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Closing her eyes, she almost moaned as she took the first bite.

Nothing had ever tasted this good in her life.

At last, something with flavor and substance, filled with foraged vegetables and the meat of some game they had likely killed during their travel.

The meat melted in her mouth, and she sipped on the warm broth contentedly.

There had always been something about soups and stews that comforted her, as if wrapping her in a warm hug.

“Did they even feed you at all?” Quinn asked, noting Ava’s pleasure at the stew. “I’ve never seen anyone react to Jorrar’s shitty cooking in such a way.”

Jorrar made a face as if he was used to Quinn’s comments. Casimir watched the three of them with a flicker of amusement but said nothing as he ate his dinner.

They seemed easy around each other. Used to the antics and jokes.

She glared at Quinn, irritation rising before she had a chance to realize it. “Anything tastes amazing after you’ve been living off stale bread and old meat for weeks. Even Jorrar’s shitty cooking .”

Quinn gave her a flat look as Raine snorted at Ava’s comment.

Raine pointed at her with his spoon. “I like you. Even though you stabbed me.” He paused and smiled wider. “Actually, that makes me like you even more.”

“You’re an idiot,” lamented Quinn.

Ava allowed herself a small smile. At least one of them liked her. They finished their meal in silence, and she supposed the silence here was preferable to the awful screams and sounds back at the army camp.

After dinner, Quinn approached her and untied the rope from the tree.

“What are you doing?” Ava asked with trepidation .

“The general assigned me to take you to the creek. You stink.” She glanced at her as she grasped the rope. “Come on.”

Ava stood and followed Quinn into the woods where they stopped before a clear stream illuminated by the moonlight, snaking its way through the trees. Quinn untied Ava’s wrists, watching her closely.

“If you run, I’ll shoot you in the leg with an arrow,” she said as she dropped the rope and pulled a bow off her back. “Throw your clothes onto the shore.”

Ava walked to the stream, and though she wasn’t keen about being naked in front of a stranger, she was so caked with dirt and grime the temptation of feeling even a little bit cleaner overrode her remaining modesty.

After tossing her clothing onto the ground, she lowered herself into the stream and sighed.

The water was waist high and surprisingly warm, soothing her aching muscles.

“Why isn’t the water cold?” she asked.

Quinn was leaning against a tree, arrow nocked into place and aimed directly at her. “Hot springs.”

Ava settled lower into the stream, allowing it to reach her neck and closed her eyes, pretending there wasn’t a fae warrior poised to shoot her at any second. “It’s lovely.”

“They sure did a number on you, didn’t they?”

Ava opened her eyes again and looked at Quinn, suddenly aware of how bruised and battered her body looked. “Yes.”

Quinn’s icy demeanor faded momentarily as she set down her bow and reached into her pocket, pulling out a vial full of purple liquid. “Here,” she said as she tossed it to Ava.

She caught it and inspected the vial. “What is it?”

“Soap.” Quinn left the bow on the ground and crossed her arms, not taking her eyes off Ava. “I bought it for myself. But you smell much worse than I do,” she said.

“Wow… um. Thanks.”

She uncorked the vial and poured the viscous material into her hand and began to lather her body. It smelled of lavender and lemon, instantly relaxing Ava as she breathed it in.

“Sorry, I snapped at you,” Ava said as she washed her arms. “I’m—I’m exhausted and was starving and… I don’t know.”

Quinn shrugged. “At least you have a backbone.”

“Normally, I don’t.” She tilted her head back to rinse her hair. “I just couldn’t help it. Honestly… the stew wasn’t even that good,” she explained. “I was just so hungry.”

Quinn let out a small chuckle and Ava looked at her. “Don’t tell Jorrar. I don’t want to hurt his feelings,” Ava added.

“As long as you don’t tell the guys I gave you my soap. I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Deal.” Ava gave her a small smile and the corner of Quinn’s lips lifted, just barely.

Ava lowered back into the creek and spent the next several minutes scrubbing the rest of the dirt off herself the best she could, never wanting to leave the warmth of the stream.

Ava watched Casimir as he sat by the fire, taking first watch.

She was back in her previous spot, wrists bound and tied to the tree she was leaning against. Quinn had given her some clean clothing; a pair of brown trousers and a tan tunic.

She wore the same boots Isolde had given her and though cleaner, she still felt dirt and grime on her skin.

What she wouldn’t give to sit in a bathtub for hours and scrub every inch of her body until her skin was raw.

As if she could wash away all the horrific memories of the recent weeks along with it.

Alone with The Bear, she was unable to take her eyes off him as he sat on a fallen log. Relaxed and staring into the flames, his sun-kissed skin was aglow from the light. Curiosity getting the best of her, she broke the silence. “Is it true you have a giant pet bear? ”

He turned toward her, irritation flickering in his eyes. “Where did you hear that?”

She shrugged. “Some prisoner at the camp told me.”

He watched her, as if he was trying to decide if he should answer and said, “Aro is not a pet ,” the last word coming out harshly. “Most pets aren’t able to gut you in one swipe of their paws.”

“So… where is Aro? I haven’t seen him yet.”

“Elsewhere.”

“Do the others have animals?” she dared to ask, wishing for the hundredth time that Luna was still with her.

He was silent as he turned to stare back into the flames.

“Can you do magic?” She couldn’t help her questions. She was nervous, yes, but she knew she needed to get to know these fae. Maybe earn some trust.

“Yes.”

“Will you show me?”

“No.”

“Do you always reply with one-word answers?” she asked.

“No.”

“You literally just did,” she said.

He slowly turned his head back toward her, eyes narrowing. “Do you always ask annoying questions?”

“Only when I realize it irritates a fae general,” she bit back. Why did she say that? Just like when she snapped at Quinn, her stupid mouth didn’t know when to shut up. Something about being around this group was tearing down her defenses.

“Do you have a death wish?”

She stared at him. “Are you threatening to kill me for asking you questions?”

He shook his head. “I’m just saying your mouth will get you in trouble if you don’t learn when to keep it shut.”

“You know—” she said. “You’re kind of mean.”

“I’m not mean, I’m cautious,” he retorted .

“Whatever.”

“Go to sleep.”

She sighed, wondering if Casimir ever smiled. She didn’t know why she said that. She knew she shouldn’t antagonize the general, but for some reason she couldn’t help it.

Careful Ava. Don’t poke the bear, she thought.

Her heart ached as she realized the joke reminded her of Eleanor.

When they had gotten stoned and told horrible dad jokes as they searched for the map to the portal.

The map that had upended everything and gotten her killed.

Stifling the tears, she closed her eyes and leaned her head against the tree, trying to think about something else.