Page 38 of When Roses Burn

His bushy tail twitched before he dropped down and inched closer. When I held the fruit further out, he snatched it from my hands and scurried back to the underbrush before turning to look at me over his shoulder.

I grinned as I gathered some more fruit from the forest floor while he nibbled on the piece he took from me. I was about to offer him more when Seth’s voice carried into the woods.

“If you make me come after you, Briar, I promise, you’ll regret it.”

The tiny creature scampered into the forest and disappeared. With a sigh, I rose, and while I didn’t have pockets in this ridiculous dress, I did have shoes. I slid three pieces of dried fruit into my once white slippers.

The horse and woods had dirtied my shoes to a dull brown color, and walking with the fruit inside them wasn’t exactly comfortable, but I didn’t care. If I got the chance to see that creature again, I’d feed it some more. He was a small bit of joy in my increasingly desolate existence.

“Briar,” Seth called into the forest.

“Do you think she ran?” Lyra inquired.

“No,” Seth replied. “She’s treacherous, but she’s not a coward.”

“Well, at least you think one good thing about me,” I said as I walked out from the trees.

I hadn’t exited the same way I entered, but the four of them faced my direction. Of course, they’d heard and scented me coming before I emerged; they were part animal after all.

“I’ll hunt something for us to eat,” Pierce said.

“I’ll gather the water,” Dromon said.

Seth’s gaze raked me before he used his finger to beckon me forward. I balked at the arrogant gesture. Did he think I’d run right over to him because he motioned me to?

When he shrugged and turned away, his words drifted over his shoulder to me. “Fine, do without the coat I was going to give you then. It may be spring, but it gets chilly in these woods at night.”

I didn’t so much care about the cold as I did about my mostly exposed breasts. “I’ll take the coat,” I blurted and then kicked myself for sounding so eager. My excitement might cause him to deny me.

He didn’t acknowledge me as he walked over to his saddlebag, opened it, and removed a tattered brown coat from within. He tossed it in my direction without looking at me.

When it landed a few feet before me, I glowered at him before walking over to snatch it up. I would have much preferred to leave it lying on the ground between us, but I’d only be spiting myself by doing such a thing.

Holding back a string of curses at myself and him, I slipped the coat on. Its sleeves fell almost comically to my feet, and I had to roll them up to keep from tripping over them.

The hem dragged across the ground, but I couldn’t do anything about that. I also couldn’t do anything about the fact that it smelled so strongly of Seth I could almost close my eyes and pretend it was him around me. However, I couldn’t do that to my heart; I’d only shatter it more if I started playing make-believe.

I hugged my arms around my middle as I watched the others preparing our small camp. I hated having taken the coat, but I was glad to have it.

Behind me, a rustle drew my attention, and I turned to find the creature peering out from behind a tree. Smiling, I bent to remove the fruit from my shoes. I tossed a piece behind me before slipping the other two into a coat pocket and gliding closer to the fire.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Briar

A nudge against my side woke me the next morning. I blinked as I tried to ascertain where I was, but another nudge drew my attention to the tiny creature poking at my pocket.

I frowned as a pair of big brown eyes lifted and a tiny face peered imploringly at me. When the events of yesterday crashed over me, I suppressed a groan and closed my eyes against the pain in my body and heart.

Things weren’t going to get any better today; they’d probably be far worse once I was in with all the other shifters. And just like at home, I had no one to protect or stand up for me. Loneliness filled me, but another nudge from the creature eased some of it. Sure, it only wanted me for food, but at least it seemed to like me.

With a smile, I dipped a hand into my pocket and removed a piece of the dried fruit. The creature sniffed it before slipping it from my fingers and scurrying back into the woods. He could have found the fruit himself, but he liked having me give him the treats.

Maybe he’s as lonely as me. That possibility only made me sadder. Nothing should be this forlorn in life.

When I pushed myself up, my still sore arms, legs, and back protested the movement. Eternals healed fast, some faster than others, but I was still young and weaker than most. Unfortunately, this was when I needed to be at my strongest; thankfully, I was at least better than yesterday.

A few feet away, Seth lay on his back with his hands folded on his belly and his head propped on his saddle. His eyes were closed and his breathing steady, but something told me he wasn’t asleep.