Challenge accepted

The forest’s silence wrapped around us like a heavy blanket. Only our footsteps broke the stillness as we trudged forward, the weight of the last encounter hanging heavily in the air. Cassian was ahead of me again, his movements deliberate despite the injuries I could see slowing him down. I walked faster to catch up, ignoring the ache in my legs and the growing chill that seeped into my bones.

“You’re hurt,” I said, my voice cutting through the quiet. “We need to stop.”

“I’m fine,” he replied without turning around. His voice was sharp, but I could hear the strain beneath it.

“You’re not fine,” I shot back, stepping in front of him to force him to stop. “You can barely keep going. If we don’t take care of those wounds, you’re going to collapse.”

Cassian sighed, his red eyes narrowing slightly. “We don’t have time, Sienna. They’re still out there.”

“Then they’ll find a corpse if you keep this up,” I said, my tone harsher than I intended. I softened my voice. “Please, Cassian. Just a few minutes. Let me help you.”

He stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Five minutes. No more.”

Relief flooded through me as I led him to a fallen tree, where he sat heavily. I knelt beside him, digging through the small bag I had slung over my shoulder—one of the few things I managed to grab before we fled. I pulled out a piece of fabric and a small bottle of water, preparing to clean his wounds.

“This isn’t necessary,” Cassian said, his voice quieter now. “I’ve dealt with worse.”

“And that’s supposed to make me feel better?” I asked, my eyes locking with his. “Let me do this.”

He didn’t argue, letting me take his arm. His skin was warm under my touch, and I tried to ignore the flutter in my chest as I began to clean the dried blood from a particularly nasty cut. His muscles tensed, but he didn’t flinch.

“You’ve been carrying a lot on your own,” I said, breaking the silence. “Do you ever stop to think about yourself?”

“This isn’t about me,” he replied, his voice low and even. “It’s about keeping you safe.”

“That doesn’t mean you can ignore your own limits,” I countered, focusing on wrapping the fabric around his arm. “What happens if you push too far and can’t protect either of us?”

He didn’t respond immediately. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer. “I don’t have a choice. If I fall, there’s no one left to stand between you and them.”

“You don’t have to do this alone,” I said, looking up at him. “I’m here, Cassian. I might not be as strong as you, but I’m not helpless. Let me share some of the weight.”

His red eyes softened as he met my gaze. For a moment, it felt like he was letting down a piece of the wall he kept so carefully constructed. “You’re stronger than you think, Sienna. But that doesn’t mean I’ll let anything happen to you.”

My chest tightened at his words, and I quickly looked back down, focusing on finishing the bandage. “You don’t have to protect me because of some sense of duty, you know.”

“It’s not just duty,” he said quietly, almost too low for me to hear. I froze for a moment, then resumed my task, unsure how to respond.

When I finished, I leaned back, letting out a breath. “There. That should help for now.”

“Thank you,” he murmured. The words were simple, but they carried a weight that surprised me.

We sat in silence for a while, the tension between us easing into something more comfortable. I found myself staring at the way the faint moonlight highlighted his features—the sharp line of his jaw, the intensity in his eyes even when he wasn’t speaking. I quickly looked away, feeling my face grow warm.

“You asked me earlier why I protect you,” he said suddenly, breaking the quiet. His voice was thoughtful, as if he was choosing each word carefully. “It’s not just because you’re important. You remind me of what it means to fight for something that matters.”

I blinked, his words catching me off guard. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve spent a long time fighting battles that felt empty,” he continued, his gaze distant. “For revenge. For survival. But with you, it’s different. You make me believe there’s something worth saving. Something worth risking everything for.”

My breath caught, and I wasn’t sure how to respond. The sincerity in his voice left me raw, vulnerable in a way I wasn’t used to. “Cassian…”

Before I could find the words, he stood, extending a hand to me. “We need to keep moving. But if we find another chance to rest, it’s your turn to talk.”

I took his hand, letting him pull me to my feet. “About what?”

“Why you trust me,” he said, a faint smirk playing at his lips. “Even when you probably shouldn’t.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my own lips. “Maybe I’ll tell you. If you can keep up with me.”

His smirk widened as he gestured for me to lead the way. “Challenge accepted.”