She glanced over at the lit candle. Normally she would insist that it be put out, but her fear of lying in the dark with him outweighed her fear of the tent catching fire.

‘You can blow it out if you like,’ he said.

She shook her head. ‘No. It is fine as is.’

He held the blankets open to her, waiting. Everything about this moment felt wrong, but she went to him anyway, lying down on her side at the far edge of the cot. She went rigid as he tucked the blankets around her, then buried his face in her hair. His arm went over her, and everything inside her recoiled.

‘I love you,’ he whispered.

She responded with silence.

Thankfully, he fell asleep within minutes, without further expectations. There was no way she could have kissed him. The mere sensation of him breathing into her hair was already more than she could bear.

Seven hours she lay there, blinking and staring up at the roof of the tent, while he breathed loudly in her ear. True to his word, he held her all night. All night. His arm grew heavier and heavier with every breath she drew.

She did not know what the next day would bring. She simply prayed that she was strong enough to survive it.

Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

The plan was not without its faults, but it was the best play they could pull off with the time restraints they had. Blackmane wanted Isabel out yesterday but was forced to settle for the following day instead.

They worked overnight, completing the tunnel into the children’s area. Men and women formed a line from the mouth of the tunnel, passing pails of dirt back and forth along it. They emptied them far from the camp to avoid attracting the attention of guards passing through the area. Not taking any chances, they set up a perimeter of soldiers to ensure they could work without the stress of being discovered.

They broke through the surface on the other side of the fence a little before dawn. The hole was no larger than a cup, widening to three feet below. They could not afford to draw the attention of the guards or the children who would arrive when the sun rose. Once everyone was settled for the day, someone would go in and widen the hole so they could begin the process of extraction.

‘We need someone who the children will trust,’ Tolly said. They were seated high up in the branches of a hornbeam, fifty yards back from the fence, waiting for the children to arrive. ‘I thought perhaps Ita could do it.’

‘Afraid not,’ Blackmane said. ‘She’s away on a special assignment. But I’ll do it.’

Tatum ran a hand down his face. ‘Firstly, it’s annoying that children do, in fact, like you when most adults don’t. But secondly, we’re supposed to be neutral observers.’