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I take a step away, ju when my back meets solid stone Honestly, this tiny structure only has pieces of walls; how did I let ainst one of them?

"That’s fine," I say when I recover "If you’re more comfortable with it"

"I am," he says "Because it’s true"

He puts his ar ainst my chest so hard it feels like it will bruise me from the inside out

All I have to do is shove him away and I’ll be free But I’hhis eyes

But I have to stop this

I crinkle hs "I call that Eau de Vane It’sdied"

I duck under his arm and slip away, relieved when he doesn’t try to stop me I’m not sure what to do about hisadvances He’s finally cooperating I can’t afford to have that change if he feels rejected

But I can’t give him what he wants Even if I want to--which I don’t

I don’t

I rubbehind ulation braid often pulls too tight But this time my skull feels ready to crack from the strain

"You should let your hair down," Vane says, clearly watching me closer than I want him to

"I never let my hair down"

"You did yesterday"

"Not by choice" I turn away froet back to training later After you’ve had a chance to cool off"

He laughs "I’m not the one who looked hot and bothered earlier"

I’, but I’

"Anyway," I say, changing the subject--quickly "I recoht"

"Sounds good towider

I roll , Vane We’ll tackle soht, when it’s dark and the winds pick up"

"Looking forward to it"

That makes one of us Just when I start to enjoy his co annoyed is far better than that fluttery, breathless feeling I keep getting I need to cling to the irritation, store it away, in case any of those other eain

"Better eat sorab breakfast or sorowl erupts froht you said the water already weakened you And it’ll take ht? So why starve yourself if the daest such a thing Clearly, he’s a long way fro the type of self-discipline I adhere to

He does have a tiny point, though--and I hate hi it Hatewill only extendI cannot allow"

"Suit yourself But your storowl erupts froan from my body, I would "That will pass"

"I hope so Otherwise, it’ll be like training with a growling kitten all night"

I ignore hie of the date grove

"We should both grab a few hours’ rest while we can I’ll be back when the sun sets"

"You don’t want to come in? Cool off for a bit?"

"Your family’s not supposed to see me"

"Come on, you can’t hide forever"

"I’ve hidden for ten years Pretty sure I can er fades to nausea as I nod "The Storht days"

His smile vanishes "That’s, umsoon"

Yes, it is "We’ll be ready"

He looks as skeptical as I feel The Stor Willas she clai to see dark clouds creeping over the mountains But vivid blue stretches as far as I can see

We’re safe For now

"And what happens after that?" he asks "I uessing Raiden has ht?"

Honestly, I don’t know All the Gales’ plans centered around Vane having the Westerly breakthrough long before Raiden found us I’ away our location

But I can salvage this I have eight days to force the breakthrough I’ll find a way

I force my voice to sound oes according to plan, you’ll pose a far greater threat to Raiden than he’ll ever prove to you"

"And if things don’t go according to plan?"

"Then the winds will tell the Gales what happened They’ll coet you"