"Do you like the jam, Mother?" Nadia asked as she helped herself to another biscuit. The princess and her guardian had made it a habit for the past few days after the accident to share the midday meal with the queen in her chambers. At first, Eva had offered to wait in the hall while the queen and princess ate to allow them some privacy, but both ladies insisted that she join them. Thus, Eva was now dining at a small circular table with the princess while the queen ate propped up in bed.

"Yes, it's delicious," Queen Linarra answered while a servant refilled her cup with steaming tea. "Strawberry is my favorite."

"I know. That's why I had Celia send some up."

"Thank you, Nadia. That was very thoughtful of you."

"You're welcome."

Observing their interaction with silent interest, Eva couldn't resist the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth. It was heartwarming to see the way Nadia lit up when she spoke to her mother. The queen also held a special sparkle in her eyes for her daughter, but Eva noticed she still looked very pale as well and seemed unusually weak. Several maids remained by her side throughout the day, however, and the best healers checked on her often, making sure the queen was well cared for. So, the young warrior felt there was no reason to worry.

"How are you progressing in your elemental training?" Linarra asked toward the end of the meal.

"Oh, just great, Mother! Now that Eva has helped me understand the wind, I can do all sorts of things. Yesterday, I learned how to make a miniature whirlwind!"

"That's wonderful!"

"Would you like to see? I can do it for you now."

"Nadia, I don't think that would be a good idea," Eva warned. "Remember the mess it caused outside with the all the debris it stirred up?"

"Oh..." Her face fell with her mood.

"Don't worry dear, I'll come watch you once I'm feeling better and able to be up and about."

"Okay," Nadia agreed, somewhat appeased.

"Well," Eva began as she pushed her chair back and stood from the table, "I think it's time we head to your elemental lessons and let the queen take her afternoon nap."

"Already?"

"Nadia," the queen reproached gently, "It's not polite to whine. You should do as you're told without complaint."

"Yes, ma'am." The young girl lowered her head dejectedly, toeing the thick rug covering the marble floor beneath her feet.

"Come here and give me a hug before you go," the queen said in a kinder tone.

The princess immediately snapped her head up, eyes sparkling once more as she clambered onto the bed and wrapped her arms around her mother. "I love you, mum."

"I love you too, dear one. I'm sorry I've not been able to spend much time with you lately. You're still my favorite little girl, though."

"But what if you have another girl?" she asked with her head tilted back to gaze up at her mother's face.

"Hmm, well you'd still be my first girl; so that guarantees you a special place in my heart forever."

"Good. You're still my favorite mother too, by the way."

"That's good to know." Queen Linarra winked at her.

"I love you," Nadia said again as she kissed her on the cheek.

"I love you too. Have fun in your lessons, and be careful."

"I will." Pushing herself up onto her hands and knees, Nadia stooped to plant a kiss on her mother's protruding abdomen. "Love you too, baby. You need to hurry up, though."

At that, the queen enjoyed a hearty laugh and swatted her daughter playfully on the bottom. "Go on, silly. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay." Nadia crawled awkwardly to the edge of the bed and scooted off the side.

After helping her straighten her rosy dress, Eva took the princess by the hand and led her to the door. "Have a good day, Your Majesty," she said from the doorway, "and rest well."

"Thank you, Eva, and thank you for taking such good care of my little girl."

"It is my pleasure, I assure you," she replied with a slight bow and a small smile. Then, she and Nadia took their leave, closing the door behind them softly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a rainy Tuesday evening a little over a week later, Eva had been relieved of her duties at the palace and was leaving for the day. Walking hunched over with her eyes on the muddy ground in front of her, she pulled her wool cloak more tightly around her in an attempt to keep at least somewhat dry and hurried through the dreary weather. When she reached the front gate, however, she looked up to find her mother nowhere in sight. That's strange. She always arrives first. Pushing her hood back from her eyes, Eva swept her gaze around the area curiously. Through the downpour, she made out a shadowed figure leaning against the wall off to her right. It was obvious from the person's shape that it was a man, and even though the hood of his cloak was pulled low over his face, Eva could tell he was watching her.

Deciding he may know something about her mother's whereabouts, she strode across the sodden ground to approach him. "Good day, sir. I was wondering if by chance you had seen my mother. She usually meets me here at this hour. She's similar to me in height and build but with darker hair. Have you noticed anyone like that?"

"I have indeed," he answered in a low, gravelly voice. "She was here not ten minutes ago but didn't linger long. She asked me to pass on word to her daughter, which I assume to mean you, that she would see her at home."

"Did she say why she didn't wait for me? I know this is terrible weather, but that's never deterred her before."

"Actually, she left because I asked her to."

"What?" Eva asked with her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Instinctively, she placed a hand on a knife in her belt.

"I told you I'd find you, Eva," he spoke in a familiar timbre.

"How do you know my-" Suddenly, she felt as if a door were opened in her mind. "Caden."

Pushing away from the wall, he towered over her and lifted his head enough that his hood no longer concealed his face from view. The stubble-covered jawline and icy blue eyes she saw there confirmed her earlier suspicion. "At your service, m'lady," he said before lifting her hand that was still lingering near her knife and lightly brushing a kiss across the knuckles.

"I'm not a lady," she reminded him while blushing slightly.

"Perhaps you do not have the title, but you do have the grace."

To her embarrassment, her blush deepened and a short giggle escaped. Quickly clearing her throat, Eva worked to compose herself. "Alright, that's enough flattery. I didn't think you were one prone to such foolishness."

"Ah well, maybe I just wanted to prove to you that I was capable of making a lady swoon."

"Hmm, I suppose it's a good thing I'm not a lady then," she teased with a cheeky grin.

"Ouch! She's as skilled with her tongue as she is with a blade."

"Yes, so watch yourself."

"To be sure," he responded, giving her a broad smile. "Well, m'lady who isn't a lady, shall we continue this conversation in a dryer environment, or would you rather catch your death in the rain?"

"Dry sounds good," she answered just as the wind picked up and lifted the edges of her cloak, allowing the fat raindrops to drench more of her clothing.

"Right this way then." Stepping around her, he led her out the gate to a stunning, jet-black stallion tethered to a post. The beast was soaked to the bone, but the excess moisture only added to the shine of his ebony coat and provided definition to his lean muscle build. Only one word came to mind when Eva saw him.

"Magnificent," she breathed as she gently ran a hand down his toned neck.

"This is Onyx."

"The name suits him."

"Mm," he agreed, unable to give a complete answer. He was too preoccupied with watching her to fully respond. Even when he untied the reigns and stepped to the horse's side, his eyes never left her. He studied the way she caressed Onyx's muzzle and how she whispered softly to him in greeting, and to his great surprise, he caught himself wishing that he were the one receiving such attentions.

Did I just wish I were a horse? He asked himself in stunned disbelief. Shaking his head sternly to try and clear it, he squared his shoulders and forced himself to act sensibly. "Have you ever ridden before?"

"Yes," she answered honestly, keeping her focus on Onyx.

"Good," he replied, pausing clumsily. "Let's go then."

"Go where?" When she at last turned to look up at Cade in question, she found him already mounted and holding the reigns in one hand.

"You'll see," he answered before offering his free hand to help her up.

Heaving a mock sigh, Eva stepped to his side and placed her left foot in the stirrup. "Will you never answer my questions with a straightforward answer?"

Instead of responding, he simply smiled at her with a hint of mischief in his eyes.

"Have it your way then," she muttered quietly then placed her hand in his and climbed up behind him in the saddle. Once she had her arms secured around his waist, she added more loudly, "But if I catch a fever, it's on your head." Pressed together as they were, she more felt than heard the vibrations of his soft chuckle before he answered.

"Trust me, you'll be kept plenty warm this evening."

Without giving her a chance to respond, Cade kicked his heels into the stallion's sides and urged him on at breakneck speed through the streets. Eva was somewhat glad she didn't have to answer because, with the way his comment had sent her thoughts reeling, she didn't think she'd be able to put two words together let alone create a whole, coherent sentence. She was pretty sure, too, that her face had turned a shade of red she'd never before seen. Burying her head against his shoulder, she attempted, in part, to hide her mortification from view and, also, to protect her eyes and face from the stinging rain.

After maneuvering through the crowded streets without injury and exiting through the city gates, Cade steered them north and entered the Faerie Woods. There, he was forced to slow Onyx to a walk as they picked their way along a narrow path that looked to be barely more than a trail for deer. Once they had traveled in a few paces, the branches and leaves overhead were crowded closely enough together that they blocked most of the rainfall, allowing Eva to sit up straighter and better take in her surroundings. All was quiet except for the pitter-patter of raindrops on the dense foliage and the subdued footsteps of their mount as he trod across the wet ground. The smell of moisture was strong in the air, giving everything a fresh, renewed feel, and with the sun still hidden behind heavy clouds, the trees and shrubbery were cast in stark shadows, illuminated only by the emerald green of their leaves.

Inhaling through her nose, Eva allowed herself a moment to soak in the peaceful quiet that blanketed them and relish life in its simplicity. The tranquil atmosphere must have begun to influence Cade as well because she felt the muscles of his shoulders and back begin to relax with every step deeper into the mystical forest. As Eva considered the effect their surroundings were having on him in conjunction with the chosen location of their previous outing together, a new realization sparked in her mind.

"You're most at ease in the woods, aren't you?" she asked softly, afraid to speak any louder lest she break the spell.

"Yes," he replied after a time. Lifting his head, he allowed his gaze to drift across the moss-covered rocks and trees. "This feels more like home than any other place ever has. Here there are no expectations placed on me, no pressures to excel. In this place, I can just be myself."

"I understand. This does seem to be a good place to let your guard down, so to speak. Everyone needs a place like that."

Cade nodded before asking, "Where's your place?"

"I have a couple," she answered slowly. "One is beside the hearth in my home. I find an immense amount of comfort there listening to my mother hum while she sews or does other small tasks. The second is where I go to think or just be alone. It's atop the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Usually, I go there in the evenings when the stars are just beginning to appear and stay until the very last one has bloomed in the sky."

"Sounds inviting. Have you ever taken anyone there with you?"

"No. It's my own special spot. I've never shared it with anyone."

"Perhaps you would consider sharing it with me some time?"

Suddenly feeling very shy, Eva cast her gaze downward and replied noncommittally, "Perhaps."

They rode on in silence for a while, the path becoming rockier as they went and the trees growing thinner and thinner. Eventually, Cade pulled Onyx to a stop at a stone outcropping on the side of the mountain range. Eva took a moment to look around from their vantage point and was fairly surprised to be able to see out over the Faerie Woods to the palace in Elysia. She hadn't realized they had climbed to such a height. When Cade cleared his throat loudly, though, she snapped her attention away from the view and turned back to the man in front of her.

"I'm sorry, did you say something?" she asked in confusion.

"No, but I was wondering if you were planning to dismount any time soon," he said with mild humor.

"Oh! Forgive me. I was distracted."

"So I see." Like before, he offered her his hand to help lower her down. She accepted gratefully and managed to swing her right leg over the horse's rump and land solidly on both feet without making a fool of herself.

"Why exactly are we stopping here?" she asked as Cade lowered himself to the ground beside her.

He didn't answer until he had finished tying Onyx off to a small sapling and had given him an apple as a treat. "You know the place you spoke of where you go to be alone and think?"

"Yes."

"Well, this is mine."

Eva's eyebrows rose at his revelation, and immediately, she felt bad for having dodged his veiled request to visit her own special place. "Oh..."

"Come on," he said over his shoulder as he was walking away. "It's just around this bend."

The rain had slowed to a light drizzle by now; so, Eva lowered her hood to her shoulders and followed after him. She had just stepped around the bend when she saw him disappearing into an opening to what appeared to be a cave in the mountainside. As she made her way to the entrance, she peered inside cautiously. The opening wasn't very wide, although it did reach to twice her height, and she was a bit leery of squeezing into such a narrow space, especially one as dark as this.

"Cade?" she called into the blackness, kicking herself for the tone of uncertainty her voice carried.

Suddenly, the void in front of her was pierced by the spark of a flame, and Cade's reply echoed back to her. "What's the problem?"

"Nothing," she answered while eying the opening warily. "It's just that I'm not particularly comfortable with tight spaces."

"It's not as small as it looks. Once you get through the entrance, it opens to a large cavern."

"Oh." Scolding herself for acting like a child, Eva steeled her nerves and set her jaw. After taking a deep breath, she turned sideways and squeezed through the opening. On the other side, she looked back at the space she had just passed through and released the air from her lungs in a rush. It really doesn't look all that narrow from this side.

"You alright?" a deep voice asked directly behind her.

Eva jumped with a start and spun around faster than he could blink. "Cade!" she cried in a mixture of fright and anger. "You nearly stopped my heart. Don't do that!"

The corner of his lips turned up in an amused smirk, highlighted by the wavering light cast from a flame he held above his palm. "I apologize, miss." He didn't look too remorseful in her opinion. "I did not realize you were as skittish as a newborn rabbit. I'll take more care next time to avoid upsetting your fragile disposition."

Narrowing her eyes and furrowing her brow, Eva clenched her fist and landed a forceful punch to his shoulder. "Do not mock me," she warned. "Everyone is afraid of something, however small or silly it may be."

Cade rubbed the spot she'd hit for a moment before speaking. "Duly noted." Moving his shoulder in a circular motion as if working the soreness out, he stepped back and gestured to the emptiness behind him. "Are you ready to see the place now?"

"Yes," she answered with more kindness.

"Very well, then."

Flicking his wrist, the flame he'd been holding shot out and landed in a pile of wood that had been stacked in a moderately sized fire pit. The dry kindling immediately ignited in a shower of sparks before settling down into a comfortable blaze. The light it provided bathed the cavern in a soft, flickering glow, revealing a round space about twenty paces in diameter. The walls were not rugged and jagged but smooth to the touch and gently curved, likely the result of years of being worn down by water in an underground stream. The ceiling was decorated by hanging stalactites, which glittered with small minerals reflecting in the firelight.

As impressive as all that was, what grabbed Eva's attention the most was the man-made additions that filled the room. Beside the fire pit, there was a bench that had been carved from a whole log to form a seat with a backrest which had then been padded with animal furs. A small table had been erected to one side with bowls, eating utensils, a few cooking pots, and various knives and tools strewn about its surface. Pegs had been hammered into the wall and from them hung two water skins and several weapons, including a broadsword, two daggers, and a bow and quiver. On a raised area near the back of the cavern, several furs had been stacked to make what looked like a very warm and comfortable bed.

For a long while, Eva just stood there gaping open-mouthed. This went far beyond anything she had expected, and she was at a loss for how to respond. Cade, who had been watching to see her reaction, folded his arms across his chest and allowed a proud smile to spread across his features.

"I take it you like it?"

"Like it? This puts my secret spot to shame. You've put a lot of work into this. How much time do you spend here exactly?" she asked with her head cocked to one side and one eyebrow raised.

"Let's just say I like to be alone a lot."

"So I see," she replied as she swept her gaze around the room one more time. In her second inspection, she noticed another opening in the back of the cave. "Where does that lead?"

"There's a stream back there that follows another tunnel down the mountain, but I've never traced it back very far. It's where I get my water supply from when I'm here." Moving toward the fire, he motioned to the bench. "Why don't you have a seat and get warm? I'll hang your cloak up to dry and then prepare the food."

"You're going to cook for me?" she questioned while removing her soaked covering and handing it to him.

"Don't get your hopes up. It won't be anything fancy, just some meet roasted over the fire and some bread I picked up from the market today."

"That sounds fine." Situating herself by the fire, Eva lifted her sword and scabbard over her head and rested it against the side of the bench before extending her hands toward the welcome heat.

While she was getting comfortable and warming herself, Cade hung up both their cloaks on a couple of pegs before retrieving two rabbits he had caught and skinned earlier in the day from a hook in the ceiling. He made short work of fastening them to the spit and placing them over the fire to cook. After getting that set up, he grabbed one of the water skins and brought it with him back to Eva's side. Plopping himself down to the left of her, he pried open the cork and took a swig before passing it to her.

Eva took the water skin and sniffed the opening curiously. When the tangy sweet scent wafted up into her nostrils, she cast Cade a knowing smile. "Elvish wine."

He shrugged, positioning himself so that he was angled toward her while reclining against the back of the bench. "You liked it so much last time I thought I'd treat you to it again."

"Mm, and your decision had nothing to do with the inebriated state I succumbed to after indulging in this selfsame drink?"

"Well...," he smiled roguishly, "it might have crossed my mind."

"You evil, conniving man!" She said with a teasing laugh.

"I am not evil," he contested with arms folded across his chest as he watched her with the same roguish smirk still firmly planted on his face.

"Oh, but you don't deny you're conniving?"

Spreading his hands and giving a half shrug, he replied, "No use denying the obvious."

"I suppose not," she conceded with another chuckle. "But for your information, I intend to be more reserved with my drink this evening; so, there will not be a repeat of the last time."

As he was about to respond, Cade stopped short and flicked his gaze past her to the entrance of their cave. "I was wondering where you'd wandered off to," he said as Eva turned her head to see what had grabbed his attention. To her surprise, she saw a large adult wolf standing in the narrow opening. He had smoky grey fur that darkened to charcoal around his ears, but his face was completely white. If Eva were standing, his head would likely come up to her navel, and his paws looked to be as big as her own hand. As she sat staring in speechless awe, his intelligent blue eyes bored into hers, silently sizing her up.

"His name is Bane."

"He's yours?" she asked, switching her stare from the wolf to Caden.

"Well, only in the sense that he stays with me most of the time. He's free to roam and do as he pleases, though, and he does so often."

Cade reached up to rotate the meat on the spit, and Eva turned back to Bane. The wolf lifted his nose into the air and sniffed, likely picking up the aroma of their supper, before ambling closer. He stopped next to her and stretched his neck forward to sniff her as well. Seated like she was, Eva was eye level with the massive canine and felt slightly intimidated by the creature.

"Hello, boy," she greeted as calmly as possible. "I'm Eva. It's nice to meet you."

Bane huffed a burst of hot air into her face before nudging her hand with his muzzle.

"He wants you to pet him," Cade informed her. "He can get pretty pushy if you don't heed him the first time."

"Oh." Picking up the hand he was nudging, she tentatively ran her fingers through the smooth fur of his thick coat. He eagerly leaned in for more; so she began rubbing him more forcefully and scratching behind his ears. To her delight, Bane closed his eyes and lowered his head onto her lap, seemingly enraptured by her affections. A smile spread across her lips as she continued petting him for a few more moments before stopping. When she pulled away, Bane perked up and licked her hand as if in thanks and then trotted around the bench to Cade's side and flopped unceremoniously onto the floor by the fire.

Eva let out a chuckle, and Cade, who had been watching their interaction closely, joined in her laughter after Bane's display but made no comment. He continued studying her intently until her mirth subsided and the silence began to stretch between them. Unsure of what to do or say, Eva lifted the water skin she still held in her other hand and touched it to her lips to take a small sip. The liquid washed through her with a burning tingle that warmed her to her toes. She let out a sigh of appreciation and then opened her eyes to find Cade still watching her. Just as she was about to ask what he was thinking, he spoke first.

"So, you're afraid of small, dark places?"

Eva let her eyes drop to the fire in front of them, handing the water skin back to him. "Yes. It's silly, I know."

"That depends on why you're afraid of them." He placed the cork back in the top before setting the skin on the bench beside him. Turning his attention back to Eva, he waited expectantly for her to continue.

"Well, when I was a young girl, Marissa and I were down on the beach below the cliffs. We were playing a game of 'Seek and Find' among the rocks, and it was Rissa's turn to find me. I had seen a crevice between to large rocks earlier and knew it would be the perfect place to hide because you would never know it was there unless you were standing directly in front of it. I'm not sure how I even found it to begin with, but regardless, as soon as she turned away and started counting, I took off and wedged myself in the narrow gap. I could hear Rissa as she searched all around my hiding place, but she never found me. Eventually, she gave up looking and started calling for me. Happy that I had won, I tried to wiggle out of the crevice but very quickly realized I was stuck fast. I cried out for help, but she couldn't hear me over the crashing of the waves. Thinking that I must have played her for a fool and gone home without her, Rissa got mad and left me."

Eva shuddered involuntarily and closed her eyes as the memory played through her mind again. "I tried everything but couldn't get free. I had already been trained to manipulate stone, but in my panic, I couldn't focus enough to use my magic. As night was nearing, Mother went to Rissa's house to bring me home for supper, only to find I wasn't there. Suddenly realizing I was missing, everyone came rushing back to the beach to search for me. My voice was hoarse from shouting by that time, but I managed to reach my fingertips far enough out of the opening to catch William's attention. He called over his father who used his magic to widen the gap sufficiently until he was able to pull me free. I was bruised, cut, and exhausted, but I was finally safe. Mother wouldn't let me out of her sight for days after that, and I've been terrified of small, dark places ever since."

"That's not silly," Cade said softly after she'd finished her story.

"Perhaps not," she replied, still lost in the fear from so long ago.

After a space of time passed, Cade's voice pulled her from her reverie, helping to dispel the last of her bad memories. "My mother died when I was five," he began slowly. His words came haltingly, as if he were struggling to speak them aloud. "The Boundary Patrol headquarters is located near the main road on the border of Atara. We had a house there as well as the one in Elysia. My mother, father, and I were traveling back to our house at the border when she went into labor. We were stuck between villages with no one to help. Her labor was hard and long, but eventually, my brother was born in the early hours of morning. Father wrapped little Rowan in his cloak and turned back to tell Mother she had borne another son, but she was already dead. Mother never even got to hold him."

"Oh no, Cade..." Reaching out to rest her hand on his knee, Eva tried to offer him her sympathy. He didn't seem to pay her any heed, though. He was too caught up by the phantoms of his past. His gaze was settled somewhere off in the distance, but Eva could see flashes of pain and sorrow there warring against his calm facade. Rapidly, though, a new anguish entered his eyes, and her heart lurched with the raw grief she saw there as his hands clenched so tightly that the knuckles turned white. His control began to falter, too, as the corners of his eyes wrinkled and his jaw tightened.

"When Rowan was nine, he was like my little shadow. We were climbing some trees one day while Father was in meetings, and Rowan wanted to impress me by climbing to the top of the tallest tree around. I tried to stop him. He was determined to prove himself, though." Cade paused to shake his head and look away, hiding most of his face from her view.

"I climbed up after him, but that just made him try to scramble up faster. In his haste, he grabbed a weak branch and it broke under his weight. It seemed like an eternity passed as I watched him fall. I tried to grab him, but he was just out of reach. There was nothing I could do. When he landed at the foot of the tree, he was so still... I ran to get help, but it was too late. He was gone."

Tears had pooled in Eva's eyes as he spoke, and when he finished, they fell unchecked down her cheeks. Moving her hand from his knee to grasp one of his clenched fist, she rubbed her thumb along the taught skin. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked in a whisper.

Turning to face her once more, Cade's gaze met hers, and she was surprised to find his eyes were still dry, though the anguish was still evident there. As he worked to find the right words, she felt the muscles in his hand relax beneath her touch. After wiping her eyes, she placed her other hand over his as well and waited.

"You said earlier that everyone is afraid of something."

"That's right."

"I have very few friends, Eva. I rarely allow myself to get close to anyone because that way I don't have to worry about having them ripped away from me."

"You're afraid of losing the people you care about," she said in realization.

"Yes," he answered in a barely audible whisper.

Somehow, Eva's hands had become entwined with his as he was speaking, and after he confirmed her statement, she dropped her gaze to where they were joined. His hand was rough and calloused from use with scars etched here and there, but she didn't mind. She realized unexpectedly that she actually liked the look and feel of his worn skin against her own.

"There's a problem, though."

Cade's words caused her to snap her head up and search his face in concern. "What? What is it?"

His gaze swept over her features before settling on her blue-green eyes. "I can't seem to stop myself from caring about you."

Eva sucked in a short breath and held it. She started to pull away, but his hand closed around hers and held her in place. Her heart immediately slammed against her ribcage at an unsteady pace, every once in a while missing a beat and then stuttering back into a frantic rhythm. "I- I don't know what to say," she stammered.

"Say you care about me too," he suggested, his clear blue eyes searing into her. Not a hint of humor or teasing coated his words. She knew without a doubt that he would never joke about this. He couldn't.

"I... I do," she whispered, "but I'm afraid."

"I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."

"No, I mean... I've never felt like this before, and I barely know you... What if I give my heart to you, only for you to break it?"

"And what if I let you in, only for you to be torn away by some cruel twist of fate?"

Flicking her gaze away momentarily then back again, Eva commented, "I guess we're in a fix, then, aren't we?"

"It looks that way, but maybe I don't care anymore." With his left hand, he swept her hair back off her forehead then traced his fingers down her cheek before lowering his eyes to her parted lips and leaning in slowly.

"Maybe...," she echoed softly as her eyes fluttered closed in anticipation.

Inclining his head closer, he brushed his nose against hers lightly and then moved to close the last few centimeters between them. Just as his warm breath brushed over her lips and her pulse redoubled its pace, a log in the fire pit shifted, and the hot wood released a loud pop into the heavy silence. The effect was instant. Eva jumped in fear, and Cade pulled back quickly. Even Bane, who had fallen asleep long ago, sat up in alarm at the sudden noise.

Eva's breaths came in shallow gasps as her heart worked to slow its rhythm, and she cleared her throat to cover her sudden discomfort. When she chanced a look at Cade, she saw of flicker of disappointment pass across his features, but it was soon replaced by his signature smirk.

"Just as skittish as ever, I see."

Shifting in her seat, she chuckled uneasily. "I guess so."

"I suppose the meat is about done," he said, swiftly changing topics. "Are you hungry?"

"Umm, yes. Yes, I am."

"Good, but I'm going to need my hand back so I can get the food."

Glancing down at their intertwined fingers, Eva gave a gasp then quickly released him. "Sorry."

Apparently amused by her awkwardness, Cade let out a heartfelt laugh that reverberated around the cavern and eased Eva's tension. After a moment, his mood sobered, and he cupped her cheek with his newly freed hand. "I won't lose you, Eva. I'll do everything in my power to make sure of it."

Placing her hand over his, she replied gently, "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."

Author's Note: Hmm, so we've learned a bit more about the mysterious Caden and his past. How do you feel about what he revealed to Eva in this chapter? What about what Eva shared of her fears? Don't forget to click that vote button so I'll know you're enjoying the story and so your friends will know too! :)