The storm didn’t let up.
Rain continued battering the forest outside in relentless waves, drumming against earth and stone. Inside the cave, the fire burned steadily, its warmth pushing back the damp chill creeping into my skin.
For a while, none of us spoke.
Kael remained near the entrance, one shoulder braced lightly against the stone as he watched the dark forest beyond the curtain of rain. Ronan sat near the fire with one knee drawn up, lazily turning a thin stick between his fingers while shifting light flickered across his face.
I stayed a little apart from both of them, knees bent, Kael’s oversized shirt hanging loosely around me.
It still smelled faintly of pine and smoke.
Of him.
Which was… inconvenient.
My thoughts drifted despite myself.
The day replayed in fragments—ru
