“Nev,” he sighed with concern.
“It’s alright. I don’t blame your sister. I heard what that prowler said. Any woman who has been tested should hate me,” she surmised, exhaling deeply and pretending to be busier than she was.
Wyatt’s brow furrowed, and he grabbed Nev’s hands. He pulled them to his mouth before gently kissing them. “She doesn’t hate you. She hates him,” he assured before pausing briefly. He momentarily bit his bottom lip before continuing. “And possibly that you are the first girl… friend I have ever had,” he stammered, stumbling a bit over his words.
Nev looked confused and asked, “First, girlfriend? But in the cave, when I told you I never had… You acted like you had. You had, right?”
“Umm… no. Actually, that was the first time I had… had. I just felt like you were already feeling awkward. And that if a little fake bravado on my part made you feel better, then I was willing to… I don’t know… give it a try,” he suggested, sounding very unsure if he had either made a mistake before, now or both. “You aren’t mad, are you?” he asked cautiously as peeked up at her.
Nev thought for a long moment. “No, I’m not mad. I guess I’m glad that we both hadn’t,” she admitted, still looking unconvinced about something.
“So, everything is good? You still love me, I love you, and you know that Addi doesn’t hate you, right?” he asked, sounding hopeful.
“We are good. I still love you, and you still love me. And Addi still definitely hates me,” she contested with a half-smile.
Wyatt grumbled overly dramatically, “This is going to be so much more fun now. You, me, and Addi spending lots and lots of quality time together.”
Nev pulled him close, “Aww, poor you.”
Wyatt nodded and tried to sound extra pathetic. “Indeed, poor me,” he sighed playfully.
Nev grinned and kissed the tip of his nose. She leaned back and smiled before pointing to her cheek. “Think you could play healer now?” she asked.
“I suppose. Although, you do know that it is more fun to do before you get dressed, right? Or, at least, that is what I’ve been led to believe. Never done it and no false bravado here,” he added with a laugh.
Nev rolled her eyes at him. “Just stitch up my cheek,” she instructed, grinning and handing him his back his sash.
Chapter 21
Addi had her nose deep in a map when they both exited the bedroom. “Your healer skills must be severely lacking if it took you that long to get finished,” she suggested flatly, still staring at the map.
Nev felt her face flush as she stared at the ground.
Laughing out loud, Wyatt quipped, “Oh, you have no idea.”
Hearing his response, Nev shot daggers at him and felt completely embarrassed.
Wyatt just shrugged, smiled at her, and mouthed, “What?”
Addi looked up at them and shook her head. “Look, here,” she directed, pointing to the map. “Marsdon is about a two-week journey if we keep to the back roads and countryside. It’s far enough away and a large enough settlement that we should be able to blend in and disappear for a while. There are a few spots along the way with people Wyatt and I know. We’ll be able to sleep and resupply at those locations. I can get us to Marsdon, that isn’t what worries me. What worries me is what comes after that,” she admitted before looking directly at Nev.
Nev swallowed hard as she felt Addi staring suspiciously at her.
“We can…” Wyatt started to respond before Addi turned to him and raised her open-palmed hand towards him. The message from his sister to stop talking was clear.
Addi returned her intense gaze to Nev. “My brother is sweet and courageous. He is also naïve,” she stated.
Wyatt grunted in protest, “Umm… and also standing right here.”
Addi ignored Wyatt and continued to press Nev. “You and Wyatt materialize in his bedroom and offer no explanation as to how that came to be. That is not even, shockingly, my greatest concern. Wyatt has told me about how you saved his life and about the prowler that pursues you. What he hasn’t told me is why. I am guessing you are Unmarked, yet you should be. You wear a shirt like I have never seen. Beyond that, you also carry the dagger—and I am guessing sword—that bears the insignia of House Colfax. Maybe Wyatt knows the truth, and maybe he doesn’t. Either way, I want to hear it from you. So, before I allow my brother to spend one more minute with you, I demand you answer one question. Who are you, really?” she demanded, with ferocity.
“Addi,” Wyatt interjected. He knew his sister could be fiercely protective of him, but he felt awful for leading Nev blindly into a confrontation.
Addi glared at Wyatt. “I love you, brother. I do. But I promised mother and father I would look after you and keep you from harm. And that means harm in all its shapes. Even if that shape is of a woman you are enamored with,” she proclaimed sternly.
Nev nodded acceptingly and moved to sit down in a nearby chair.
Wyatt gently grabbed her arm just before she sat down and pulled her close to him. “I will talk to her. You don’t have to do this, at least not like this,” he offered with regret. His eyes flashed at Nev with a profoundly apologetic expression as he stared at her.
Nev took a deep breath and pulled her arm free from his grasp. “No worries, remember,” she reminded softly. Sitting down in the chair with a heavy sense of apprehension, Nev tried to formulate an answer for Addi.
Wyatt nodded and pulled two chairs in front of Nev, gesturing for Addi to take one as he sat in the other. He leaned over to Addi and whispered, “Sister, you do have a right to know, but you didn’t have to ask this way.”
Addi felt a little
