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I gape. “What are youdoing?”

He leans past me to grab his pillow, too.

“Wha!” I huff, agape. “Why – what’re you – where –“

Cole straightens, the bundle of bedding under one arm. He smirks at me and gestures to the door. “After you, Nadia, if you’re tired.”

“Cole Kincaid,” I hiss, stepping close. “If you think that you’re –“

“Walking you back to the nursing tent? Absolutely I am. Itoldyou my concerns about the Children of Solace – and I didnotget to express enough displeasure about the fact that you were wandering around the campalonetonight.”

“Ididn’t,” I snap back.

Cole raises an eyebrow, and I scowl, looking down.

“Tommy wouldn’t let me go anywhere alone.”

“Good man,” Cole murmurs.

“Andhe got me the camping chair,” I say, whipping my head up to glare at him. “When I was intent on spying.”

Cole narrows his eyes. “Less good man. Listen, can we go? If you’re not going to be staying here, then I want to get myself settled –“

“What are you doing with all of that?” I cry, pointing to the bedding.

“Nothing,” he says, glancing down at it. Lying his stupid Prince ass off. “These are just for…fun.”

“Oh, I hate you,” I mutter, storming past him and out the flap of his tent.

“Liar,” he says, following me out. I stride quickly across the camp but Cole has no trouble keeping up with those long legs and lycanthrope lung capacity. He’s barely breathing hard when we reach the nurse’s sleeping tent.

“Okay!” I say, planting my hands on my hips. “We’re here!”

“In record time,” he says, perfectly calm, looking down into my face.

“Hey,” Tommy says, smiling at us, yawning. Amory gives a little wave.

“Hey guys,” Cole says, lifting his chin at them. “Your shift nearly done?”

“I have arrived safely!” I snap, hating that he’s ignoring me and not explaining what thehellis going on. “You can go!”

“Okay,” he says, nodding to me and turning his eyes back to his guards. “Go ahead in.”

I scoff, and Tommy glances at me, a little anxious, before looking back at Cole. “Yeah, we’re done. Replacements coming in like two minutes.”

“Cool,” Cole says, smiling at them. “Good work tonight, though you’re not supposed to loan the civilians chairs.” He points a thumb at me, and Tommy grins.

“Okay, night!” I nearly shout, done with this. I scowl at Cole as my farewell,knowingthat he’s up to something. Then I turn and push my way through the tent flap, walking quickly down the little row of beds towards my bunk, my hands in tight fists at my side.

Chapter 42 – Goodnight, Nadi

Cole

Tommy frowns, his eyes following Nadia through the door before they turn back to me. “Is everything…okay?”

“Oh, sure,” I say, shrugging. “Nadia just being Nadia. You get used to it.”

Tommy’s face twists in confusion at my words before his eyes flick down to the pillow and blanket in my arm. “Are you camping out?”