Ayden watched the fire for a while after Matt left, poking at the embers between the logs with a stick. When he glanced over at Tess, it was to find her still brushing her hair. He grimaced as she continued to pull the brush roughly through the knots.

“Tess,” he said softly, “please let me do that.”

She looked over at him with a confused frown. “What?”

“Your hair, it’s a mess and you’re really not helping.”

She glanced down at the long tangles and handed him the brush. “Yeah.”

He sat down behind her and swept her hair back over her shoulder. She shivered when his fingers trailed lightly across her skin. “Tickle?”

“No.” Her voice wasn’t angry anymore, just quiet and a little sad. “It’s a bit weird, I guess... going from rough to gentle.”

He started brushing the bottom of her hair. It was so long he had to hold the bottom up so it wouldn’t hit the ground. “You’ve never said that before.”

“No one was ever like that with me before. I fought all the time, but...” Her gaze drifted to the fingerprints on her arm. “It was always just sparring... with Matt though, it’s real. Like you said, no one’s ever wanted to hurt me before. But he does.”

Ayden clenched his jaw angrily. If he could have gotten away with it, he would have made sure that Matt had a magical accident. He treated Tess no better than a monster would. But Tess would be furious, so of course he wouldn’t do anything.

“Not that I think it’s bad,” she went on. “I’m not any easier on him. But that’s strange too. I’ve never honestly wanted to hurt someone, but I... I like hurting him.”

“You’re just giving back what he dishes out.”

“Maybe,” she mumbled.

It was quiet for several minutes as Ayden continued brushing her hair, slowly moving upward, being careful not to pull. He couldn’t understand how someone could want to hurt Tess. How could Matt look at the damage he had done and not feel horrible? Ayden would die before hurting her—he could barely stand to watch them fight. He knew it was useless, but he tried anyway. “Maybe you shouldn’t spar with him anymore.”

“Why not?” she asked, obviously upset by the idea.

“Because I don’t like seeing you like this,” he answered sadly.

She turned halfway around to look at him. “Like what?”

He lightly touched the bruises on her arm. “Like this.”

She took a deep breath. “Oh,” she said, seeming relived. “It’s nothing.” She turned back toward the fire.

He started brushing again, focusing on her hair. He loved her hair—her beautiful, dark chestnut waves. “I don’t mind, you know, doing things like this. I like doing things for you. He just doesn’t understand that.”

She huffed a small, humorless laugh. “I don’t do much for myself, though.”

“You would if you had to,” he told her. “But I’m always here, so why should you?” She leaned back and put her head against him. “I can’t brush your hair like that.”

She made a face. “So what, I need a hug.”

“A backwards one?”

“Yes. Too lazy to turn around.”

He set the brush down with a chuckle and wrapped his arms around her, happy to hold her. “That better not be true.”

She smirked. “I didn’t say I don’t have the energy,” she pointed out. “Just that I’m too lazy.”

He smiled. “Okay.”

She looked back at the fire, but stayed in his arms. “Can I tell you something stupid?”

“Yes.” His tone became quiet and serious, matching hers.

“I miss home.”

“That’s not stupid.”

“But we haven’t even been gone a week yet.”

“What do you miss?”

“Everything. I miss Dad and... feeling safe.” She laughed a little. “I know that sounds strange coming from me, but, I just feel... kind of scared. And it’s not the monsters—I don’t even know what it is. I think part of it is not knowing. That’s what I really miss, the familiarity of home, the routine, knowing what’s gonna happen tomorrow. Stuff I never bothered to think about when I had it.”

He pushed her forward a bit and stood up. “I’ll be right back,” he told her before she could complain. He hurried to grab something out of his bag and returned to sit beside her. “What if we bring some of the routine here?” he asked, showing her the book in his hand. It was the story he had gotten her for her birthday this year, the one he had been reading to her before they left.

“Thank you,” she said earnestly, beaming at him. “I really don’t know what I’d do without you.” She pulled her almost tangle-free hair over her shoulder and scooted so that she could lay her head in his lap.

He smiled and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. “You’ll never have to know,” he promised, then opened the book and began reading to her.

__________

Ayden was starting to make some oatmeal over the fire when Matt strolled into camp the next morning.

“You actually going to eat that?” Matt asked with a huff of disbelief.

“Obviously,” Ayden returned tightly. “You actually wear real clothes?” he shot back, noting that Matt had a dark gray t-shirt on under his sleeveless jacket now.

“When the temperature calls for it,” he said, sounding bored. “Why isn’t she up?” He nodded to where Tess was sleeping a few yards away. “We should be leaving soon.”

“She’ll sleep as long as she wants,” Ayden told him with a nasty edge to his voice.

Matt smirked at that. “Oh no, am I upsetting the guard dog?”

“Upset is a nice word for it,” Ayden muttered.

“What’s your problem?”

“You.”

This just amused Matt. He sat down on the opposite side of the fire and lit a cigarette. “And why’s that?”

“Look at her arm,” Ayden practically hissed.

Matt glanced over at her, then shrugged. “Yeah, and?”

Ayden’s hand tightened around the wooden spoon he was holding in an effort to control the strong urge to shoot something at him—a lightning bolt would be nice. “Don’t touch her like that again,” he said, forcing himself to speak slowly and calmly.

Matt blew out some smoke. “Maybe she likes it.”

Ayden met his gaze and held it. “She might be a little annoyed if I kill you,” he said, quietly but firmly, his tone venomous, “but trust me; she’d get over it very quickly.”

“You’re actually threatening me?” Matt asked in surprise. Ayden just returned his attention to cooking breakfast and didn’t answer. Matt scoffed. “I’d really like to see you try something. You won’t, though. You wouldn’t dare to bark without her command.” He took another drag and smiled a bit as he exhaled. “But you know what? I’m in a good mood, so I’ll make you a deal. I’ll let her set the rules. She’ll be the one to decide how I... touch her. If she punches, I’ll punch. If she kicks, I’ll kick. If she...” He trailed off with a twitch of his arched brow and a small, wolfish grin.

Ayden’s jaw clenched, understanding perfectly. He focused on his breathing, keeping himself calm, keeping himself from murdering the bastard right then and there. Trying to remember any reason why he shouldn’t.

“What’re you guys talking about?” Tess asked, waking up and coming to sit beside Ayden.

“Your puppy’s worried that I’m being too hard on you,” Matt said casually.

Ayden grabbed her hand when she started for Matt, holding her back. “It’s fine,” he said tightly. She turned her glare on him as she sat back down. He knew she was angry with him for saying anything; she would think it made her seem weak. As if anything could.

“I told you not to call him that,” she hissed at Matt.

He shrugged. “Unlike some, I don’t pant and do as I’m told.”

“Do you have a death wish?” she growled.

His gaze flickered to Ayden and back, looking amused again. “Apparently.”

They fell silent as Tess and Ayden ate breakfast and then got ready to go. Ayden was finishing braiding Tess' hair when Matt finally asked, “So, what’s the map say?”

“I’ll tell you when we get there,” Ayden answered.

“What?”

“You have the key,” Ayden reminded him. “We have the information.”

Matt smirked at Tess. “I’m sure I can find out.”

“Only I know what it says,” Ayden replied.

“Don’t trust her?”

“Don’t trust you.”

“And you’re okay with that?” Matt asked Tess.

She nodded. “Of course.”

“Even though he’s keeping things from you?”

She shrugged. “If Ayd thinks that it’s best, then it’s best,” she said easily, and Ayden smirked, looking a bit smug.

Matt shook his head. “We’re on the same team, you know,” he told them. “And I’m the one that told you about the dagger and the whole Kieran thing in the first place.”

“Doesn’t mean we trust you,” Ayden said.

“You hate me, you’re welcome to,” Matt told him. “But don’t get hate mixed up with trust, or common sense for that matter. Have I actually done anything to make either of you not trust me?”

“No,” Tess answered.

Matt leaned back against a tree and lit another cigarette while he studied Ayden, who still looked set against him. “Okay. So, tell me, what might I do if I have the information and the key?”

Tess looked to Ayden for the answer. He shook his head. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I have no logical reason. But I don’t trust you and I don’t like you. And if we’re on the same side, there should be no problem with me keeping the information.”

Matt shrugged casually. “Unless you die along the way and the information is lost.”

Ayden bristled. “Is that a threat?”

Matt irritatingly grinned as if he liked the idea. He took a drag and exhaled slowly, then finally shook his head. “Why would I want to kill you? Why would I take the information and run with it? I need both of you to help me get the dagger, because I’m quite sure I can’t do it alone. That’s why I asked for your help to begin with. The next place is bound to be as bad, probably worse, than the key cave was and, unlike some”—he gave Ayden a pointed look—“I’m not stupid.”

“And after we get the dagger, we’ll still have to get into Malluk’s temple to get to Kieran’s ghost,” Tess added. “I don’t think just one person is gonna pull that off.”

Matt smiled at her while Ayden held in a sigh. He really wished she would get off Matt’s side and be on his, like she was supposed to be. She had always been on his side—until now. He hated this guy more by the minute.

“So... same team,” Matt said, then took another drag of his cigarette and exhaled as he held Ayden’s gaze. “Until this is all over, that is. Then we’ll never see each other again.”

“I like that plan,” Ayden said coldly. “But I’m still not telling you what it says.”

“Why?”

“Just to piss you off,” Ayden muttered.

Matt glared at him for a minute, then rolled his eyes and sighed, letting it go.

Tess leaned back against Ayden and looked up at him. She was confused at why he was so spiteful toward Matt. He knew she would think it was just because of the bruises. That was a big part of it, but now he knew that Matt was after more. But Tess never thought of those things, so she wouldn’t even know that.

At least she didn’t like Matt, Ayden thought—she had even said she liked hurting him. So why didn’t that knowledge make him feel any better? Why did he feel scared and possessive? He put his arms around Tess and held her close. She snuggled against him and rubbed his arm reassuringly. It would be okay, he told himself.

Matt stood abruptly. “We should get going.”

Ayden sighed and nodded. He grudgingly let Tess go and got up himself. “Go ahead, we’ll catch up.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanna talk to her alone,” Ayden snapped. “Is that okay with you?”

Matt shrugged. “Fine. I’ll be at the stables.”

When he was gone, Tess turned to Ayden, still looking confused. “Are you okay?”

He took a deep breath as he faced her. “Yeah. I just wanna warn you, in case you don’t know.”

“What?”

“Tess, he wants you, that way. You know what I mean?”

She nodded slowly.

“Do you...?”

She frowned and shook her head. “Of course I don’t. You know I don't want anyone. And even if I did want... that... I wouldn’t go for someone like him. He’s a conceited, macho jerk.”

“Okay, well, I just wanted you to know in case he tries anything.”

She nodded. “Thanks.”

He smiled then. “And if you need any lightning bolts to get a message across, just let me know.”

“Let’s just focus on destroying Kieran. And don’t worry about me, okay? I’ll be fine. I can take care of myself.” When he nodded, she gave him a smile and hugged him.

He held her tightly and took a deep breath, inhaling her smell—rose soap, forest, and just her. “Tess...” he said quietly.

“Yeah?”

He pulled back a little so he could look into her eyes. “You know I love you, right? I mean—”

“Duh,” she said with a laugh, cutting him off. “Of course I know that, goober. I love you, too.” She messed his hair affectionately.

He reluctantly let her go when she moved away and just stood there, staring at his bag for a moment. He had never minded waiting before. It had never bothered him that she wasn’t ready for that kind of relationship, but now, he just wanted to pull her back into his arms and kiss her.

He looked over at her; she was standing a few feet from him, messing with the end of her braid, focusing on it. It meant that it was one of those rare times that she felt awkward. She didn’t want to talk about that kind of love—she wasn’t ready yet. He took a deep breath and told himself again that it would be okay. “Let’s go,” he told her, trying to keep his voice light.

She looked over at him. “Hey. Stop being so gloomy,” she ordered lightly. “Let’s just have some fun. This is still our adventure, after all. Just ignore Matt... he’ll be gone in no time, and then it’ll just be us again.” She smiled at him. “Okay?”

“Yeah,” he said, forcing a smile in return.