Chapter 4

Chuckling, Bryce left the fire and handed Taden a bowl of the promised stew. Taden stirred the contents, breathing deeply of the aromatic steam. He hadn’t realized his hunger until that moment. Bryce passed a bowl to Nathaniel, who murmured a sleepy gratitude. Taden watched him pick at his food while he wolfed his own down, noting Nathaniel’s struggle to keep heavy lids open. He looked away from Nathaniel, stirred to pity by his vulnerable appearance, and met the question in Bryce’s gray eyes.

“I know nothing about him,” Taden confessed, sitting cross-legged beside Nathaniel and passing the empty bowls back to Bryce. “But we can surely offer him safety for the night.”