deeper sleep once again.
With one last glance at Farrendel, Jalissa slowly climbed to her feet and took Edmund’s arm. “Very well. He may appreciate food and drink when he wakes.”
As if bolstered by the logic that fetching food was the best thing she could do to help Farrendel, Jalissa all but swept from the tent with Edmund hurrying to match her pace.
Essie sank into Jalissa’s spot beside Farrendel. He had his face turned away from her, his eyes and mouth tight with pain even in sleep.
She reached beneath the blankets, traced his arm until she found his hand, and gripped his fingers. With her other hand, she ran her fingers through his hair. Even though she’d known the trolls had cut his hair, it was still a shock seeing it so short and ragged. He didn’t look like himself, and she ached for him because of it. It was one thing to choose such a drastic change in appearance, but another thing altogether to have it forcibly done against his will.
At least he had her. While she’d found his long hair surprisingly attractive, she loved him. He could be bald, and she’d still love him.
He shifted, murmuring something between cracked lips.
A canteen and a cloth sat on a small end table. Essie wet the cloth, then dabbed first his mouth, then his forehead. “It’s all right, Farrendel. You’re safe now.”
“Essie.” His eyes flickered open, his head tilting toward her. “Is this...a dream?”
“No, this is real. We rescued you.” Essie held up the canteen. “Would you like some water?”
Farrendel’s silver-blue eyes studied her, his eyelids drooping. “You would say that, if this were a dream.”
Essie capped and set down the canteen. Leaning closer, she stroked his hair and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Would I do that in a dream?”
“Yes.” If anything, his brow furrowed more.
“How about this?” She kissed him on the mouth. More a peck, really. His lips were cracked and bleeding, and she didn’t want to hurt him.
“Maybe.”
She sat back and put her hands on her hips, giving him a fake glare. “Just what kind of dreams are you having about me?”
“Very good dreams.” A hint of a smile tugged the corner of his mouth. He lifted a shaky hand and touched the end of her braid, where it had fallen onto his chest. “But...this must be real. I had forgotten how very red your hair is.”
From anyone else, that would have been a snide comment. But Farrendel meant it as a compliment.
Normally, she would have made a joking comment about his hair. But she didn’t want to remind him of it now. Nor did she think he was ready to joke about its current state.
She didn’t know how to approach any of the past two weeks. Would he want to talk about it? Not talk about it? Pretend it never happened?
How was she supposed to love him through this when she wasn’t even sure what expression of love he needed right now?
Putting on a soft smile, she picked up the end of her braid and tickled the back of his hand with it. “I had forgotten just how playful you can be when tired. Or, perhaps, that’s the morphine talking.” She dropped her braid and rested her hand on his cheek instead.
Farrendel’s eyes flickered closed, and he leaned his face into her hand. “I survived.”
“Yes, you did.” A lump formed in her throat. He’d had to fight so hard to get back to her.
“I chose this.” Farrendel’s voice was soft, so soft she had to lean closer to hear him.
“What do you mean?” Essie traced the line of his jaw, the shape of his ear.
Farrendel’s eyes cracked open. “I chose to live. To return to you.”
“Thank you for surviving for me.” She pressed a kiss to his forehead, her eyes growing wet and a lump forming in the back of her throat. She blinked at the tears, though one dripped down her nose and dropped onto Farrendel’s cheek.
His eyebrows scrunched, and he peered up at her. “Are you crying on my face?”
“Maybe.” Essie quickly wiped her eyes on her sleeve before she dripped more tears on him. “But they are happy tears.” Mostly.
“You do not have to stop. I do not think a few tears will kill me.” His eyes fluttered closed again, a small smile tugging the corners of his mouth. His fingers tightened on her hand. “Thank you for coming for me.”
“I promised I would.” Essie leaned forward and kissed his forehead again.
She wasn’t