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“Then what’s one more?”
“One too many.”
“Oh come on, Rai. Sending her back is an early death. If they don’t already want to kill her for escaping their trade, they will most certainly kill her for breaching the border.”
“As if it’s any safer here,” he snarls. “You of all people know better.”
“We can protect her.”
“I can’t.”
“But you want to?” Ken asks eagerly. My heart squeezes.
“No.”
“She survived the woods.”
“Only because your demanding arse got to it in time,” Rainer deadpans. “I was keen on leaving it.”
There’s a soft knock on the door, then a shuffling across the room, pacing. Floorboards creak and groan under their steps. After a few moments, they draw closer and the bed dips next to me as someone perches on the edge.
Someone heavy.
“Might as well tell her yourself then. Go on, tell her you’re signing her death warrant, Rainer. She can hear how much of a right bastard you’re being.”
The room grows silent, so after a few seconds I muster up bravery and crack open an eye. I’m greeted by the view of Ken’s blindingly warm smile.
He scoots off the bed to stand, hovering over me. His thick hair falls loose of its bun and he straightens to retie it at the nape of his neck.
“You’re a poor eavesdropper. At least fake it next time.” He chuckles.
“I was faking it.” The lump in my throat makes it hard to speak.
“Well, not good enough. I heard the change in your breathing.”
“Why are you here?”
“Checking on you, of course, little human.”
Sitting up against the headboard, I glance around. The only source of light comes from the oil lamp beside the four-poster bed I’m resting in. To my left, beyond the shifter, it’s dim. I can barely make out a few pieces of furniture encased in shadows. To my right, there’s a wall of heavy drapes with slivers of light peeking out from the edges, concealing the casement windows I saw when I arrived.
Rainer is nowhere in sight, so it’s safe to assume he’s lurking in the hallway still.
My pulse speeds up.
Ken cocks his head at me.“Calm down, little human.”
I inhale through my nose, holding it for a few seconds before exhaling through my mouth. I do this a few times until my heart rate evens out.
“What time is it?” I ask cautiously.
Ken strokes the fuzz on his chin. “Just after dawn. You slept through the night.”
“I don’t even remember falling asleep.”
I ate and drank the tea, took an extended bath, and changed into a clean nightgown from the armoire. But I barely remember lying down for bed. It’s all a blur.
“Valerian root,” Rainer mutters, entering the room. His boots clack ominously as he strides toward me. He leans against the armoire, crossing his arms. “In your tea. Helps induce a deep sleep.”
