Of Thorn and Thread (Daughters of Eville #4) - Chanda Hahn Page 0,45
I was anymore, and I didn’t know how to tell Liam.
As we rode, Liam kept leaving his post at the front of the troops and dropping to the back to ride near me. He watched me closely. I assumed to see if I struggled amongst the large group of men. But I felt nothing. I stared back at him—expressionless.
He frowned. Liam reached out to brush his hand along my arm, but he pulled back as Devin steered us out of his reach, pulling me along.
Liam scowled, but Devin didn’t flinch. After the way Liam had reacted to finding me, Devin had taken it as his job to be my guardian.
Later that evening we stopped to make camp, even though Liam was eager to keep moving. He couldn’t keep the pace he was going with a wagon full of women who slowed his quest. The men laid out their bedrolls under the stars and spent the added time to put up three large tents for the women rescued from the brothel.
I headed toward the one I saw Tamara enter, but Devin was waiting just outside the first tent. “I’m sorry, but the commander has asked me to set up your tent in a different location.”
I looked at him blankly and shook my head and tried to enter the tent.
Devin grabbed my elbow. “I’m sorry, Aura. It wasn’t a request. It was an order.”
“But you’re not a soldier.”
“No, but I still obey Liam.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because he’s saved me time and time again.” He gave me a grin. “Usually, it was from my own stupidity.”
I let Devin guide me over to where he tethered his horse. He helped me up, and we rode double a mile away from camp until we came to a small clearing nestled next to a stream. Then I saw the lone tent sitting under a maple tree. I was proud that I dismounted and could keep my feet under me. It hurt that it was Devin and not Liam that was now seeing to my needs. It was as if the commander no longer wanted anything to do with me.
Devin undid an extra pack from his horse and left it leaning against the trunk.
“I will be back in the morning to help pack up your tent and things.”
I looked at the tent that was big enough for one person and my shoulders dropped. Normally, I would find this spot a perfect retreat. A moment of serenity. But now that I couldn’t hear anything or anyone, it felt like unnecessary punishment.
I entered the tent, letting the flap close behind me.
The clip of hooves echoed as Devin rode away, and I collapsed on the bedroll. I should open up the provisions and maybe cook something over the fire, but I was exhausted and unmotivated. I pulled the blanket over my shoulder up to my chin and closed my eyes and fell asleep.
The crackling of a log startled me awake. Outside my tent, I saw the glow of a fire and a shadow of someone moving around. I lifted the flap. Liam was kneeling over and going through my pack.
“I sent you food so you would eat. And here you are, not even with a lick of sense to start a fire. Do you know how cold it gets at night in the north?”
I shrugged weakly.
I wanted to run to him and wrap my arms around him and let him comfort me. But that was a silly notion. He only did that when he was trying to shield my magic. Now I had none. I wrapped the blanket around my shoulders and watched Liam, memorizing every inch of his frame. The color of his golden hair, the green of his eyes and his angular jaw.
He held up a piece of hardtack. I shook my head, the thought of food making me queasy.
“Here,” he said firmly. “You’ve lost weight. You’re nothing but skin and bones.”
“I can’t.” It was true. After spending a week eating drugged food, I’d lost my appetite.
“Eat,” he commanded, and I felt my hand reach for it and put it in my mouth. I didn’t want to eat. My stomach was roiling, but my body was reacting to the command.
I chewed on the biscuit, and the taste made me gag. I crawled on my knees away from him and coughed.
“I’m sorry,” Liam said, kneeling next to me and handing me a handkerchief. “I should have known it was too soon. Devin mentioned they used drugs to control you.”