When I woke, everything was blurry. A cold hand squeezed mine, making me gasp. "Blurriness is a side effect of skin-to-skin contact with a porcupine," Noah's voice, calm yet sharp, informed me. "Your vision should return before dark." I groaned, my head was banging and I feel pains
By the time my vision cleared, night had fallen. The trees around me were unnervingly large, as were the animals lurking in the shadows. I groaned, shifting uncomfortably, my head rested on something soft, and I almost drifted back to sleep until curiosity won over.
Liam was off to the side, cursing under his breath as he failed at making a fire. Noah was sharpening his sword
I tried sitting up but winced at the pain, quickly lying back down. "Liam," I whispered. Miraculously, he turned, his gaze softening as he knelt beside me, brushing my hair back.
"How are you feeling?"
"Good."
He nodded. Noah, as usual, remained silent
He placed a damp clothe on my forehead "What were you doing in the forest?"
"I... uh... wanted to check the trees?"
Liam's eyes narrowed. "With two daggers, one of which was mine?"
I flinched. "I'm sorry..."
"What's done is done." He cut me off and walked off to his tent, clearly irritated.
Noah, still staring, handed me a leaf. "Chew this. It'll help with the pain."
"How do I use..."
Before I could finish, he crushed the leaf, rubbed the juice on my forehead, and shoved the bitter remains into my mouth, all while keeping intense eye contact.
I swallowed nervously, those unnatural golden-red eyes were impossible to ignore.
"Sleep," he ordered and as if I was drugged my eyes closed on its own
When I woke, Liam and Noah were still asleep. Not wasting time, I grabbed my daggers and started training. I felt guilty, but my body was energized, and I refused to spend that energy watching two attractive guys sleep. After thirty minutes, I returned, only to hear Liam and Noah whispering.
"She was attacked by a porcupine," Liam said, voice tense. "That means he knows, he's coming for her." I stiffened. Who? Who was coming for me? Noah sighed. "Yeah. But we can't tell her. Not until she's safely in the mountains."
Tell me what? Before I could process it, Noah sniffed the air and cursed. "She's nearby, probably eavesdropping." Liam let out a string of curses. I stood frozen, praying the trees would swallow me whole. "Come out. Now." Liam's voice was amused. Busted, I stepped forward, biting my cheek, Noah smirked, actually smirked. Liam sighed "You left again, do you ever consider your safety?" "I'm sorry," I muttered. Liam walked toward me.
"Don't run off again." I nodded, but before I could process his concern, masked figures emerged from the shadows. A dart struck Liam, then Noah. I barely had time to react before one hit my neck too. Darkness claimed me once more.