Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 318

Chapter 318: Deadly
Ford was careful on his watch that night. He was so tired, but Mia’s questioning glance at him just before she laid down in her bedroll was invitation enough for him to disregard his own needs.

Well, not entirely, he told himself. He needed to stay on the safest path, and that meant keeping Mia in good health and well being.

So he sat beside her sleeping form, invisible, gently holding her hand. This odd habit of his, for it truly was a habit now, afforded him ample opportunity to think and observe his surroundings.

And Mia.

He tried not to stare at her. His behavior was already strange enough without adding that into the mix.

Yet, her face invited his inspection. He’d called it perfect before, and he couldn’t dispute that assessment now. Long eyelashes fanned out on rosy cheeks. With her brow perfectly smooth in relaxation and her lips ever so slightly parted, she seemed ethereal and untouchable even as he held her hand.

A confusing sensation, and one he had ample time to contemplate. Yet, he never came to any certain conclusion. Would she tolerate him so well if she were awake, or did she not object to his presence merely because he helped her sleep better?

His thumb traced the back of her soft hand, and a familiar ache in his chest intensified.

She’d called them friends, but what an odd friendship it was. An outcast, jobless orphan whose only redeeming quality was his ability to be invisible, and a beloved, cherished daughter of a wealthy and magical family.

He regretted much.

How much he’d hated her at first. How he’d once sought to manipulate her into getting what he wanted. How selfish he’d been.

Ford turned away. More than anything else, the way he’d thought about her and treated her early on made him unworthy of being around her. And yet, here he was.

Close beside her, and yet, far away from what he was coming to realize he wanted.

He’d followed her on this journey for reasons he didn’t fully understand. Partly guilt over what happened to Trace, but also because of Mia.

Wanting to be close to her, to protect her. To make sure she was all right.

He sighed, growing sleepy. His time with her would end soon; he couldn’t risk falling unconscious holding her hand. His magic might give way; he didn’t have perfect control over it.

It required active, or at least semi-active, effort on his part to remain the way he was. Mia’s gift seemed a little more passive from her descriptions.

His eyes were heavy, but he wanted to give her the most amount of peaceful sleep he could manage. A few minutes more before he went to wake Seth for his watch. The last shift of the night, it would last until dawn.

That would give Ford a few precious hours of sleep with which to face tomorrow. He could do that. Just a few more minutes with Mia now, and then he would go to his own bedroll and rest.

Ford smiled, looking forward to the rest. The reprieve, however temporary, would be wonderful, but he also was reluctant to leave his place here. He closed his eyes for just a moment, determined to stand up and move away in just a few seconds…

When his eyes opened again, he was lying on the ground. Had he fallen over, or did he not recall moving to his bedroll? Mia’s face was close to his, their hands still linked together. Ford grimaced, realizing his mistake immediately and sitting up to move away.

But as soon as he did, he saw two boots near Mia’s head. Attached to them, two legs. Up and up he looked, an icy terror building in him until he looked up into Seth’s furious eyes.

Promptly, Ford vanished.

“Don’t you dare.” Seth growled, his glare intensifying.

Ford could run. Easily. And be far away before he ran out of magic… but that wouldn’t solve the mess he’d gotten himself into.

It would leave it squarely on Mia’s shoulders.

Already she was growing restless, her hand twitching without his in its grasp. Soon, he knew, the whimpering was likely to begin. Maybe Seth would be persuaded when he saw the state his daughter slept in without Ford?

Bracing himself, he put his magic aside and reappeared.

Seth’s face registered mild surprise that the order had been obeyed, which Ford could see either being a good sign or a very bad one.

“Come with me,” The older man demanded quietly, turning on his heel and walking away.

Ford slowly got to his feet and followed, casting a last glance at Mia. She would feel bad if her father murdered Ford, wouldn’t she? Would that be enough of a deterrent for Seth right now?

Seth continued striding forward until he was a short distance from the sleeping encampment. He continued facing away as Ford approached.

He never thought he’d wish to be back in the mine trapped under tons of rock, but right now, he thought it might just be the preferable location. He paused, waiting for Seth to speak first, but the tension between them was enormous.

Ford cleared his throat just as Seth spun around.

“Want to tell me exactly what was going on just now, and why I found you sleeping next to my daughter?” His voice was low. Controlled. Dangerous.

“Well, Sir,” Ford took a deep breath, “I was trying to make sure she could sleep well so that the journey ahead goes smoothly.”

“And how, exactly, were you doing that?” Seth’s eyes were dark, sending a chill down Ford’s spine.

“Holding her hand. It’s the only way she sleeps restfully,” Ford replied.

Seth stared at him for a long, silent moment.

“And you know this, how exactly?”

Ford saw too late the corner he’d talked himself into. He tried to keep the terror from showing on his face. Seth was much larger, and stronger than he was. He prepared to disappear and flee at a second’s notice.

“We discovered it before entering the cave, weeks ago. She sleeps best if I’m holding her hand. I’m… not entirely sure why. So the last few nights, that’s what I’ve been doing. Sitting up during my watch, making sure she gets enough rest to lead well.”

He braced himself for the explosion building in Seth’s expression.