Chapter 51

Ronan's POV

Lucien woke me by dropping an apple against my chest.

“If you are going to leave me the early watch,” he said, “you can carry breakfast.”

Across the bothy, Mara was asleep under the blanket we had stolen from each other all night. Her hair had escaped its braid. I tucked the loose end of the blanket around her shoulder, then stood.

Lucien noticed, of course. He said nothing until we were outside, where dawn had turned the wet road the color of old pewter.

“She laughed last night,” he said.

“You were listening?”

“There are eight of us in a hut the size of my kitchen. One can't help it.” He tightened a saddle strap. “She laughs more when she doesn't have to manage everyone else's fear.”

“Yes.”