Page 104 of Balance

Like that meant anything to me. “So what?”

“Usually, when a witch goes on a spiritual journey, we survive on the barest of essentials,” Miles explained. “I’m not going to kill an animal; it defeats the purpose of taking only what you need and leaving no waste.”

“We can use the hide.” I was not liking this explanation. Not one bit. We were lost in the middle of the mountains with no coffee and no food. I frowned at him. “Are you trying to tell me you haven’t really eaten since you left?” I didn’t believe it. Miles still radiated strength, and he didn’t look like a starving man. “Why did you have food in your bag?”

“I eat a little bit,” Miles replied, shrugging. “But it’s not something prioritized during a pilgrimage. Besides, hunting is entirely different. And what’s that about the hide? Just how long are you planning on us being out here?”

My gaze lingered on his arms, remembering the feel of them wrapped around me. My heart pounded.

Why was this affecting me now? It wasn’t like we’d never hugged before.

I must be going mad with hunger.

“It’s fine,” Miles continued, unaware of my inner turmoil. “Since I don’t have my bag, we’ll have to search for something to eat as we walk. We’ll steal more of Damen’s ramen once we meet back up.”

“You have a knife.” I pointed at the blade strapped to his waist.

He furrowed his brow, touching said knife. “Yes.” He nodded slowly, cautiously. “But that’s for self-defense—for an emergency.”

“Give it to me,” I commanded. My plan wasn’t working. I still remembered the feel of him against me, and I needed to distract myself.Thiswas an emergency. “I’m going to kill a squirrel.”

“You can’t do that!” Miles stepped back, hiding the knife from my view. “You wouldn’t even know how!” But then he frowned, and lips pressed in a line, as his gaze turned wary. “Do you?”

I bit the inside of my cheek—here were the questions.

“Yes.” Not that I really wanted to talk about that time of my life. But to ensure our survival…

Plus, I needed to make sure Miles trusted me to have his back. I had to prove to him that we could be a good team. Especially now after I’d already messed everything up.

“What…” he began, but I cut him off.

“I can’t tell youdetails, so don’t ask.” There was only so much mental space I could spare today. My adrenaline was already running high. “Just be assured that I can hunt with pointy sticks if need be. And can make sure we don’t starve to death until someone finds us.”

“Wait, are you serious?” Miles raised his eyebrow. “We won’t starve to death. There’s plenty to eat in the woods.”

I was perfectly aware of that, but I was accounting for every possibility. Someone needed to think long-term. We might even have to winter in this God-forsaken land. We needed to prepare. Hopefully we wouldn’t have to make any hard decisions.

I’d readLord of the Flies. I knew how this might end.

“Besides, they’ll find us soon,” Miles said, shrugging. “So don’t worry. I’m not.”

He reallydidn’tlook worried. In fact, he almost seemed annoyed that we’d been lost as long as we had.

I had to ask, unable to ignore the prickling in my spine, “What makes you so sure?”

“You’re Titus’smate,” Miles replied in a clipped voice, looking out over the ledge. He sounded so detached, and so factual. It was as if whatever happened between Titus and me didn’t affect him in any way. “He’s not going to just let you stay lost. Besides, everyone is going to be going insane with you being in danger.”

“I’m not in danger,” I answered slowly, watching him. “I’m withyou. They know this.”

“Yeah, exactly. So now they’ll care.”

His words caused the sound of my heart to echo in my ears, and my lingering anxiety vanished as my soul ached.

He didn’t think anyonecaredabout him?

Indignation twisted my heart, and I clenched the blanket in my fists, pulling the scratchy fabric tight over my shoulders. “How can you say that?”

My question was low, but he heard it and turned his attention to me, brows rising.