“Oh, I understand.” She gave a mirthless laugh and held up her blistered hand. “I fully understand. But this is the only thing keeping me going. I can’t just curl up in an alleyway and give in, which is what my body wants to do right now. Let me laugh and joke about this, and my legs will keep moving.”

That’s what her cavalier attitude was and always had been. A safety net. A shield. A lifeline.

And he’d just dismissed it as childish banter, a sign she didn’t take things seriously. Well, maybe that last part was true, but there was so much more to it than that.

Sighing, he shook his head. “We’re nearly there. The innkeeper thinks you’ve just arrived. I’ve told them you’re ill in order to”—he bit his lip and looked away—“to—er—”

“Explain how awful I look?” She pursed her lips and nodded. “I’ve seen my hands—I can guess what the rest of me must look like. Bet you’re glad you’re not …” But she trailed off, nostrils flaring, gaze on the floor ahead.

They walked on in silence.

Turning right at the next road, golden lamplight dazzled him through the mist. He froze, staring into the fog.

Civilians wouldn’t carry a lamp.

Military would.

In Hiding

Blood roared in his ears as he looped an arm around Vee’s waist and scooped her off her feet. No time for her complaints—they had to get off the road now. Perhaps she understood, because she made no sound except for a gasp, and as he hurried back the way they’d come, she kept watch behind, eyes wide.

“I don’t think they saw us,” she breathed.

He ducked into the next alley, only putting her down once he found a sheltered doorway to the left. He glanced further in—damnation, a dead end. They couldn’t cut through to the next street.

Their breaths heaved as they both stared back the way they’d come.

Light cast the fog on the road golden.

Wild Hunt, had they heard his footsteps? Not wanting to draw attention, he hadn’t quite broken into a run, but maybe they’d heard him anyway.

He forced his breaths slower, deeper, straining his ears to hear the slightest noise.

Eyes wide, pupils full, Vee bit her lip.

No way could she bring more mist to their aid this time.

Footsteps, out at the end of the alley.

Vee tensed against him. “Bollocks.”

An understatement. Corner of his mouth twitching, he nodded.

Hazy shadows moved in the mist, growing darker, larger, more distinct.