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THE NEXT MORNING Trinity’s head was pounding and her mouth was dry. She wanted water but the thought of putting anything in her stomach made her roll over and groan.
“Drink this.” Mom nudged her shoulder a little roughly and put a glass on the floor next to her pile of blankets. “Remind me to thank Kim. I hope she’s feeling as bad as we are.”
She’d stayed with her parents last night. She picked up the cup and sniffed it. “It smells horrible.”
“It’ll make you feel better.” Mom dropped onto her bed, covering her eyes with her arm.
“Did you drink it?” she asked. Mom didn’t seem to be feeling well and there was a green tint to her skin.
“Yes, and I’ll feel better soon. It isn’t magic you know. It takes time.”
She sniffed it again. “I don’t think I can. I’ll throw up.”
“Do whatever you want, but just stop talking.”
Mom knew about herbs and potions. She couldn’t feel much worse. She held her nose and gulped down the brew. She dropped the cup and rolled over, grasping her stomach and trying not to vomit. She’d never drink anything but water again.
Dad strolled into the cave. “I see my girls are still paying the price for last night.”
“Go away, you’re not amusing” mumbled Mom.
“Okay, but I wanted to tell you that we’re preparing to leave.”
Mom moved her arm from her eyes. “Where are you going this time?”
“To free the captives and end the war.” Dad’s tone was light but his face was strained. “Hugh thinks he’s figured out a way to seize the city, hopefully without too much fighting. We’re going to check it out.”
“How?” She sat up, the pounding in her head making her sway.
“Something about underground tunnels.”
“I’m coming with you.” She stood, placing her hand against the cool stone wall for balance.
He winced. “I don’t—”
“Tim.” Mom’s voice held a warning.
“Talk to Hugh.” Dad frowned.
“Fine. I will.” She stormed past her father. Males were so difficult. She didn’t want to talk to Hugh, not right now, maybe never, but she wasn’t staying behind. She made her way to Hugh’s cave. It was one of the crevices on the outskirts of camp. His place wasn’t homey like her parents, having only a cot and a table made from a hunk of wood propped on two stones, but it was bright. Sunlight snuck inside from a hole up above. He had his back to her and was bent over the table, looking at some papers. She cleared her throat.
He turned and his eyes hardened before he blinked and put on his placid, I-don’t-care mask. “Can I help you?”
She wanted to slap him. She hated this polite façade that he wrapped around himself like armor. “Dad said you were leaving.”
“We are.”
“I’m coming...I want to go with you.”
“No.” He turned around, dismissing her.
She counted to ten. “I can help. You need me.”
“I don’t need you.”
It was like a knife to her chest. He hadn’t meant on the trip. “Fine.” She’d find Gaar and Mirra and they’d follow. There was no way she was letting anything happen to her father or him.
He turned around. “Is there something else?”
She didn’t move. She’d never realized that anything could hurt this badly. She took a deep breath. He was only going to get angrier with her when she followed him, so she might as well get this done. “Kim said I should talk to you.”
“Kim’s wrong.”
It was better to blurt it out. It didn’t hurt less but it was over sooner. “Jethro and I didn’t mate.”
“That’s not what I heard.” He ran his hands through his hair and took a deep breath. “I know you did what you had to do. I understand that. I respect that you saved yourself and Travis.” He began to pace. “I just can’t get past it. Do you understand?” His eyes were hurt and confused.
Her heart twisted. She’d caused this. She had to make it better. “I’m not lying. I mean, I was...naked...” She clamped her mouth shut. That wasn’t going to help.
“I don’t need to hear this. I don’t want to hear this.”
“I drugged him before we could...you know.” She looked down at her feet. “I swear we didn’t.” She glanced up at him.
He was leaning against the table breathing hard. “What do you want me to do with this information? How do you want me to respond?”
“I don’t know.” She blinked, trying to stop the tears. “Kim said you’d want to know and that I should tell you.”
“Kim was wrong,” he repeated.
“Oh. Okay.” She turned and calmly left, but as soon as she was out of sight, she raced to the forest. She needed to get away from him—his coldness and his hurt. She stopped and faced the camp. She wanted to run away, leave this all behind her but she couldn’t, not now. She was going with them whether Hugh wanted her to or not. She wouldn’t hide from this fight. She’d find Travis. He’d tell her what she needed to know.
Travis was by his tent, hanging his clean clothes out to dry.
She walked over to him. “When is everyone leaving?”
Travis hung his last shirt and turned toward her. “Still not talking to Hugh, huh?”
“I tried.”
Some of her hurt must have shown on her face because Travis said something under his breath and gave her a quick hug. “We’re leaving tomorrow morning, but you didn’t hear it from me.”
“Thank you.” She kissed his cheek.
“Don’t do anything stupid, Trinity.” He said as he walked over to a frowning Mirabelle.
“I never do,” she mumbled. They all thought she was a reckless fool except when they needed her help.
She headed to the river. She had time for a quick bath before packing. There were others around the water, washing clothes and dishes. She found a semi-secluded spot and waded into the river. She dipped under. The water was cool and refreshing. That along with her mother’s concoction helped to wipe the alcohol from her system. She walked back to the shore and sat, staring out over the water. Hugh said he understood but it was clear he wasn’t going to forgive her and he shouldn’t. She’d betrayed him. She stretched out on the grass in a patch of sunlight, closing her eyes. He may hate her, but she was going to make sure nothing happened to him. It was hard enough not talking to him every day, but she refused to think about a world in which he no longer existed. At least if he lived, there was a chance he might, one day, forgive her.
“There you are,” said Hugh.
She opened her eyes and sat up. She must’ve fallen asleep. The sun was on its way down, it had to be early afternoon.
“I want you to stay with Gaar and Mirra.”
“Thank you.” She smiled up at him. He was agreeing to let her go with them.
“Don’t thank me. You were going to do whatever you wanted anyway. This way, at least the others can stay focused on their duties. It might be the difference between life and death for them.”
Her smiled died as he headed back toward camp. He stopped a few feet away, but didn’t turn around.
“Promise to tell me the truth?” His voice was a whisper, as if the words slipped out without thought.
“I promise.” Her heart started racing. He was talking to her. It was a start. Although, it might also be the end, depending on what he asked, because, no matter what, she wouldn’t lie to him.
“You didn’t...”
She shook her head and then mentally slapped herself. He wasn’t looking at her. “No. Never. Not with anyone.”
Some of the tension left his back. “It wouldn’t matter if you already had...I mean...before we...you know, but I thought we had...an understanding.”
“I know.” She’d never meant to hurt him.
“Did he force you?”
She hesitated.
He began to pace, still refusing to look at her. “I mean, I know you did what you did so you could escape but did you want to do any of it or was it all...Shit. I don’t know what I’m saying. Don’t answer that.” He stopped, staring at his feet. “Thank you for telling me what actually happened. You didn’t have to. You don’t owe me anything.” He walked back to camp.
She stared after him. What in the name of Araldo did he mean by that?