Page 84

I stuck close to Silas, my pack bouncing lightly against my back as we walked. I could feel the heat of his penetrating gaze on me every so often, like he was still processing the fact that I was here.

Fine. Let him stew.

I wasn’t stupid. I knew what I had coming. I heard the same things he did.

I shook the thought off as the group finally stopped for a short break. Caleb and Ryan knelt near the fire pit they had started digging out, while Hale took inventory of our supplies. Varek leaned against a tree, tossing a knife between his hands, while Rowan crouched nearby, sharpening his blade again. Silas approached me, his face a mask of weary anger.

“You’re going to slow us down,” Silas said softly.

I turned toward him, arching a brow. “Is that supposed to be a welcome or what? I kept up with you all the way so far.”

He grunted, crossed his arms. “It’s just a fact.”

“Enough. If she’s here, she might as well be useful. Can you track?” Rowan asked, his words cool and collected.

I rolled my eyes. “I found you, didn’t I?”

That earned me a slow, assessing look from Rowan. “Fair enough.”

Silas didn’t say anything, but I could feel the weight of his frustration.

I sighed, adjusting the strap of my pack. “So, are you just going to brood all night, or are we going to talk?”

Silas huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “You really don’t know when to stop, do you?”

“Evidently not.”

Without a word, he grabbed his pack and started walking away from the group.

I followed.

We walked in silence at first, weaving through the trees, the quiet settling between us like something tangible.

He glanced down at me, his expression softer than I expected. “You did well tracking us,” he admitted.

I blinked. “That almost sounded like a compliment.”

“It was.” His lips twitched. He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. “Look, you’re here now. I don’t like it, but I’m not sending you back. It’s too treacherous for you to be out there on your own.”

“I’m not a little girl anymore. I can fight,” I countered.

His expression grew serious. “It’s not that I don’t think you can handle yourself, Lia. You wouldn’t have made it this far if you couldn’t. But this isn’t like running through the city. This isn’t dodging patrols or stealing supplies. This is so much worse.”

Then he turned fully toward me, his fingers clamping gently around my wrists. His touch was warm, firm, grounding me.

“I’ll protect you,” he said, his voice low, raw with something deeper than I’d heard from him before. “With my life, if I must. But if I’m worried about you every second—if I’m watchingyouinstead of the fight—I’m no good to anyone.”

His words hit me like a punch to the chest. Not because I hadn’t known he cared, but because I hadn’t realized how much I meant to him. How much he was willing to risk.

I blinked, my throat tightening. “Silas…”

He didn’t let go. “I can’t lose you, Wildcat. Not after everything. Not now.”

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “But Icouldn’tstay behind. I need to be where you are. I want to help. However I can. Use me, use my skills. Just… don’t try to protect me by pushing me away.”

His jaw worked like he was holding something back, and then, finally, he reached up and cupped the side of my face, brushing his thumb over my cheekbone.

“I don’t want to push you away,” he murmured. “I want you by my side. You drive me crazy, you fight me at every turn, and you’re reckless as hell, but I love that about you. You scare me, Lia, and that’s what makes me hold on so tight.”