Free Vengeance Born (The Light Blade #1) by Kylie Griffin Page B

clothes?”
    “I had to treat your wounds.”
    Her cheeks burned with the thought of him examining her despite knowing she’d have done the same for him. He rolled to his feet and fetched her dress where it lay on her pouch, then helped her to a sitting position. Dropping it over her head, he supported her until she tugged it into place under the blanket. Her shoulder throbbed.
    “You’ve lost color.” He pulled the blanket over her again, made sure it was tucked securely around her. The gesture touched her. “You should rest.”
    Sleep would aid her healing but Annika shook her head and peered toward the cave mouth. The slant of the sun told her it was late afternoon. Gritting her teeth, she flung the blanket aside and reached for her boots. They stood beside her healer’s pouch. “We need to move on. If we follow the river out of the valley, we might reach Whitewater Crossing by morning.”
    “Why now? It’ll be dark in a couple of hours. There’ll be less chance of being seen if we wait until then.”
    Shadows were filling the cave and the temperature was dropping. She fumbled with the bootlaces. “It’s too dangerous to stay. There’ll be Patrols combing the forest tonight. We have to get farther away.”
    She could hear her own heartbeat in the silence that followed. Her laces finally tied, she quickly refolded the blankets and reached for her pouch.
    “I don’t think it’s the Na’Hord Patrols you’re worried about.” Kalan crouched beside her, his head tilting to peer at her. “Let me see your eyes.”
    Lady’s Breath , he was perceptive. Annika tensed, steeling herself for his reaction as she lifted her gaze. Dark green eyes locked with hers.
    “They’re bloodred,” he said. His gaze narrowed. “You’re hungry?”
    Just how hungry was she? She ducked her head, almost able to hear his unspoken question as she returned to her task of securing the blankets onto her pouch. “I need to hunt. I can do that as we travel.”
    “You’re in no condition to travel—”
    “I’ve no choice.”
    He motioned at her bandaged shoulder. “Your wounds need time to heal.”
    “We don’t have time.” She rose, slinging the pouch over her good shoulder. A frown marred his brow. It looked like he was ready to argue with her. His stubbornness sparked a bitter anger. She strode to the mouth of the cave. “Your safety is forfeited if I don’t feed soon. I’m still strong enough to overpower you. I’ll drink until I’m sated. Do you want to risk that?”
    Even though it had been years since she’d last tasted human blood, the memory of the hot sweetness of it in her mouth was immediate. The urge to grab Kalan and pin him to the ground so she could feed filled her mouth with more saliva. She shuddered.
    Breaking the addiction to human blood as a child had almost killed her. Only through carefully weaning herself off human blood and onto animal blood, and the resilience of her youth, had saved her. Hiding her transition hadn’t been easy. It’d taken nearly four months, using the excuse of foraging for herbs in the forest to cover her need to hunt, but for once her father’s disdain and the Na’Reish ’s contempt for her presence among them had proved beneficial.
    Instinct warned Annika not to risk addicting herself to human blood again. Hunting now rather than later was her only option.
    Kalan appeared beside her and she fought not to flinch under his scrutiny. Staring out into the shadowed forest, she waited for some cutting remark or epithet.
    “How will you get down from the cave?” he asked.
    His calm response startled her, delayed her answering for several heartbeats. “The same way I got up here.”
    “Then give me the bag.” He took her healer’s pouch. “You’ll have enough to worry about without that hampering you. I’ll go first.”
    A quarter hour passed as Kalan scouted the area. When he gave her the all-clear, she took her time descending, testing the strength and flexibility