Chapter 90

Mara's POV

I went upstairs to change out of my wet clothes. Ronan stayed below with Lucien to bring in more wood. The room he had prepared for me held a made bed, a washbasin, and a small window facing the river. I heard him move a chair on the other side of the stone wall. His room was close enough that a raised voice would reach me. I put my hand against the wall once, then took it away before the simple act became another test neither of us had chosen.

When I came down, Lucien had gone to his room. Ronan stood at the table laying out bread, apples, and a pot of mountain tea Lucien had brewed. He looked at my dry shirt and then at my hands. He tried to hide the second look.

“You may tell me what you need,” I said.

“We need some space while we find out what a touch does here.”

“How