Fires of War (War and Deceit #4) - Erin O'Kane Page 0,43

to his face.

“I triggered you.” It’s a statement rather than a question, and if I wanted an answer, I would have been disappointed since he only glances away, his jaw tightening. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know that was going to happen.” I gently place my hand on the back of his, one of the only places free of wounds from the thorns that had torn his skin. His head spins back around with that unnatural fae speed, and his eyes narrow on my hand, but he doesn’t pull away. After a few seconds, his gaze flicks up to mine.

“That’s why we’re training,” he replies, his hand turning over briefly so his fingers twine with mine before pulling away with a wince. “To discover what your strengths are.”

My hand tingles from our contact, but I frown as he presses a hand to his side with a hiss of pain. “Are you okay?” Worry courses through me. The cuts seemed to be mostly surface wounds, only the one on his shoulder had worried me a little more, but his reaction concerns me. I should have insisted that we head back straightaway rather than wait.

Waving me off, he starts to push up to his feet. “I’m healing already,” he grumbles, wincing as he tenderly rolls his wounded shoulder. Glancing down at his chest and now ruined shirt, he glowers at the offending fabric before grabbing it between his hands and tearing it off. My eyes briefly roam over his bare chest. He’s covered in scars, but that does nothing to take away from his incredible physique. He’s got a warrior’s body, all toned muscles and tan skin. Although it’s currently stained with blood and peppered with half healed gashes. Reaching up, he pokes at the still oozing wound on his shoulder with a grimace. “Let’s not try the nature stuff again today though.”

Realising I’ve been watching him the whole time from the ground, I quickly stand up, brushing the bracken and dirt from my leggings, pretending that I’ve not just been staring at him the whole time. Looking away, I walk to the nearest tree to stretch out my legs, but really, I want an excuse to put some distance between us. My fingers brush the tree as I pass it, and I immediately fall to my knees as a wave of feeling washes over me.

“Clarissa?” Eldrin calls out, and he’s at my side in a heartbeat. His palms hover above me, but he doesn’t touch, his eyes glued to where my hand is pressed against the tree.

The world seems to spin around me as something taps on my awareness. I don’t think it means me any harm, but there is a sense of urgency there. Throwing caution to the wind, I decide to risk it and open my consciousness. At once, the plants of the grove enter my mind. Like before, they don’t have a singular voice, but more like a hive mind with overall feelings rather than formed words. However, that doesn’t stop me from understanding what they’re trying to tell me—a warning. Thanking them with my thoughts, I pull my hand away and screw my eyes shut for a moment while my awareness settles back into my mind. I can feel Eldrin starting to lose his patience beside me, his low growl rumbling through my chest, and I know I can’t leave him hanging for much longer.

“Something’s coming,” I whisper.

Eldrin’s growl stutters for a second before starting up again with vigour, and I feel him move closer, no doubt into a defensive stance, misunderstanding and thinking we’re under an immediate threat. “What do you mean?” His voice has deepened with his anger, and I can feel him preparing to fight.

Opening my eyes, I clear my throat and take a deep breath, needing to explain. “The trees, they’re warning me,” I tell him, my voice stronger now. Turning to look at Eldrin, I try to hide my worry, but I know he sees right through it. “We need to get back to the tribes, someone’s coming.”

The race back to the tribes is difficult.

Both Eldrin and I are exhausted. Whatever ‘power’ I used while communicating with nature has drained me, and although he’s pretending otherwise, Eldrin is in pain. After a gruelling training session like the one we just had, even without the plant magic, I wouldn’t usually be expected to run back. Eldrin may be a taskmaster, but even he isn’t that cruel. Yet we can both feel the urgency of