As Selene went for a waterskin, Cohen brought over one of the last rounds of bread and gave half to Damien. He broke off a piece and slowly chewed without sitting up. She brought the water back and knelt beside him.

She popped off the cork and held the skin close to his chest. Then she placed a hand beneath his head. “Here you go.”

He sat up with her assistance. She tipped the skin up, and he took a long drink. “I feel much better,” he said, his lips curving upward in the corners. His blue eyes looked deeper in the weak firelight.

Something fluttered inside her middle as she brought his head back down. “Let me know if you need more.”

Damien nodded and went back to eating his bread. After they all finished the simple meal, Cohen and Taegis took a few minutes for their personal needs.

Selene laid Sten’s blanket out near Damien’s and proceeded to lie down.

“Where did you learn to fight like that?” he asked quietly.

Selene froze, her mind racing for an answer. “My mother,” she said finally. “It’s a style that’s been passed down for generations.”

He turned his head and looked at her. “Why does your family fight? The only houses I know of who teach their ladies to fight are House Merek and House Luceras.”

Selene lay down on her back and looked up at the stars. A sliver of a moon hung low across the horizon and a dozen stars shone overhead. Damien still didn’t know about the missions, or the deaths. So many deaths. All he knew was the Ravenwood gift still existed.

“We fight to defend ourselves. Men are not the only ones who can die by the sword.” How would he react when he finally found out what she had been trained to do? That her gift was one born of blood and fear?

“I see.”

There was a rustling sound. Selene glanced over to find Damien extending his hand toward her. “Good night, Selene,” he said, his hand resting on the ground between them. Then he closed his eyes.

Selene’s throat tightened. After all he’d been through, she hadn’t expected this gesture. And yet here he was, holding his hand out toward her, waiting.

She swallowed and slowly moved her own hand until her palm lay on top of his and their fingers were intertwined. His hand was warm, warding off the autumn chill in the air.

Minutes later, Taegis and Cohen returned to the camp, talking in low tones.

Selene watched them from the corner of her eye. For a moment, she considered letting go of Damien’s hand. This small touch felt too private for the eyes of others. But the thought of facing her nightmares alone made her leave her hand where it was, and she closed her eyes instead.

Soon the camp grew quiet, with only the soft snap and crackle of the fire and the occasional hoot from a nearby owl. Selene snuggled down deep within her blanket and let out a long contented sigh, ready to find her way inside Damien’s dreams.