‘But I’ll keep watch over you.’

Her eyes sank shut again, and sleep took her.

Blackmane gave himself two minutes. Two minutes to study her face and savour her sleepy breaths. Two minutes to swim in her scent and keep her warm.

When the two minutes were up, he climbed out from beneath the blanket and tucked it tightly around her, then kept watch over her for the rest of the night.

Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

Isabel woke to warm fingers brushing her cheek. She forced her heavy eyes open and found Blackmane seated next to her, framed by grey light.

‘What happened to your face?’ he asked, his voice like ice.

She pushed herself up into a seated position. ‘I already told you what happened.’

‘He did this?’

She nodded.

‘And the marks on your neck?’

‘Like I said, he scared even himself.’

‘I don’t give a shit what he felt.’ He held up her arms between them. ‘These are fresh. He tie you up as well?’

The marks were barely noticeable. He must have been studying her closely before she woke. ‘He wanted to make sure I did not go anywhere.’

He gently lowered her arms before standing up and going over to the horse. ‘We need to get moving.’

She watched his rigid posture from the back. ‘Are you angry?’

‘Yes.’

‘At me?’

‘Not at you.’

She hugged her knees. ‘Love makes people do crazy things.’

He walked over to her and snatched up the blanket. ‘Love. Right.’

She stood and began to help him. ‘I left. What more do you want?’

‘To break his face, for a start.’ He jerked the bedroll off the ground. ‘He doesn’t get to do that again.’

He was clearly feeling helpless, and she could see how uncomfortable he was in that state. ‘If it helps, I plan on staying as far away from him as I can.’

He nodded. ‘Show me your hands.’

She held them out so he could see the splinters.

‘These aren’t splinters,’ he said, going to fetch his medic kit. ‘You have entire sticks wedged beneath your skin.’ He took out a small metal instrument, which he used to grab the end of the splinters, gently pulling them out one at a time.

‘Yours would have held up significantly better,’ she said, attempting to lighten the mood.

‘Not much gets through a defender’s calloused palm—except maybe a sword.’ He picked up his waterskin. ‘Here.’

She held them out so he could pour some water over them, wincing as he did so.

His gaze flicked up to meet hers. ‘Sorry,’ he said quietly.

Wounds cleaned, he secured the last few items, then did a final check of the girth.

‘So, now we find Ita and Tatum, and then you go home?’ she said to his back.

He nodded. ‘That’s right.’