“Thank you for still coming with us,” Sera said as they sat around the campfire a few miles east of of the city.

“You are welcome,” Korin replied.

“The thing with Matt is… well…” Tess began slowly.

“He was an evil bastard until he met her,” Vivyka said, nodding to Tess. “He ended up risking his life to save her. By doing that act of good, Malluk’s birthmark was removed from him, and that basically gave him back a conscience. Then Sera came along, pretty much made him all tame and now, here we are.”

Tess laughed. “Nice sum up.”

Vivyka smiled and bowed her head.

“Destroying a god’s mark is unheard of,” Korin noted, surprised.

“Not now,” Sera said proudly.

“He must have great strength to have been able to go against the god who marked him.”

Sera smiled at him, “Yes, he is. And he’s a good person now. He feels horrible about his past.” She sighed. “Which is why I should be with him right now,” she added, glaring at Tess.

“Stop,” Tess told her. “It’s only been a few hours.”

“I’m sure he’ll be here soon,” Ayden said soothingly, still sitting next to her, holding her hand.

“He needs me,” Sera insisted.

“What about you?” Ayden asked. “His emotions were hurting you.”

“I don’t care. I want him with me,” she said stubbornly. “Should I keep you away from Tess the next time she’s in a bad mood?”

“That’s different.”

“Not to me.”

He let go of her hand and put an arm around her. “I’m sorry. We just worry about you.”

“I know.” She sighed again. “But you need to trust that I can take care of myself. I’m not as weak as everyone thinks I am.” She started to get up.

“Where are you going?”

“To find him,” she said, but he pulled her into his arms and held her there. “Ayden let me go.”

“You’re not going out into the forest, in the dark, alone,” he said firmly.

“Then come with me.”

“He could be anywhere, Sera,” Ayden said gently. “But he’ll be back soon. It’ll be okay.”

“I can find him if he is close enough,” Korin offered.

Sera gave him a relieved smile. “Will you?”

“Yes.”

She relaxed a bit, though Ayden didn’t let her go. “Thank you,” she told the ranger.

Korin nodded, then closed his eyes and sat there, cross-legged, for a few minutes while everyone watched. Finally, a small brown owl emerged from the trees and landed on his knee. He stared at it for a moment, then it took flight, returning into the forest.

When the owl returned several minutes later, Korin stroked it gently and then let it fly away again. “He is not far from here. I can travel on foot,” he said, standing up.

“Just tell me where he is,” Vivyka said, standing as well. “I’ll be able to get him to come back.”

“I will come with you, for protection.”

“I don’t need protecting from him.”

Korin shook his head. “I mean from other things that may be in the forest. I would like make sure you are safe.”

“Sure. Thanks.”

He gave her a small head bow. “My pleasure.”

Korin found a bit of a path in the forest, where the trees were more sparse so the moonlight shined down on them. Vivyka was glad for the lack of obstacles in her way, because she watched him more than where she was going.

He was very attractive, in a way that no one else was. He looked so different. His face had the same gentle beauty as his sister’s, but he was very masculine somehow. It wasn’t just how he looked, but how he held himself—confident and strong. His hair was to the middle of his back, dark, straight, and worn loose. She wanted to touch it, to see if it was as soft as it looked. And for some reason she also wanted to touch his russet skin, as if it might feel different, perhaps smoother, than others.

“What it is?” he asked.

“Hmm?”

He seemed a little amused. “You keep looking at me. I am wondering why.”

She shrugged and kept staring. “I’ve never seen anyone from Snowy Pine before. You look different than the people I’m used to.”

“Yes. You are different to me as well. I had never been away from the Snow Peaks before coming here.”

“You’re very beautiful though,” she told him frankly. Seeing him was like seeing a new kind of flower, she thought, then realized that the analogy fit since he was such a part of nature, being a ranger and all. He seemed to belong in the middle of the woods, much the way Cael did.

He glanced over at her and smiled warmly. “Thank you. I think you are very beautiful as well.”

When he stopped a moment later, she turned to him. He just gazed at her calmly. Curiously, she reached up and touched his hair. She took a lock of it between her fingers and very gently moved down, letting the back of her hand caress the side of his face. He stayed still as his dark, patient eyes continued to watch her. When she got down to his shoulder, she let go and smiled a little. “Huh.”

“What?”

“It’s as soft as it looks.”

He smiled. “Did you expect otherwise?”

She chuckled softly. “Well, you know what they say about looks… it could’ve been deceiving me.”

He chuckled too, a warm kind of rumble, and then looked over to his left. “Your friend is through there. Would you like me to come with you, or stay here?”

She could barely make out Matt’s large form sitting against a tree. She took a deep breath, getting her focus back on her reason for coming here. She met Korin’s gaze again. “I’ll go alone. Thanks for taking me. You can go back. I’ll be fine now.”

“I would prefer to stay, if that is okay with you.”

She studied him for a moment and smiled a little. He was strange, just… different. She shrugged. “Do what you like,” she told him easily, then headed for Matt.

Matt sighed forcefully as she approached. “Does she have some sort of magical tracker on me?”

Vivyka laughed. “No, he’s a ranger.” She pointed to Korin who stayed where she left him, close enough see him, but far enough away to be out of earshot.

Matt frowned at the new guy. “So what do you want?” he asked her.

“A smoke.”

He rolled his eyes and handed her his silver case.

She took the cigarette out of his mouth and lit hers before he could get his lighter for her, then gave it back.

“Getting a little comfortable aren’t you?”

She shrugged as she sat against another tree. “Last night, I saw you get pissed and actually control yourself, even make yourself calm down. And then you were able to be gentle. You listened to me without any shitty comments. You held me, and you didn’t even get angry when I cried. The guy I hated—the one I was scared of—would never have done any of that. It made me realize that I was scared and hateful of someone who no longer exists.”

He said nothing, his face unreadable.

“So, you still too busy brooding or can you rejoin the group?” she asked casually.

“You know, I got you, all way up until today. Now you’re being just like them, and I don’t get them,” he grumbled. “I’m not good.”

“Oh, stop being an idiot. Nothing’s changed. We all knew you were a bastard. Well, except for Korin.” She glanced back at him, then returned to Matt. “But don’t worry, I filled him in.”

“Thanks,” he mumbled.

“Just here to help.” She smirked. “But seriously, we all know about your past. So some of it reared its ugly head today. It wasn’t pretty. It was down right ugly actually, and sad to say the least, but not unexpected. Especially in Oraunt, where you served at the temple for several years. So it’s not shocking how many people know and hate you there.”

“Why were you checking up on me?”

She frowned. “What’re you—”

“I know that you followed me after we stopped dating,” he said calmly. “The other day you made the comment about me being with those women. That was long after we were together, Viv.”

She shifted uncomfortably. “This isn’t about me… we’re talking about you.”

“Why were you checking up on me?” he repeated quietly.

She groaned. At least he only seemed curious, the old Matt would have been pissed. “Because I missed you, okay?” she mumbled, not happy to admit it.

“You missed an abusive asshole?”

“Obviously I didn’t miss that part.” She rolled her eyes. “But everything else…” She shrugged. “Yeah, I know, I got problems, but…” She sighed. “Most of the time that we were together it was good.”

“Yeah, it was,” he agreed. “Sorry—”

“Shut up,” she cut in edgily. “I don’t wanna hear it, okay? I don’t wanna…” She didn’t want to talk about it, didn’t want to think about it. She didn’t want to remember all those good times, or admit that she still missed him. She pushed the unwanted thoughts and feelings away. “So, you killed that woman’s hubby, huh?” He grimaced, she did as well. “Sorry.”

“Me too. A lot.”

“Anyway… what I wanted to say was: let it go. Stop moping and be happy so Sera can be.”

He groaned. “I hate what I put her through.”

“Yeah, well, no one else likes it either, trust me. But she loves you and we love her, so deal with it.” She stood. “Now stop being a jerk, it’s not all about you. Sera wants you. So suck it up and be a good puppy.”

He laughed quietly. “Look who’s grown a pair.”

She smiled a little. “Guess so. Amazing how much better you feel when you let go of the dead weight,” she said pointedly.

He got up and sighed. “Not so easy to forget the things I’ve done.”

“I didn’t say forget. I won’t ever forget, obviously,” she mumbled. “But I realize now that I have to let Mathias die, so that Matt can live, and then, so can I. Do the same.”

“You sound like Sera.”

She grinned. “Cool.”

He shook his head and put out his cigarette. “So, if you’re not scared of me anymore, then why the bodyguard?” he asked, nodding to Korin.

“He insists on being here,” she told him, “to protect me from wild things in the forest.”

Matt smiled. “Doesn’t realize that you’re the wild thing, huh?”

“Hmm.” She smirked impishly as they started walking. “Not yet.”

“Has the hellcat found some prey?” he asked, chuckling softly. “Not much of a challenge there, Viv. Besides, I think you might break him.”

She nodded and laughed. “Yeah, probably. He’s too gentle” she agreed, then shrugged. “Honestly though, he’s not my type. But I guess you know that.” She rolled her eyes.

He just nodded and they let it drop as they came within ear shot of Korin. The three of them walked to the camp in silence.

As soon as Sera saw Matt she got out of Ayden’s arms and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. He held her close, burying his face in her soft curls. She shot a deeply thankful look at Korin and Vivyka. They both smiled in return.

“I said I’d come back,” Matt told her. “You didn’t have to send out a search party.”

She ignored his teasing. “I didn’t want you to go in the first place,” she said, pulling back to look up at him.

“I was hurting you.”

“Yes,” she agreed. “But I’d rather feel your pain then be without you. It scares me when you’re like that and you’re alone.”

“Why?”

“Because then I can’t make it better.”

“Angel, there are some things you can’t make better.”

“Do you feel better when you’re away from me?” she challenged.

“No.”

“See?”

“Damn it.”

She smiled smugly.

He sighed then and asked seriously, “Are you sure me staying around you when I’m like that is what’s best for you?”

“It was the woman, too. Her emotions were very intense and… I’m just weak.”

“You’re not weak,” Matt told her sincerely. “You’re honestly the strongest person I’ve ever known.”

She smiled. “Let’s not put that to the test in a sword fight.”

He shook his head and smiled. “You know what I mean.”

She nodded and became serious again. “It is what’s best for me. I don’t ever want you away from me, no matter what. If you need to go for you, I understand, but don’t ever go because of me. Please?”

“Okay.”

She smiled happily. “Thank you.”

“Now come here.” He took her hand and started leading her toward their tent. “We’re going to bed, you look exhausted.”

Vivyka watched them enter their tent and hated that she felt jealous. Sera would get to sleep in his arms all night, something Vivyka had never gotten to do. She wished she knew how it felt to wake up in someone’s arms each morning, to know that they loved you.

Her gaze went to Tess who had taken Sera’s place in Ayden’s arms. He was whispering something in her ear and whatever it was it made Tess smile adoringly at him. He caressed her face and kissed her sweetly. She held him close, molded herself to him, melted into him. She belonged to him, but he also belonged to her. No one had ever belonged to Vivyka. She watched longingly as they got up and went to their own tent, looking blissfully happy with each other.

A gentle hand touched her shoulder, startling her. “Sorry,” Korin said softly. “I was just wondering if you are okay. You seem sad.”

She gave a heavy sigh. “I’m fine,” she told him. “Just a long day and all. Guess I’m a bit tired. I should go to bed.”

“I will see you in the morning then. Sleep well.”

“Thanks, you too,” she said offhandedly as she headed for her tent. She stopped when she noticed there were only three tents. She looked back at him. “Don’t you have a tent?”

He nodded. “Yes, but it is nice out and I do not require privacy.” He smiled as he glanced at the others’ tents. “I would rather be in the open.” He motioned to where his bedroll was laid out several feet from the campfire. “I would rather feel the air and see the stars.”

She looked up. Somehow she had forgotten the stars, forgotten how beautiful the night sky was. When was the last time she had even thought to look up? “So…” She nodded to the sky. “Are there enough stars to share?”

He chuckled softly. “I believe I may be able to spare a few. Do you know the constellations?”

“No.”

“If you would like, I can show them to you,” he said as he took off his boots and laid down on his bedroll. “Come lay beside me,” he offered.

When her bedroll was next to his, she laid down. “So, constellations are those dot-to-dot pictures in the sky, right?”

He smiled. “Yes. See that big star there?” He pointed.

She moved a little closer so she could follow his finger. “Yeah.”

“That is part of my favorite constellation: the bear. That is the tip of his nose.”

He showed her several before they fell into quiet conversation, laying together and enjoying the vast sky together.

—————

When Vivyka woke up, she turned so she was laying on her side facing him. He turned his head and met her gaze momentarily, then looked up at the wispy orange clouds in the early morning sky.

She gazed at him for a moment, thinking how strange he was. Not once had he tried anything. What kind of man laid next to a beautiful, obviously easy, woman all night and did nothing? They had simply talked until she was too tired and fell asleep. She had rested a hand on his arm and leaned closer than necessary to see some of the stars he pointed at, but he still did nothing. She wondered if he was just a bit clueless. She didn’t do anything more obvious though; with him it just didn’t feel right for some reason. And for the first time she could remember, she had wondered if she might actually get rejected.

She held in a sigh, feeling a bit disappointed. She could have used some release with all the tension the last few days. She sat up and looked around, Ayden was the only one else who was up.

Korin got up and started rolling up his bedroll. Had he been waiting for her to get up? she wondered. Feeling a bit awkward around him suddenly, she moved to sit by Ayden next to the fire, deciding to get her stuff together later.

Ayden looked over at her curiously then glanced at Korin.

She frowned and shook her head slightly.

He just gave a small nod and returned his attention to making breakfast.