over every rock trying to see whether she presented a threat.
“Ollie never told you that some of the warband who found you also visited your village afterwards.”
Eva went still. No, he hadn’t. She cast her mind back, remembering how half the warband split-off from them only to rejoin them a few days later.
At the time, the Trateri had been too new and scary for her to ask questions. Ollie had told her it was normal behavior for the warriors, and she had believed him.
“It’s not every day one of our warbands finds a woman who elects to tagalong.” There was a slight quirk to Caden’s lips as he used Eva’s term. “It made them curious.”
And curious Trateri weren’t used to walking away.
“They arrived to find the village preparing to sacrifice another,” Caden said.
A sound like that of a wounded animal was ripped from Eva’s throat.
“They stopped it,” Caden assured her. “They saved the woman and put to death all those participating.”
Eva closed her eyes. “Who was it?”
“She said her name was Elena.”
Eva’s mother.
“When the warband questioned her, she said they’d intended to sacrifice her eldest daughter. She’d managed to warn the girl to flee. When they came for her second daughter, she volunteered in her place.”
Eva took a shuddering breath. The conversation she’d overheard that night. She’d never thought it strange her parents were arguing at a time she often returned from the forest, in a place she wouldn’t have been able to help overhearing.
Now, it seemed, there was a reason for all that, and the reason threatened to steal her strength and send her toppling. Her mother had fought for her after all. She’d fought for Elise too.
Eva found herself at the balustrade walls, her hands clutching the stone ledge as she stared unseeing at the mountains in the distance.
Her entire history had just been rewritten.
“What happened to the woman?”
“She lives. She chose to stay in the village,” Caden said.
Eva nodded. “Why are you telling me this?”
“You blamed yourself for leaving another to take your place, but it was never your wrong to begin with. I wanted you to know so you could free yourself from this,” he said.
Eva’s laugh was raw and watery. “Such kindness.”
“Don’t let anyone know I have my moments. It might ruin my reputation.”
Eva snorted and faced him. “I’m not good at goodbyes.”
Caden leaned against the wall, watching her with an enigmatic expression. “I can see that. Your last one left a lot to be desired as well, but at least it ended with a kiss.”
“Would it make you feel better if this one ended with one too?” Eva asked.
He lifted an eyebrow. “It might.”
She scowled at him. He’d given her relief from a guilt that had at times felt suffocating. Why was he making this so hard now?
He had to know this was the best option. She was doing exactly what Fallon and Shea wanted. They needed this alliance. The only one who could make it happen was Eva.
She knew he understood the call of duty. More so than most. He’d practically devoted his entire life to it.
Caden didn’t look away, his gaze demanding and direct.
Fine. If that’s what he wanted.
Eva stepped forward, not giving herself time to hesitate. She pulled his face down to hers, her lips meeting his in a kiss that stole her breath and made her chest ache.
The anger that had forced her to meet his challenge deserted her, leaving Eva feeling everything.
What should have been no more than a peck, over and done with in an instant, turned into so much more.
Their lips clung to each other, his hands coming up to pull her closer, his fingers digging into her braid as he deepened the kiss. His intensity was nearly scorching, his hands just this side of bruising as he imprinted himself on her, ensuring she’d never forget this man.
The kiss was a thunderstorm that lingered, made up of regret and wishful thinking, its fury threatening to wipe away everything in its path.
It was bittersweet, filled with the taste of regret and pleasure. All thunderstorms passed; they never lasted.
He felt the change in her and drew back, their breath mingling as they stared at each other from inches apart. He brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his expression searching, almost tender as he examined her.
“Thank you for telling me,” she whispered, her lips meeting his briefly before she dropped back to flat-footed.
“Always.” He brushed her hair away from her face, his gaze searching. There was a