Lorcan gazed at the slip of a woman, sleeping across the fire pit between two of the human guards. It had been three days already and she hadn't said a word to him. Not a single word. He acted like he didn't care. Like it didn't matter. He was only here to protect. To serve. To make up for the stupid mistake he had made. The attention, or lack thereof, of one tiny woman should not worry him in the slightest. And it didn't. of course it didn't. He reached out and poked the fire with a stick, his fae senses on alert for anything out of the ordinary in the forest. He tried to focus on the small fire, tried to watch the flames lick and twist as sparks floated off into the air, but his gaze shifted back to Elide as she shifted in her sleep. Pain emanated from his chest area and he clenched his jaw, wondering if she had to make the choice again if she would have let Fenrys make that blow. Would she jump in front of him a second time? He didn't like what his imagination came up with.

He glanced at the sky and shook the guard next to him awake. It was his turn to take the watch. The guard rose sleepily and wandered off to the stream a few feet away.

Dropping the stick, Lorcan lay back, staring at the stars for a moment. He heard Elide shift again. Maybe she was uncomfortable, she hadn't brought a bedroll, but surely had slept on rougher surfaces before. Then again, the horrors she had lived through would no doubt haunt her dreams. He squashed down the desire to go to her, to comfort her. To run his fingers through her hair, to make her feel safe within his embrace. He knew she would not welcome it. Would not welcome him. And gods-dammit, he didn't care! He closed his eyes and rolled over, determined to catch at least a few hours sleep before they had to be moving again.

Elide sighed as she rolled over yet again, her heart pounding and her mind racing. Three days on the trail with moody broody Lorcan and he hadn't said a word to her. Hadn't tried to make amends. Clearly he wanted nothing to do with her, so why did she want him to try? Why did she want him to reach out to her, to show her that he was thinking of her? Was she an idiot? She sighed, and lay back, staring at the stars for a moment before sitting up.

I wanted to go to Perranth with you.

Those blasted words rung in her head again, and the scar on her arm tingled. She ran over it with a finger, recalling the moment he had dropped his shield for her, embracing death so she could live. Her throat tightened and she drew her knees to her chest, hugging them close as she stared across the fire at his sleeping form. So tense, so grumpy, even in sleep. The tiny glimmers of warmth she had witnessed were nowhere to be found. Perhaps didn't exist, maybe had been a figment of her imagination.

How could she hate someone so much, and yet long for them at the same time?

Lorcan shifted and she knew he was awake. He didn't sit up, but lay on his back, staring at the sky. She too looked up at the inky black sky, lit by countless stars. So peaceful. The sight calmed her heart and mind and she closed her eyes, breathing deeply, embracing the moment of peace.

A rustle had her glancing across the fire at where Lorcan was now sitting up, staring at her. She looked into his eyes for the first time since that moment in the tent. Her breath caught and she couldn't look away. He seemed similarly enthralled. They stared at each other for an immeasurable moment, both wanting to break away but neither daring. Elide felt the colour rushing to her cheeks, but still her eyes locked with his onyx ones, his face fierce, expressionless, but glowing in the gentle light of the dying fire.

The guard on watch returning from the stream finally provided the reprieve she needed and she quickly lay back down, curling onto her side and hugging herself. What the hell was that? She didn't move for the rest of the night, but she didn't sleep either.

Lorcan lay back, heart pounding, and lifting with an unfamiliar feeling. Hope. That's what it was. Hope that maybe Elide didn't wish him dead after all. Hope for the slightest chance of a future together. Stony faced as ever, he looked at the stars and started counting them, wondering which one was his lucky one. Wondering which one had caused Elide to not look at him with loathing in her eyes. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, the fresh air crisp and clean. The smallest of smiles played on his lips as he drifted off to sleep.


KC