Page 104 of Storms & Sacrifice

“I was beginning to worry I would not catch upwith you.”

I immediately drop my swords to my side and start walking toward him. “What are you doing—”

“Not so fast.” Adam’s hand on the back of my armor pulls me back. “Whatareyou doing here?”

“Well, seeing as you are all unfamiliar with the area, I could not help but think your group might benefit from having a guide.” He eyes everyone else’s still raised weapons with a cocked eyebrow. “Perhaps you could all lower your weapons so we can discuss and avoid a repeat of our firstmeeting.”

“Sorry.” Adam finally sheaths his sword, and the rest of the group relaxes, but he still doesn’t release me. “Well, we only bought enough supplies for the five of us, and you know we can’t afford to pay you, right?”What? I bought a ton of extra rations.

“That is alright. I have brought enough supplies for myself, and payment is not what I am after.” He gestures to the bag onhis back.

“Well, I’m pretty sure I know what youareafter, so...let’s negotiate.” I quickly look at Adam, confused.Negotiate what?“Besides being a guide, what else can you bring to the group?”

“I am an excellent hunter. Which actually connects to one of my stipulations.” Khazak settles his gaze on me, instantly making me blush. “David was borderline underweight when I met him, and I have spent the last two months helping to strengthen him back. I want to ensure that does not happen again, even if that means I need to hunt for his food myself. I would also be happy to pass along some of my hunting skills to rest of you.”

“That seems fair. Though for the record, that wasn’t our fault.” He’s right. In those early days, when we werereallybroke, we split everything evenly five ways. “But we are talking about giving you my best friend here, so what elseyou got?”

I stare at Adam slack jawed, though I’m not sure if it’s because of the negotiation, or because he’s talking abouttrading away his best friend like it’s nothing. To our left, I can hear Liss try and fail to hold in a laugh. Adam’s gaze doesn’t waver from Khazak, not bothering to look over at me.

“Well, I could point out that it isveryobvious that none of you are from around here.” Khazak circles a finger in the air. “Not only would you have a translator, simply having a local on the team may make it easier for others to trust you. Or at least, I stand a better chance of noticing if someone is trying to deceive us.”

“Good point.” I see Adam cock his head to the side for a second, apparently accepting the answer. “Alright, you’re in. David, go to the nice man.” Adam pats me on the back before pushing me toward the orc.

I half-glare at Adam, but the smile I am unable to hide takes out all the bite. “I’m going, but not because you told me to.”

I don’t stop to say anything yet, just grab Khazak by the wrist and pull him into the forest so we can talk away from everyone. I’m consciously ignoring the fact that basically the entire group knows about this now. I’ll deal with that later. Once we’re far enough away, I stop and finally turn toface him.

“David, I—”

“I love you,” I blurt out. “I’m sorry. I wanted to say it before, but I was scared and—”

“I love you too.” That’s more than enough to cut me off. “I wanted to tell you as well. I did, in a way...Alak tiu.”

“Well, that’s very helpful.” I can’t even snark very well, taking hold of both of his hands while also noting the way to say “I love you” in Atasi. “How areyou here?”

“It was not easy. I tried to move as fast as I could, but I was actually starting to get worried I would not find you until—”

“No! I mean your family, your house, yourjob.” I poke him in the chest. “You have a entire life.”

“After you left, it no longer felt like I did.” He cups the back of my head, stroking my ear. “I asked Ayla to look after my home. I thought that might give her more of a reason to stay. That and not living with ourparents.”

I laugh and ignore the fact that I’m pretty sure my eyes are starting to water. “What about therangers?”

“I resigned.” He shrugs, smirking like it was nothing. “I spoke with Ragnar and left a letter of recommendation naming him as my replacement. I felt terrible leaving in the middle of so much turmoil, but I did not havea choice.”

“He understood?” They are literally in the middle of investigating theirentireforce fortraitors.

“He and Nylan were the first ones to encourage me to chase after you.” That sounds like Nylan for sure. “And he swore it was not just so he could take my job.”

“That’s... Wait, what about the paperwork stuff?” I pull back to look at him. “Did you sign the papers to release me?”

“I, uh...” It’s too dark to see him blush, but I can feel it. “I may have forgotten to beforeleaving.”

“Forgot?” I question his motive.

“...It will just be so much easier when we come back to visit this way.”Oh my god. I laugh.

“Uh-huh. Sure.” I’m not even mad about it. “Guess that means you need to put this back on me.” I pull my collar out of my pocket for the second time tonight.

“I suppose I do.” Reaching into his shirt collar, Khazak pulls out a thin silver chain from around his neck where the key to my collar now hangs.That’s new. We kinda match now.Opening the lock, the cool metal wraps around me, thick green hands sealing it with a click. I take comfort in the familiar weight around my neck, Khazak admiring his work in thedim light.

“You’re... You’re really coming with us?” It still doesn’tfeel real.

“I am really coming with you.” He pulls me close, so our bodies are flush. “Wherever your journey leads, I want tobe there.”

“Khaz...” I wrap my arms around his neck, trying to crowd him even more. “I really thought I was going tolose you.”

“Well, I do not know who this ‘Khaz’ is, but I can assure you, puppy, I am not going anywhere.” I laugh into his chest, too happy to give him ahard time.

Pulling back, green eyes stare into chocolate-brown just before pink lips meet green, and for the first time in months, it feels likeI’m home.