Page 140 of Cycle Keeper’s Shadow

“You too. Be careful.” Her fingers briefly brushed his arm. He didn’t flinch this time. In fact, he leaned closer, the familiar weight behind his eyes—as if he was thinking of saying something unguarded.

Instead, Orzen said, “It’s only a cursed forest. We’ll be grand.” His grin didn’t meet his eyes. When she didn’t smile, his voice dropped, roughened with certainty. “I’ll come back. And I’ll keep him safe.”

Wren nodded, watching them both disappear into the trees. She suspected she wouldn’t be much better than Jessa if either of them returned more wounded than they already were.

The hours stretched thin. Wren enjoyed a long scrub in the warm pool, healed Garin’s wounded shoulder, even explored the glen to collect some of the more useful plants for her pack. All the while, her thoughts drifted to the two men out in the forest on their own.

Jessa busied herself with stories and rhymes, but her pitch rose too high, her eyes flicking toward the hill every time a branch snapped. When she eventually started pacing—wringing her hands and muttering about stupid men needing to prove things—Wren caught her gently by the elbow.

“They should’ve been back now, right?” Jessa asked, brows pinched together.

“They probably went farther than they meant to.” Wren’s gaze drifted to sun sinking behind the trees. She forced a smile. “They’ll be back any minute.”

Jessa studied her for a beat, then said, “You’re a terrible liar.” She pulled free of Wren’s grasp and resumed pacing. “If Calen survives, I’m going to kill him.”

Wren’s smile wilted as she watched her go. She told herself it was only youth—Jessa’s heart still unguarded enough to show what the rest of them locked down. That was all. It had to be. And yet with every passing minute, worry knotted tighter in her chest.

As the last light faded, boots skidded at the hilltop. Orzen and Calen half-slid, half-tumbled down the slope. Calen tripped and rolled the last few feet, popping up with a sheepish shake. It was clear immediately, something bad had happened.

Scrapes striped Calen’s arms in red cords; the hem of his tunic was torn. Orzen looked better, though welts swelled across his knuckles. Calen’s face lit with joyous relief when he spotted Jessa. Then he caught her gaze. He stopped dead.

Jessa barreled toward him. “Look at you! I told you—” Her voice cracked, the rest collapsing into strangled sounds, fury and fear tangling until she couldn’t force either into words.

Calen’s grin fell apart and he looked away. “You were right. I…I would’ve been in trouble without him.” Color crawled up his neck. The scattering of light freckles disappeared beneath the blush. He gestured weakly at Orzen, who grimaced and gave a reluctant nod, like admitting his usefulness betrayed Calen somehow.

“I was so worried about you.” Jessa’s hands curled into fists. “Don’t you ever do that to me again!”

“I know. I’m so sorry.” Calen eyes fixed on the dirt. “I just—I kept thinking I had to make it back to you.”

Jessa froze at his words. Her shoulders dropped, fury draining from her in one fierce breath. Orzen grinned across at Wren and shrugged as if he were thinking the same thing she was—Not bad, kid. She smirked and looked away.

Jessa’s eyes shimmered and she shoved Calen lightly in the chest. The gesture was not nearly as hard as her voice.

“You’re an idiot.”

“I know I am.” Calen risked a quick glance up. “Next time—”

Jessa didn’t let him finish. She grabbed his collar and yanked him into a kiss, hard enough to cut off the words. Calen’s wide-eyed shock softened into something tender, and his hands slipped around her waist.

“Oh.” Wren blinked, averting her gaze with an awkward laugh.

It was sweet—the two of them finding light in a place like this. When she looked up, Orzen was shaking his head, amusement tugging at his lips. Then he started laughing—a deep, unrestrained sound she’d rarely heard—and she looked away, feelings twisting strangely within her chest.

“Euuuugh.” Tommick’s groan broke the moment—a long, theatrical, agonized sound.

Jessa jolted back from Calen like she’d touched a hot stove, face blazing as she remembered every pair of eyes in the clearing had witnessed it.

“What happened?” Garin’s voice rumbled from his seat by the fire. “Did the boy survive his reunion or not?”

Tommick made a face like he’d eaten something sour.

“They were kissing.”

“Ah. So, you’re alive, then?” Garin tilted his head. “Suppose that’s one way to check.”

Calen rubbed the back of his neck like he wasn’t entirely sure he was alive and cleared his throat weakly. Jessa buried her face in her hands, mortified, though the smile tugging at her mouth betrayed her joy.

“Glad your back,” Garin muttered, “but I won’t be kissing either of you.”