Page 17 of Alliance Bride
He stood and gestured for her to follow. She gathered her skirts and trailed him into the trees, the firelight fading behind them. The thought of wolves sent a chill slithering down her back. No doubt that was why Aevar hadn’t let her wander off on her own, but how much privacy would he give her?
Once far enough from the fire that the men’s voices grew muted, Aevar gestured to a fallen log tipped into a small hollow that allowed for some privacy depending on where he planned to stand. Eadlyn hesitated for a moment, but Aevar turned his back to her and walked several more yards away, keeping her safely between him and camp. It showed consideration, though whether it came from any genuine care or was simply to protect their new alliance was impossible to guess.
Either way, Eadlyn didn’t waste time. So far, Aevar didn’t seem to be given to impatience, but she wouldn’t test him. A couple of minutes later, she made sure her skirts were righted andstepped up out of the hollow. Aevar was a solid dark shape standing guard against the black forest, his back still to her.
“I’m finished.”
He shifted and walked back to her, his face hidden in darkness until he was standing right in front of her. That’s when it occurred to her they hadn’t been alone together since meeting yesterday. If he was thinking of taking any liberties as her husband, now was the time. Her heart thumped and caught in her throat. She should have gone straight back when she finished instead of waiting for him to catch up. Now, however, her feet froze to the ground. She caught the glimmer of his eyes but couldn’t read what expression rested on his shadowed face.
When he moved, she tensed, but he only gestured toward the camp, inviting her to make her retreat. She tried not to let her breath all rush out at once as she turned to walk back toward the comforting light, though her legs wobbled. Glancing at the ink-black sky through the branches overhead, she reached out to her Savior.Oh, Lord, help me. I said “I do” knowing what that meant. But I don’t feel ready. Give me strength. Give me peace.
Back by the fire, she sat again, working to calm the way her pulse raced. Aevar didn’t join her right away. Instead, he moved around the group toward the supplies. A short time later, he returned with an armful of furs. He dropped them beside her, spread a bearskin on the ground, and layered it with blankets.
“You should rest,” he said. “It’ll be another long day tomorrow.”
The mention of sleep had her fighting a yawn. Her eyelids had grown very heavy while staring at the fire, and her shoulders ached with a plea to lie down. However, she eyed the makeshiftbed with trepidation, trying to comfort herself with the fact that it was only big enough for one person. What else could she do?
Without meeting his gaze, she moved from the fire and crawled into the nest of warmth he’d made. The fur cushioned her from the frozen earth, and the blankets offered a welcome escape from the chill air. Lying there, she listened to the rustle of Aevar making a second bed behind her and tried not to wonder how close he would settle. Around them, the others prepared to sleep as well. Eventually, her body overpowered her nerves, and her eyelids closed as sleep took her.
After passing by the horses to make sure they were calm and settled, Aevar worked his way back around camp to Erik, his watch companion. Braan had offered to take his turn on watch, but as tired as Aevar was after the long day, he wasn’t ready to sleep yet. Besides, Eadlyn might fall asleep better without him next to her. She and everyone else lay under their furs around the fire and had been quiet for an hour now.
When Aevar reached Erik’s side, they both stared out at the night-cloaked forest. Neither had said much since their watch began, but then Erik looked over at him.
“How do you feel about your new bride?”
Aevar shrugged. Could he even answer that question after less than a full day? “How am I supposed to feel?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
Aevar still didn’t know who she was or even how to talk to her. He rarely found conversation difficult, but he suspected they both struggled to figure out how to interact now that they were joined for life. Kian was doing a much better job of it than he was, and he hoped that the more comfortable she became with his family, the more comfortable she would become with him.
His mind flashed back to standing with her in the trees. “She’s terrified of me.”
“Can you blame her? She’s a woman surrounded by strange men. No one would feel safe in this situation.”
“I don’t like being the one to cause her such fear.”
“She just needs to get to know you. Once she does, things will change.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Aevar looked over his shoulder at the lump of furs where Eadlyn slept, or at least seemed to be sleeping. He had to admit it surprised him she hadn’t broken down at least once during the journey, but she hadn’t shed a single tear since trading goodbyes in Essix. That alone took strength he had to admire.
Chapter Seven
Eadlynwokefromanothernight of surprisingly sound sleep considering she was not only sleeping on the ground but surrounded by men she still knew precious little about. The camp was quiet. Unlike yesterday morning, when she’d awoken to the sounds of bustling movement and conversation, now only stillness surrounded her. Gray light seeped through the canopy above, and somewhere close behind her, she caught the whisper of slow, steady breathing.
She hadn’t ever been aware of Aevar sleeping beside her the first night, but he was there now, and her entire body hummed with awareness of his presence. At first, she lay still, trying to pretend she was still asleep, but curiosity grew, silent and insistent. Finally, she turned her head and rolled onto her back.
He lay less than a foot away, his expression relaxed in sleep. She let herself examine the details of his face to a degree she never had when he was awake and might catch her. His dark lashes against his skin, the pale ridges of his scars, the dark hair edging his strong jawline and getting a little longer and thicker at hischin. She studied the fine stubble along the sides of his head and the long dark hair at the top. It had seemed so wild and foreign to her at first. Now she found herself oddly drawn to it. Perhaps because it was so unlike anything back in Essix.
He shifted beneath the furs, drawing a deeper breath, and his eyes blinked open, startlingly blue in the dim light. She stifled a gasp and rolled back to her side, heart hammering her ribs. Had he seen her watching? She clamped her eyes shut, willing her pulse to slow, and feigned sleep once more. Only after he rose did she breathe properly again.
She waited until the camp stirred with movement before sitting up. The furs fell away as she adjusted her cloak and glanced around. Her gaze snagged on his. Aevar stood near the supplies, his face unreadable, but something in his eyes twinkled as if he knew she’d been watching him. Heat flushed her cheeks. She ducked her head and focused on smoothing her skirt with unnecessary care.
Like the day before, they ate a quick, cold meal and packed up camp. Eadlyn tried to be helpful, but her muscles were already sore from the previous day’s ride. Before long, they were on their way again. The terrain had grown more rugged, no longer the straight, grassy paths of her homeland, but a winding, climbing journey through dense woods and deep ravines. The trees had changed too. Now evergreens towered above them, their dark boughs blocking much of the sky. They were beautiful in a stark, powerful way, so unlike the rolling grasslands and bogs of Essix.
Conversation had become easier, at least with Aevar’s family and Kian. Erik had a quick wit, and Runar’s dry observations added unexpected levity. Kian especially made a point of including her in discussions, and she appreciated that. But Aevar…he remained quiet and distant. And though she wanted to bridge the space between them, she didn’t know where to begin.
