He nodded. “Yes. Daegal has Seen something. He sent word this morning.”
I lowered my gaze to his chest, where I knew the two pieces of the map lay beneath his tunic. “About the map?” I whispered, my words barely audible.
“Yes.” Xander sighed, running his hand over his hair. His brows furrowed and concern laced his tone as he asked, “Are you… will you be okay here for a few days?”
Would I be okay? I considered the question.
A few weeks ago, my answer would have been completely different. But now… something was growing between us.
Not only that, but I felt safe in The Pines in a way that I had never before.
There hadn’t been a single sighting of the Red Shadow or the Winged Soldiers, and we were so far in the woods… I thought that maybe, just maybe, I was in the clear. Maybe the king had given up the search and decided I wasn’t worth it.
A girl could hope.
“Yes,” I nodded. “I will be fine.”
Xander’s lips tilted up softly. “I’ll be back soon. I wouldn’t want you to miss me.”
I smirked. “Confident of you to think I’d even know you were gone, Xander.”
“Oh, Sunshine.” He smirked, patting my hand as he stood. Xander winked at me. “I know you’ll be thinking about me.”
I didn’t deny it. We both knew he was right. And I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
* * *
The next three days went by in relative peace. I read, devouring the books on the Females’ Rebellion, and another that I’d found that detailed the history of the Western Kingdom.
I still didn’t find anything about Earth Elves.
By the time the sun set on the third day after Xander left, I was feeling hopeless. After another long, fruitless search, I was trudging towards the dining hall when I heard a familiar pair of voices. I stopped in my tracks, looking around.
They were coming from behind a log cabin.
I knew those voices. My chest seized and my heart sped up at the sound of Xander’s deep grumble.
I hadn’t even known he was back.
Why hadn’t he come to say hello? How long had he been back? Why did I care?
Xander was whispering, his voice too low to make out the words. I narrowed my eyes, lifting my skirts to creep along the path.
“… We will have to go south…”
Another voice. “What about…” Daegal coughed, and I inched closer. “… Can’t just leave her here.”
Her. Was that me? Were they talking about me? The audacity of it all made my blood boil. This was what came from treating females so poorly. Males forgot we even had thoughts or opinions. My vision turned red as I clenched my fists at my side. I barely caught Xander’s reply.
“… Attachments are dangerous… Important…”
“… Dragons… Can’t just…”
They continued their conversation, but my mind had stalled. It was as though I couldn’t breathe.
Dragons.
That’s what I’d heard. I was certain of it.