“We need to find the path back to Aeradian, though I don’t know how we’ll manage that,” I say.

“I can find it,” he says confidently. “I’ll get you to Lachlan. Don’t worry about that.”

“You think I’m worried about getting to Lachlan?” I scoff. “How little you must think of me to say such a thing.”

His eyes dart to mine, and I almost gasp at the dried blood covering his chest.

“Aren’t you?”

“No,” I retort.

Braizen hisses as he moves to sit, and I wince. “I’m worried about you.”

He follows my gaze to his shoulder and snaps the fingers of his left hand.

“This? Just a scratch. I’ll be fine.” He smiles, but I don’t join him. “Really, Sparrow, losing an arm isn’t the worst thing that could happen to me. Besides, I’ll still have two left.”

I wrinkle my brow until I see that gods awful, cocky grin on his face.

“Gods!” I throw up my hands. “How can you even joke at a time like this?”

He shrugs. “Because I’m stuck in the middle of the Florian Wood, mortally injured by a giant dog, with the Verdanian Princess whom I can’t touch. Hells, we aren’t even fully clothed! This entire situation is a joke, and I’m sure the gods have been laughing at us every step of the way. Might as well join them in their entertainment.”

I wrap my arms around my knees, and a reluctant laugh escapes me. “I suppose you’re right,” I allow.

His face grows serious. “Besides, it’s my fault we’re all here. My father wanted us to capture you, and we did. You’ve been my prisoner this entire time, and everything that’s happened to you since…”

“Whatever lurks in these woods was hunting me, whether I was kidnapped by you or not,” I interrupt. “It’s unlikely my Verdanian guards would’ve survived all the obstacles hurled at us.” I take a deep breath. “I think I’ve only lived this long because I’ve been your prisoner.”

“Well then, I guess we’re even. Except I think you’ve saved my team more times than they’ve saved you.”

I smirk and playfully dust off my shoulders. “Just another day of Verdanians being better than Baellileans.”

His brows rise, and he chuckles. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

I throw myself backward, landing softly on the dirt, and close my eyes.

“What are we going to do, Braizen?” I ask. There’s only the sound of our quiet, matching breaths. The still trees keep their ominous secrets. I rest my mind for a few minutes. I barely hear his whisper.

“We’re going to keep going, Idalia.”