When the sun rose, they did as well and continued along the road. For two days the cycle continued, with little talk between the company. Each morning, Damien would wake up to find Selene an arm’s length away, on her side, one arm beneath her head, the other stretched out toward him. He would almost swear two women lived inside of Selene: the cold one who kept herself isolated from the others, and the quiet woman with hidden beauty who he found at daybreak, moments before she awoke.

On the third day, it began to rain. Oiled cloaks were pulled out of saddlebags, and everyone rode at a slower pace. The air grew cold and a biting wind whipped raindrops across Damien’s face. No one spoke as they rode through the mud and downpour. When it grew too dark to see, Taegis led them to an outcropping of trees just off Trader’s Road.

It was drier beneath the branches, but not by much. The horses huddled on one side beneath the trees as Sten tried to get a fire going. After a few minutes, he was able to produce a small flame, but there was only enough dry wood to last a short time. Everyone sat around the fire and ate stale bread and dried meat.

Damien laid out two wool blankets between the nearest tree trunk and fire. “Selene,” he said quietly. When she looked up, he pointed to the blanket near the fire. “For you.”

She nodded and came over. “Thank you.” She lay down without hesitation, wrapping her cloak and the other half of the blanket around her. Days ago, she would have been wary about sleeping near everyone else. It appeared she was becoming more comfortable with their small party—and with him in particular. Good.

The fire burned down low as the others prepared for bed. Damien lay on his back, looking up through the thick array of tree branches. The rain had stopped, but a cold wind still blew. Selene was already asleep nearby, Cohen curled up on the other side of the fire. Sten started snoring and Karl grunted. Taegis kept the first watch.

Just as Damien’s eyelids started falling, Selene gasped and sat up, clutching her cloak. She looked around as if to see if anyone had spotted her. Damien kept his eyes as slits and watched her. She twisted around and slowly lay back down, her face toward him.

Minutes ticked by; the only sounds were the last few snaps and crackles from the dying fire and the drip-drip of rainwater through the forest.

Damien shut his eyes.

And felt something touch his hand.

He yanked his hand back and opened his eyes. He glanced to his right and found Selene staring at him, her hand stretched out, her fingers mere inches from where his had been.

“Selene?” he whispered, frowning. Had it been her fingers that touched his hand?

She quickly drew her hand back to her chest.

“Are you all right? Do you need something?” he whispered.