Mason was quiet then, which only worked to make Ilona more nervous. Maybe she had gone too far. Maybe that was too forward to say. They were getting close to the part of the mountain where they would have to climb up the tree. That would force them to be close with the other pirates again and the conversation would be over.
"Ilona, I... I want to have my life with you," he said at last, "Where we build it won't matter, as long as I'm with you."
Ilona felt her spirits rise, and a smile curved her lips.
Until she looked up at him and saw he wasn't smiling.
"But?" she asked quietly.
"But I think it's dangerous here," he said, "Even without the dragons and the threat of Vane's men. We still don't have medical supplies or proper medicine. Your mother works miracles, but she's not a real trained doctor. We don't have reliable food or..."
