie starts.

“She is fine.” Ledger cuts him off, pushing up and disappearing into the night. A few seconds later, a saddle blanket is thrown over me. It smells of sweat and leather. I grasp the rough fabric and pull it over my shoulders sighing with the relief it brings.

I stare into the void of the night and think of Maddox. I pray that he is alright and hope he can forgive me for what I’ve agreed to do.

Soft sunlight rouses me,and I groan stretching my stiff muscles. I rub the sleep from my eyes flicking off a rouge leaf sticking on my cheek. It’s an effort to push my aching body off the ground.

Everyone else is awake and Ledger makes eye contact with me before grabbing the discarded saddle blanket and walking to Apollo.

I shiver against the chill morning air, still exhausted and bleary-eyed.

Archie cuts the vine from my ankle and helps me up, offering me his canteen full of cool stream water.

“Thanks.” I take a drink and hand him back the water, rubbing away the goosebumps that pepper my arms.

Ledger comes from behind me and drapes his cloak around my shoulders. “Take it; you’ll be of no use to me if you fall ill.”

“Gee, thanks.” I pull it around me. “You don’t happen to have a cup of coffee in that saddle bag? I like it with a touch of honey,” I joke lamely as Ledger rifles through it.

“We leave in five minutes, and we will ride for most of the day.” He ignores me completely, and I nod.

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