A long silence stretched between us before Clover set the herb aside and straightened. “Wolren, it looks like he got most of the jobs done. Could you distribute the materials?” She grabbed my pack. “And here’s the meat.”

  Wolren rifled through both bags, then let out a low whistle. “I said you were feeding a few dozen, but you’ve got enough here to last the refugees a week. Good work.”

  I shook my head and nodded toward Timbur. “Thank him for part of that. He kept throwing himself into the middle of Lunar Wolf packs. I could barely keep up, just picking off the ones he didn’t get to first.”

  Clover’s glare snapped to Timbur again, but this time, he didn’t shrink.

  “Aw, come on, we made a great team!” He puffed out his chest. “Matter of fact, I should go with you guys into the dungeon!”

  Clover immediately shook her head. “No. You’re staying here to help Starkfell gather resources.”

  He pouted. “But—”

  “No.” She crossed her arms. “Someone needs to be here in case that damn ogre shows up. Warwick is strong, but he’s just one person. You’re the only other battle-ready fighter Starkfell has. You’re staying.”

  Timbur deflated, visibly giving in. “This is payback for turning Freddy into an icicle, isn’t it?”

  Clover’s smile was sharp. “Partly. Now go. I need to get him out of that armor, and there are some things I don’t want an audience for.”

  Timbur brightened, a mischievous gleam lighting his eyes as he winked. “Gotta get him warm, right? Have fun, Clover.”

  She smacked his chest with an eye roll. “Go.”

  He left, chuckling all the way. Wolren followed after nodding at me. “The meat and hides will help Starkfell a lot. I’ll ask around, see if anyone can patch your armor before you leave tomorrow.”

  I didn’t get a chance to respond before he disappeared down the hall.

  Clover sighed and sank down beside me. “Good. At least that’s handled. Now onto the most pressing issue still on our plate—armor, off.”

  She started undoing the buckles near my neck, and I wordlessly tackled the rest. In minutes, the heavy plate was off and stacked against the wall.

  She pressed a warm palm to my chest, exhaling softly.

  “You really are a disaster magnet, Darling.”

  The anger I expected wasn’t there. Instead, exhaustion tinged her voice, laced with tiny shards of fear. Only then did I notice the slight tremor in her hands.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  “Clover?” I asked, voice low. “Are you okay?”

  She let out a dry, humorless laugh and shook her head. “I was already nervous about you going out while recovering from Basilisk venom. Then you didn’t come back at a reasonable time, and when you do finally show up, you’re being carried by those two—soaked to the bone, lips turning blue.” She looked away, jaw tight. “Of course I’m not okay.”

  Guilt twisted through me like thorny vines.

  “You’re too reckless with your well-being,” she muttered. “I can’t heal the dead, Darling. And the world has far too few good people to lose you to stupidity or recklessness.”

  She wasn’t wrong. I hadn’t meant to get tossed into a freezing river, but I had scared her. And if the roles were reversed, I’d have been just as terrified.

  Gently, I took her hands and squeezed, shifting sideways to meet her eyes. “I’m sorry. I never wanted to worry you. And… I’ll probably do it again—whether I like it or not. But I’ll try to tone it down.”

  A smile curled the edges of her lips. She raised our hands, pressing a soft kiss to the back of mine. “Good. Because I’m not ready to lose you yet.”

  Someone coughed in the next room, and the moment shattered.

  The warmth in her expression cooled, replaced by clinical focus. “We need to get you out of those clothes before pneumonia or hypothermia does you in.” She hesitated, fingers resting near the hem of my shirt. “Do you want to do that yourself?”

  I only had to think about it for a second before shaking my head. “No, it’s fine. You’re not a stranger, and besides—” Heat coiled at the base of my neck. “It’s not like you haven’t seen me shirtless before.”

  That day in the cave felt like a lifetime ago…

  She hummed. “True. And I’ll never complain about having you all to myself with decidedly less clothing.”

  Her tone turned teasing, and I chuckled, ignoring my flush as I peeled off my shirt. When I sat in nothing but my underwear and a blanket, she let her gaze drift over my bare chest—slow, assessing.

  Heat flickered behind her eyes before she sighed, tamping it down.

  “If you weren’t recovering,” she mused, “this would be too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

  Interest stirred low in my stomach, but I shoved it down before it could lead to trouble. “Agreed. And while that’d be a great way to warm up, something tells me you’re not exactly the quiet type.” I smirked. “With patients a wall away, this isn’t where I’d like to do… such things.”

  She considered me for a long moment, weighing something before finally sighing. “You’d be correct. I’m not the type to restrain myself.” She patted her bedroll pointedly. “Cuddles will have to content us for now. Let’s try to get some sleep. Your clothes should be dry by morning, and I, for one, need rest.”

  I didn’t argue.

  I obeyed wordlessly, my shivers easing when she slipped under the blanket with me. Thin arms wrapped around my waist as she curled into my throat, her warmth chasing away the ice in my veins.

  I melted into her hold, pressing my cheek into her hair and breathing her in. “Good night, Clover.”

  She hummed against my neck, lips brushing my skin in a featherlight kiss. “Good night, Darling.”

  Warmth bloomed from the spot she kissed, spreading through me like ripples in a still pond. Contentment washed over me, dragging me under.

  Just before sleep took me, I tightened my hold on her and caught the soft sigh she exhaled.

  “Never did I think to be spoiled by such innocent affection.”

  Groggily, I scraped together the last of my energy to murmur, “You deserve it. And more.”

  She huffed a quiet laugh but didn’t argue. Instead, she curled closer, her fingers pressing lightly against my chest.

  “So do you, Darling.”

  Darkness claimed me, and the last thing I knew was warmth, the scent of flowers, and the weight of her against me—anchoring me to the world.