Page 188 of The Heart of Winter

I blinked too, snapping out of the dizzying feeling that still threatened to overcome me. I wiped my face with my sleeve.

"It’s from the strain. It probably burst a small blood vessel. I’m fine," I said, shaking my head. I forced a smirk, trying to lighten the mood. "If you knew how light you felt compared to that damn rock… Like a feather!"

Winter let out a loud breath, almost a laugh.

But I didn’t give him time to answer. I looked behind me to the cave entrance, where just inside our carry-on bags were. I grabbed them, slinging them over my chest, then bent down, scooped Winter back into my arms, and even managed to grab the blankets together with him.

"I can walk," he muttered in protest.

But I wasn’t taking any chances.

He still seemed slightly oxygen-deprived, his lips had a bluish tint, and his gaze was a little dazed, though he was making an effort to focus.

Following the path of the now-dry streambed, I rushed forward. Only about fifty yards ahead, the canyon walls sloped more gently, making it possible to climb out while carrying him.

I was telling the truth, his weight wasn’t much compared to what I had just lifted. Step by step, I made my way up.

Only when we reached the top did I dare to look back toward the volcano.

The sight was terrifying.

A massive column of blackish-brown smoke towered over the crater. Thankfully, I couldn’t see any lava spewing—but that didn’t mean it wasn’t already spilling over, in places I couldn’t see, silently snaking down toward us.

I picked up the pace, heading toward the beach.

"I can walk," Winter mumbled again. "I can walk."

Finally, I gave in. I set him down carefully and wrapped one of the blankets around him.

Immediately, he turned and shoved the other one at me.

"No. One for you, one for me." His voice was surprisingly firm, some of his usual stubbornness was returning.

"Fine."

As soon as I enveloped myself in the blanket, I was ready to move again. But Winter suddenly stopped me.

His face, still streaked with dust, looked eerily dramatic, like something out of a movie. He lifted his hand and wiped my lips, which were covered in blood from my nose.

"Sariel…" His voice was quiet but oddly intense. "I owe you my life. I would have died in that cave if not for you."

His lips twitched slightly. It was… something I never would have expected from him. Emotional, touched?

I smiled ruefully. "Winter… I owe you my life too. I would have died on that cliff if not for you." I tilted my head, my voice taking on an almost teasing edge. "This island is just a place… where we save each other. That’s the way it is here. Always a team, right?"

Winter huffed, a soft, breathy sound.

"Looks like it!"

"Let's go. We can’t waste any more time, we need to get as far from the volcano as possible. The bay with the wetlands is the furthest part of the island."

"Wait," he cut me off.

Something flickered across his dust-covered face, a mix of determination and hesitation, a strange kind of pain. He placed his hands on my chest.

"Sariel, I… I really like you," he choked out with some difficulty. "You have a good heart."

I froze. Was this the closest thing to a love confession Winter had ever said? The thought struck me like a question mark bouncing in my mind. I stared at him for a moment. It felt almost surreal to be standing on a beach, with a mountain spewing fire behind us, and hearing those words…

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