Aelira woke to birdsong and dew clinging to her lashes, but Astren was gone.
Not gone-gone. His jacket was still draped over her, and his scent lingered like smoke and pine. But the place where he’d been beside her was cold. Too cold.
She sat up fast, scanning the camp. Vess and Raze were arguing in low tones near the fire. Cain leaned against a tree, arms crossed, eyes closed but definitely not asleep.
“Where is he?” she asked, voice scratchy.
Vess paused mid-sentence. “Astren? He left at dawn. Said he was scouting ahead.”
“Alone?”
Cain opened one eye. “He’s not exactly fragile, Aelira.”
“Yeah well neither am I,” she snapped, climbing to her feet. “But that didn’t stop him from babysitting me the past three days.”
Raze raised a brow. “You sure this is about protection and not, y’k
