Of Blood and Bone (Chronicles of The One #2)(91)

“Tomorrow? You never said—”

“I just said.”

“It’s almost a week early. They won’t be expecting me. Oh!” She beamed. “Oh, that’s even better. I’ll surprise them. Thank you.”

She flung her arms around him. He let himself cup a hand to the back of her head as he thought, Yes, yes, it is hard to be left behind.

She didn’t find Mick so much as lure him. She rode Laoch with Taibhse on her arm and Faol Ban pacing her, taking a meandering route to the faerie glade.

There, knowing his weaknesses, she set out a picnic of little cakes, fruit tarts, and sweet tea.

With the owl on a branch, the horse at his ease, she propped her head on the wolf as he curled behind her. And opened a book.

It didn’t take long.

When she sensed him, she turned a page, picked up a cake to nibble. “I could share, I guess, but not if you’re going to be mean.”

“I don’t care about your cakes. I came to swim.” He stepped out of the trees, and in the green light kicked off his boots, pulled off his shirt, and dived into the pool in worn and baggy shorts.

“You don’t own this place, you know. I was swimming here before you came, and I’ll swim here after you go.”

She turned another page. “I’ll miss swimming here. I might even miss you, if you weren’t such an ass.”

“You’re not going to miss anything or anybody. That’s all bullshit.”

He dived deep, and when he surfaced, she’d put the book aside. Sitting up, legs crossed, she met his angry eyes. “You know it’s not, just like you know I have to go. I was always going to have to go. My family’s waiting. And the rest, all the rest, but my family first. I miss them so much, but it was easier being away like this because you were my friend. You’re still my friend even though you say mean things to me, things you know aren’t true. Even though you’re just stupid and we could’ve had the last couple weeks to hunt and swim and just be friends. Now that time’s gone. Mallick says we’re leaving tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.” He launched himself out of the pool. “Why?”

“He says it’s time. He says I’m ready. Don’t go,” she said quickly when she realized he was braced to run.

“You are. You don’t care how I feel about it. You don’t care how I feel about you.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it. I never had a real friend before you. My brothers, and some of the girls from the other farms, the village. But not a real friend, so I never had to say good-bye to one before. I want to go home, but it’s hard to say good-bye. It’s harder when my friend’s mad at me for doing what I have to.”

“Just because you have some magick sword …” He trailed off, tired and disgusted with his own venom. “Screw it.” After muttering his new favorite phrase, he dropped down beside her. “I can fight. I will fight.”

“I know.”

“My dad says not yet. I said I could go with you, fight, but he says not yet. When?”

“I don’t know. But I know I’ll see you again. I know it.”

He picked up a cake, frowned at it. Ate it. “I never felt about anybody the way I feel about you.”

“You’re my first real friend, and you’re the first boy I ever kissed.”

“But you don’t want to kiss me again.”

Going with instinct, she laid her hands on his cheeks, touched her lips to his. “You’re going to kiss a lot of other girls after I leave.”

“Probably.”

Laughing, she jabbed a finger in his ribs. “But you’ll still be my friend.”

They sat quiet for a while, shoulder to shoulder, facing the pool.

“When it’s time to fight,” he began, “when I see you again, will you kiss me?”

“Probably.”

Now he laughed, bumped his shoulder to hers.

“I made you something.” She reached in her pack, took out the gift. She’d braided strips of leather together to form a wristband and attached protective stones.

“It’s really nice.”

“See, you wrap it around …” She put it on for him. “Then you just loop this. Like that.”

“It’s really nice.” He let out a breath, dug in his pocket. “I made this for you.”

He’d carved her face in the stone she’d taken from Laoch’s hoof.

“I had to get my dad to help me a little, but—”

“It’s wonderful. It’s from Laoch, so it’s especially wonderful. It really looks like me. Thanks.” She turned her head, smiled at him. “Friends?”

He shrugged, picked up a tart. “I guess.”

She packed. She’d take more home than she’d left with, but now she had two horses to help carry her things.

In less than two days, she thought as she carefully wrapped her crystal for travel, she’d be home. She slipped her shield into the protective cover the shifters had made for her, but strapped on her sword.

Two days on the road could mean Raiders or Purity Warriors or just the violent.

She whistled for Laoch, since he’d carry most of her things. Secured the first load to his back, went back for the rest. When she came out, she found Mallick waiting for her and holding Grace’s reins.