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The others had been listening in to their conversation, and Ava hoped they accepted her excuse. She didn’t look at Luc, who was putting up a tent for them to share.

He would know she was lying, and it made her uncomfortable, but not enough to change her story.

She was stitching the part of her cloak that centered down her spine. Even if the wind blew the sides back and exposed the lining beneath, no one would see a single stitch.

She liked that idea. Liked it a lot.

“What are you humming?” Varik sat on her other side and began to help Catja stack logs.

“Nothing specific. It’s a habit I’ve got into when I sew.” Ava hunched her shoulders.

She could feel too many eyes on her now. Not in an unfriendly way, but she didn’t like being the center of attention when she was doing a working.

“Why don’t you sing for us, Varik?” Luc found space beside Ava and slung an arm around her shoulders. “I’ve heard from your captain you’re considered one of the best.”

The others began to tease the Funabi about his voice, and eventually he was persuaded to sing.

The fire was going, and Hector and Oscar began setting up the small pots they’d brought along, getting dinner on the go.

Ava leaned closer and gave a quick kiss to Luc’s neck.

He’d seen her discomfort and distracted the others for her. She felt as if her heart could not be contained in her body as she relaxed against him, sewing in quick, sure movements as the last of the evening light washed over her.

She was working protection into her cloak, but her feelings for Luc kept creeping in, and she had to try and concentrate on deflecting arrows, and swords, and blows with fists.

Eventually dinner was ready and she set her cloak aside, eating and laughing with the others.

In a way it was good they could pretend they didn’t know the Kassian were skulking about. They could enjoy themselves with a warm fire and hot stew, while the Kassian would have to stay quiet in the dark.

The fire burned lower, and Catja started yawning.

“When are you going on your little excursion?” Oscar asked, voice soft.

“Now. Make sure two of you are always on watch. If we get into trouble we can’t get out of, we’ll call.”

Ava went to her saddle bag and got out the two scarves she’d woken before dawn this morning to embroider for herself and Luc, and slid them into her pocket.

“Ready?” Luc strapped his sword to his back and lifted the hood of his dark cloak.

She nodded and they slipped quietly down the hillside.

As soon as the darkness swallowed them, Ava handed Luc one of the scarves and pulled on the other one, winding it over her head and tying it at her throat.

Once it was on him, he disappeared completely, and she stopped for a moment, amazed at how well it worked.

“Ava?” he stopped himself, turning slowly to find her, and she reached out a hand to touch the air where she thought he was, her hand encountering his warm, hard body.

“It works really well.” She smiled and found his hand and took it in hers.

“Don’t let go or we’ll lose each other.” He squeezed her hand and she squeezed back.

Time to find out what the Kassian were up to.

Chapter 30

The Kassian said nothing.

Luc was reluctantly impressed.