me, and then lowered himself to one knee and gestured to his back.
“Ooo, a piggyback?” I asked.
He only blinked at me. Well, if this meant he was going to take me to solid ground so I could relieve my bladder, then I was all about it. I climbed on his back, which was difficult with one operating ankle, but as soon as I wrapped my arms around his neck, he tucked his hands under my knees.
Even though my vision was shit, I still closed my eyes while we descended. Heights had never been my favorite thing, and this tree house was way too high off the ground for my liking. While inside, I could pretend it was on solid ground, but out here, I got vertigo.
When we touched down on the forest floor, I was able to communicate I had to pee with a series of hand movements, and he left me alone long enough behind a tree for me to do my business.
Afterward, I climbed on his back again and we set off on a path away from the tree house. I was a little wary. Was he taking me to some leader who’d sacrifice me?
His aura was calm, and when my nerves raged too much, he would pat my leg. I forced myself not to panic. My grandmother always said not to borrow trouble. So, I’d worry when I actually had trouble.
We traveled until what felt like mid-morning. Occasionally he’d stop and hand me some berries or leaves to chew on, but other than that, he kept a steady pace. It wasn’t until the air grew humid and I heard the sound of running qua he slowed down. The trees were denser here, lusher.
When he pushed a large leaf aside to reveal what lay ahead, I almost couldn’t believe what I was seeing. A lot of it was blurry anyway, so I had myself half convinced it was a mirage, but as we drew closer, it became very, very real.
Qua trickled down a small cliff in a gentle waterfall to fill a wading pool about the size of half a large neighborhood pool. The qua was edged with large rocks except for a pebble-covered area sloping down into the water. It was perfect, like something out of a movie, and I could barely believe it was here. I hadn’t been outside the walls of the Night Kings compound other than when we traveled on their hover bikes, so I hadn’t been aware of all the beauty this planet possessed.
I slid off Heart’s back and took a few cautious, limping steps toward the qua. He stepped up beside me. I turned to him, unable to control my delight. “Thank you for bringing me here. It’s beautiful.”
His eyes scanned my face and his aura, while smoky, seemed calm. Almost peaceful. He swung me into his arms and placed me on a low rock so that my legs dangled into the qua. I jerked my ankle out of the water as my mud cast began to soften and fall apart. But Heart wrapped his large hands around my knee and slowly lowered my limb back into the water.
“Oh, it’s okay if it gets wet?”
He worked quickly, cupping his hands with qua and washing away every last bit of the mud cast. After carefully removing the splints and bindings, he placed them on a flat rock in a sunny spot to dry. His large hands ran down my calf, prodding at the injury with careful, gentle movements. The care with which he held me nearly took my breath away.
How many times had I bandaged my siblings’ boo-boos and injuries? Many times. How often did anyone tend to me? Barely ever. And I never cared. I was like a cat—when I was hurt, I wanted to be alone. But I couldn’t deny I enjoyed being taken care of.
Was it really so bad to let him do this? What was so wrong with letting my guard down for a little? This was an unprecedented situation. As soon as I was better, I’d be my independent self again. I’d find a way back to my girls. I wouldn’t get used to this silent warrior’s attentions.
Heart let my leg drop back into the qua, and he plucked at my pants before gesturing at it. Oh right, I could bathe. I wanted to do that more than anything, to wash away the feel of those Kulk’s hands grabbing at me.
Heart turned away, like a gentleman. To be