In a short amount of time, I became surprised for he had not left us long ago, but I could see his footsteps leading deep into the forest, therefore even if it had not been long, he’d gone far.

Apparently, he wished to put some distance between him and our party.

Between him and me.

I moved more swiftly, my surprise shifting to concern the deeper I got into the forest, and the farther away I became from our friends.

I then grew troubled when I searched the distance and saw his footprints continue some ways even further.

I continued on the path, the night and wood enveloping me to the point I knew, even if I called out, the others would not hear me.

After some time, I became alarmed, for the prints continued ever farther into the forest, but it appeared they came to an abrupt halt.

I quickened my pace. But the closer I got to where the glowing prints ended, the slower I moved, for Cassius’s footfalls ended because he was standing in the shadows of a small glade with but spare moonlight shafting through the branches, his arms crossed on his chest, waiting for me.

I was six feet from him when he bit out, “Do not ever use magic to track me.”

I stopped where I was.

“Do you hear me, Elena?” he demanded. “You do not ever use your tricks to seek me.”

My…

Tricks?

I had come to talk. To ask him if he was well. To attempt to find out what was on his mind.

It was not lost on me not only was there much going on, not only was he to be wed to his mortal enemy (as such), he was simply to be wed again. He had lost the woman he loved and was forced to take another to wife. He had made it very clear I should be sensitive to that, and I had intended to be just that.

However, at his demand, that intention flew right from my mind.

“You’re deep in the forest, Cassius,” I told him.

“I know where I am, Elena,” he returned.

“It is not safe for either of us to be this far away from the others,” I went on.

“Where it is, is a distance where I can be with my own thoughts, which I assume would communicate I do not desire company, thus do not wish to be sought for I do not wish to be found.”

“It’s clear you have something troubling you—”

“Oh, is it?” he asked sarcastically.

My temper frayed further but I did my best to hold on to the tattered edges.

“And as your betrothed, this concerns me.”

“There’s nothing to be concerned about.”

“We should reach The Enchantments in but a few days and you aren’t speaking to me,” I pointed out.