At nightfall, we stopped and made camp a short ways into the forest. As Jaspen set up the tent and made fire, I went hunting. He didn't offer a complaint and I was glad. I needed to be away from him. He had been cold towards me all day. What was that about? I sighed. He was trying to freeze me out because of Sebastian.
I pulled an arrow out of my quiver and notched it. Come on! I just needed a rabbit. Just one small rabbit. That's when I saw one not too far off. I waited for it to look at me in fear so it would stop for a brief moment. When it did, my arrow flew.
"I'm sorry," I whispered at it as I went to retrieve it.
A few minutes later, I returned to see Jaspen sitting by the fire looking rather amused.
"What?" I asked, feeling a smile come to my own lips.
His smile fell a notch. "Nothing."
I sighed, throwing the rabbit at him in frustration.
"Cook it," I growled.
And he did. He didn't talk to me the whole time. I sighed, frustrated. Why had I decided to come with him?
"You can go back now if you want- to him. I won't judge."
Was he reading my thoughts like I read emotion? Was it crazy to think that?
"Are you actually talking to me?" I asked.
I sat by the fire bringing my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them and then resting my head on top.
"Is there anyone else here being courted?"
I sighed, not saying anything.
"I'm not trying to tear you away from him, Sasha. I mean, gods! I wasn't even trying to invite you on this!"
"You could have said no!" I growled.
He ran his fingers through his hair nervouly.
"You looked happy… and I just … I wanted to say no, but seeing you happy is … well, it's what I want for you."
I didn't say anything. I knew the string that drew me towards him did the same for him. Was this how the mate thing worked?
"Gods you don't believe in that whole soul mate thing do you? I thought that was dead among you wolves."
He had to be reading my thoughts.
"Get out of my head!" I yelled.
"Believe me, I don't want to be in it," he said, frustrated, bringing me a bowl that held my part of the rabbit.
"You can read thoughts?"
He sighed. "If I don't focus enough on staying out, I can."
I drew my legs closer.
"Eat," he said.
"I will in a bit when it cools off."
He ate his sloppily and said nothing after that. After a few minutes, I began eating mine with a heavy heart. It seemed as though, one way or another, he was going to push me to Sebastian. Shouldn't I be happy he respected my decision? Why was part of me not?
"I'll take first watch," he said. "Get some rest."