The Dark Calling (The Arcana Chronicles #5)(94)

Jack pulled back from me, exhaling with disappointment. “Returned already?”

Aric had two bags in hand and Jack’s bow slung over his armored shoulder. I braced against the cold as he climbed in the truck. He handed me my bag, then tossed Jack’s stuff to him. “Your take is impressive, mortal.”

Jack seemed surprised and reluctantly pleased by the praise. “Kentarch made it possible.”

I pulled on gloves, a hat, a scarf, and a thicker parka. “But it was Jack’s idea.” Because of him, I now had a bounty of clothes.

“I doan like to keep all my eggs in one basket.” Jack dragged on gear as well, then shouldered his bow. “We’ll pack up the Beast before we leave, take some of our windfall with us.”

Aric said, “The snow is deep, making the trail treacherous. I can carry her faster than she can hike.” He pulled off his gauntlets. In readiness? He wouldn’t feel the temperature as we would, and he’d probably take the cold just to have fewer layers between me and him.

Jack didn’t like that a bit. “Or I can carry her.” With his bad leg and my extra weight?

“Come, sievā.” Aric offered his hand—as he had when he’d leaned out of the castle window, coaxing me closer.

I stared at his hand, wanting to tell him I didn’t need his help. But didn’t I? I’d slept for what felt like a dozen hours but was still exhausted, and I was starving again. When I’d trekked from this cave weeks ago, I’d needed Joules’s help to make it to the road.

“Peek?n?”

“I’ll be okay.” Lips pursed, I took Aric’s hand.

He upped the ante. “I’d like to talk to you inside. Alone. Mortal, you may take your time.”

I glanced at Jack. “I might as well get this over with.”

Tick, tick, tick.

Before Jack could say anything, Aric drew me into his arms, then swept me from the truck into the freezing night.

I didn’t know where to hold on to him. He had no such problems; one of his hands gently grasped my waist, the other palming the back of one thigh. He carried me as if nothing had happened between us, as if he’d just swooped me up to take me to bed.

Was he getting his fix? The thought made me shiver.

He mistook my reaction. “Almost there, love. It will be warm by the fire.”

Though I was nervous to be this close to him, my body remembered his. Even with his armor, we fit. I still felt our soul-deep bond, could almost hear that endless wave along the shore.

As soon as the thought arose, I recalled his snide tone as he’d said, “By all the gods your tears cheer me.”

On the way inside, we passed those lion bones. I’d never forget the taste of that meat. How desperate I’d been for it . . .

When we entered the firelit cave, my lips parted at the treasure trove of supplies. Food. Full gas cans. Fireplace logs and wood furniture to burn.

Though proud of the guys’ haul, my surroundings rattled me. Too many memories lingered here. My gaze darted from one area to the next.

That patch of dirt was where I’d passed out, wondering if I’d ever wake up.

That rock shelf was where I’d contemplated drinking Kentarch’s blood. Our friend was missing, aching for his beloved wife, and probably insane.

Beside that fire pit was where I’d eaten cat food. A couple of empty cans remained in a trash pile off to the side.

“You can put me down,” I said, my tone sharp.

He crossed to the fire, then set me on my feet. “As you wish,” he replied, ever gallant.

Pulling off my gloves, I took a seat by the flames and held my hands out to the heat. “You wanted to talk.”

His gaze fell on my left hand. “You no longer wear my ring?” I thought he bit the inside of his cheek; regretting his opening line?

I pulled the ring out of my pocket and offered it back. “Maybe I should have destroyed it in retaliation. If you knew how much time and effort I spent crafting yours . . .”

“I can only imagine. I grieve it.” He reached for my hand, closing my fingers around the ring. The contact of our skin made his voice grow raspy as he said, “Please honor me by keeping this for now.”

I feigned an uncaring shrug, then pocketed it again.

Clearing his throat, he said, “You haven’t made one for Jack?” He probably hated how hopeful he sounded.

“Been a little busy,” I lied. I’d had far too much time in the tin can, but a part of me must’ve held out hope that I’d get Aric back. And a girl couldn’t be committed to two guys. Right?

When I thought back over the last few weeks, I felt a fresh wave of sadness. I’d mistrusted Jubilee, hated being confined, but at least I’d had Jack by my side.

Talking every night. The warmth of his arms around me as the storms raged. Tee fluttering under his hand until Jack swore he could almost feel him.

My eyes widened. Tee. I’d grown so sensitive to his movements that I always woke, but I hadn’t awakened for hours and hours in the truck. He still hadn’t fluttered at all?

I reached up to touch my head. The knot was gone, but it’d been severe. And I’d bled a lot. How much can this kid take?

Aric glanced at the cave entrance and back. Feeling pressured for time? “You told me on the phone that you would choose me if I came for you. Did you mean that?”