Page 119 of A Courage of the Chosen

“Are you seriously not going to tell us?” I ask.

We tried to get what he knows about the Druids out of him before we got ambushed on our way here last time. He remained as equally tight-lipped then, only telling us that he’d heard ‘things’ about them. Now we’re hours away from meeting with the Druids, the reclusive Seelie who reside in Ruival and are completely devout to Dhia, his comments aren’t the quips that came previously.

Brodie flattens his mouth, and shakes his head so vigorously the long braid behind his back ripples with the movement.

Rach and I share a look, puzzled by his reticence.

Callahan, as usual, doesn’t have much to say, so the morning passes by with winded conversation only unfolding when the brutal trail offers us a reprieve to form words around our heaving breaths.

There are points at which we have to clamber over fallen boulders, that Callahan and Brodie scale first, then help Rach and I over.

By midday, my legs are screaming violently, and my lungs are slowly being compressed by the altitude incline.

“Okay, I need to stop.” I bend at the waist and brace my hands on my knees.

Here’s me thinking my fitness levels had greatly improved since arriving in Elfayne, but my new Seelie senses are no match for this. Even Callahan and Brodie are sweating despite the cool wind that whips more harshly the higher we climb.

“It looks like the path levels out a bit up ahead, can you make it there?” Callahan asks, holding a hand to his forehead to shield his eyes from the sun.

I’m not seeing what he’s seeing, because when I try to focus on more than a few feet in front of me, my vision swims.

“How far?” I wheeze.

Dhia, I really am pathetic.

“Half a mile, if that.”

I want to sob. Whoever said hiking was fun is a liar. I only ever want to walk flat routes from here on out.

Brodie and Rach carry on, swapping one of the water bottles between them.

When I look up at Callahan, his bottom lip is firmly gripped between his teeth, and there’s a light in his storm-clouds that I’ve so dearly missed.

I point at him. “This isn’t funny.”

“Remind me to add cardio to your training routines. You’re all strength and no substance.”

I amble past him, ignoring the smirk on his mouth that desperately makes me want to kiss him.

Note to self, you being winded makes him laugh.

“I’m hot-girl fit, okay? Leave me alone.”

“You get these little splotches on your cheeks when you’re like this. They’re very cute.”

I round on him, fists on my hips. “Are you trying to piss me off or are you flirting?”

He shrugs as he takes the lead again. “Why can’t it be both?”

◆◆◆

“Half a mile, my fucking ass,” I curse quietly as we reach the point Callahan thought would be a good place to stop.

The ground has temporarily leveled out, and the strain on my quads has lessened. I collapse onto the nearest rock big enough to sit on.

Callahan hands me a bottle while trying—and failing—to hide his amusement. “We’re about half-way now, and it’s not going to get any easier.”

“Why? Why would you tell me that?”