Page 126 of Between Despair and Hope

“Of course I’m right. Besides, I never said you couldn’t empty your bladder there. The bush might need watering.”

His laugh echoed, but the fact he didn’t follow immediately behind me told me he was taking me up on the idea. Trudging through the snow, I made it back out to the cave entrance. It looked so much bigger without Rain’s guard and the tents inside it. I shivered, my wet pants sticking to my skin, and I coerced my divinity into my palm and crouched, holding a divine flame in my palms to warm my legs.

“Can I show you a trick?” he asked, voice quiet so as not to startle me, even though I’d heard him approach. When I looked up at him, I noticed his eyes dip to my collarbone for just a second before landing back on my face. I’d been paying attention, waiting for him to have some sort of reaction, and he’d made it a few hours. Satisfaction and sadness mingled, and, while I was sad he was still dealing with those thoughts, I was pleased with the choice I’d made.

“You might not have issues with it, but the colder the water is, the more I struggle. But it should be warm enough against your body.” His eyes skated down my legs before a twitch of his fingers coaxed the water out of my pants. He’d done it at the lake too, and I was kicking myself for not thinking about it.

“This entire time, I could’ve been using your divinity to dry myself,” I groaned. “I’ve had wet breeches for weeks!”

A soft smile met me. “You try?”

“Well, I’m dry now,” I said, and immediately regretted the words. I ran to the safety of the cave as malevolent glee crossed his face, and he bent down to pack a snowball.

“It’s a fair fight, Highclere. Come out,” he taunted.

“I’m on the Vestana side now. It’s not sporting to attack your own!”

“Oh, but three versus two was sporting?”

The twins and Dewalt up against royalty. We had won every single time.

“I think so. Lucia barely counted.” She couldn’t have hit a target if it was a meter away. I was rethinking my hiding place. Though there were a few stalagmites farther back into the cave, they weren’t wide enough to take cover behind. Feeling devious, I opened a rift and stepped out behind Rain and packed my own snowball as he whipped around to face me. It would hurt my shoulder to throw, but it was a sacrifice I’d have to make.

“Rifting is cheating!” He yelled as I formed another rift which opened behind him, and I threw the snowball, hitting him square in the back of his head.

“Oh, you are going to pay for that,” he said as he took off in a run toward me, snow flying behind his feet as he struggled through it, and I opened another rift. Just as I stepped through, Rain turned, anticipating that I’d open it behind him, and he lunged at me.

Twisting out of his grip, I laughed and took two steps before he was on me again, tackling me into the snow. He rolled me over beneath him, and I hid my grimace as I adjusted my scarf.

“Are you alright? I hurt you,” he said, low and quiet. His face was in shadow, the stars lighting up the sky behind him, and I could barely make out the concerned look in his eyes.

“I’m fine,” I whispered. Blinking, I stared dully at his silhouette and realized shadows coiled around his arms. “You didn’t hurt me, Rain. It’s me, and you didn’t hurt me.”

He inhaled quickly and pushed himself to his feet before offering his hand to pull me up and, shadows already gone, using his divinity to whisk the water from my wet clothes.

“I want to get out of the mountains before we stop for the night,” he said, voice gruff as he turned away from me and opened the next rift.

Chapter 37

Dewalt

Annoyed,Imarchedintothe estate and straight up to my old bedroom. Lavenia’s room. I figured I still had clothes in the closet, and I was caked in filth. Rainier had healed me, and after they left for Ravemont, I’d helped Thyra and Dickey with the horses. It was nightfall by the time we were done, and I needed to bathe. I’d been guilted into mucking out the stalls, so I never bothered changing out of my bloody clothes. Rounding the top of the stairs, I slammed right into someone and nearly tumbled backwards.

“Shit!”

Ven’s hand shot out and grabbed me by the forearm, pulling me vertical before I fell down the steps. “Sorry! Are you alright?”

“I’m a lot better than I would have been if I actually fell. Thanks for grabbing me.” I clapped a hand to the side of her arm and moved past her. She hadn’t spoken to me in weeks, and I didn’t know if I blamed her. I hesitated for a beat, not sure if I should speak to her or apologize or what, but ultimately opted to give her space. I started down the hall, intending to bathe and change, when Ven cleared her throat.

“You know, you never thanked me. Not once.”

My hand stilled on the doorknob.

“You know I’m grateful. I thought I made it clear. You didn’t have to perform the ritual with me.”

“Not for that.”

“Then what, Ven?” I leaned against the door frame, crossing my arms as I turned to face her.

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