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“And then? Because I can hear there’s something else in there.” He pulled off his second boot.

“And then I should go to Bartolo and convince the town of the positives of embracing the Rising Wave.”

He sighed. Stood up to pull off his pants.

She watched his hands as he unbuckled his belt.

“I thought about us, about how we were in the river the other night when I was bathing earlier this evening, and hurried back here.” She folded her jacket and set it on her pack. “But you weren’t here.”

“Are you trying to distract me?” He pulled the shirt she’d embroidered for him over his head and tossed it aside.

“I’m telling you the truth, but I was also trying to wipe that pained expression off your face,” she admitted.

“Come here.”

She discarded the last of her clothing and was pulled in close, skin against skin, although unlike at the river, this time they had all the privacy they needed.

“You smell delicious.” He inhaled and kissed the side of her neck. “I knew I couldn’t do without you the night we were on the run from the Kassian. The horse became lame and we had to leave it and run and when I helped you down from the saddle, I was overcome by the need to breathe in your scent and hold you close, even though they were right behind us.”

“Really?” She remembered the moment, but she hadn’t realized he had wanted to hold her. “I knew I couldn’t do without you when you stepped out from behind the trees to draw the Kassian soldiers away from me. You sacrificed yourself to keep me safe.”

“I always will,” he said, and nipped at her ear. “Which sits uncomfortably with your proposal to race toward two places the Kassian control or are planning to infiltrate.”

“I know.” She feathered kisses along his jaw. “And yet, you know it’s the right thing to do.”

“I can’t go with you this time. I have to lead the columns.”

“Oscar and Deni can come with me. They’ve already offered.”

He mulled it over. “You might have to reveal some of your secrets to them.”

“I know, but I said before that I’d share my secrets if it means the Rising Wave has a better chance of winning, and I meant it. Deni is my friend, and Oscar is a good man; they came looking for me tonight while I was talking to Revek—”

“What happened.” He went still, his hands running down her bare back and gripping her hips.

“Revek’s worried I’m doing to you what Haslia did to him. I don’t think he would have hurt me, but . . .”

“But?”

“But he was considering it. And Oscar and Deni made sure the feeling passed.”

“I don’t want you alone with him.” Luc sounded grim.

“I won’t make the same mistake again. I don’t think he’ll seek me out anymore. He asked his questions. I answered them.”

Luc sighed. “I don’t know what to do about him. It hurts to see someone I love as a brother so twisted up and angry.”

“Give him something less annoying to do than stocktaking.” She gave a wry smile.

“Is that what Massi has him doing? I left it to her.” Luc sounded surprised.

“So what will it be?” Ava slid her hands up to his shoulders and pressed close again. “I’ll have to leave as soon as I’ve had a chance to embroider a few things and finish your tunic.”

“My tunic?”

She nodded. “That’s what I’ve been knitting. It’ll either be useless, or even more powerful than my embroidery, I can’t decide which. But if it does work, it’ll be the best protective armor you’ve ever worn.”

He held her gaze. “You should wear it, not me.”