The rain fell steadily, a rhythmic patter against the dense canopy of trees. The forest smelled of damp earth and wet leaves, the air thick with the chill of the night. Rena sat with her back against the tree, her drenched clothes clinging to her skin, but the cold didn’t bother her. She welcomed it. Pain, discomfort—those things were familiar, and the numbing cold only dulled them further.

  She tilted her head back, letting the rain wash over her face. “Oh, I got rain as my company tonight,” she muttered to herself, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

  Alex stirred inside his tent, awakened by the sound of the downpour. He wasn’t the only one; the soldiers guarding Rena stood stiff, clearly displeased with their unfortunate duty. They huddled under a small makeshift covering, casting wary glances at the woman sitting so calmly in the open rain.

  Shaking his head, Alex stepped out, stretching his muscles as he observed the scene before him. His sharp gaze landed on Rena, soaked and shivering, yet utterly unbothered. He didn’t know if it was defiance or stupidity. Perhaps both.

  “Go inside,” he ordered the guards. “I’ll take over.”

  The men exchanged glances but did not argue. They were more than happy to escape the cold, bowing their heads before retreating into the tents. Alex leaned against a tree, arms crossed, watching Rena in silence. The rain made her seem even more fragile, her skin pale under the moonlight, but he knew better. This woman had fought him—held her ground against him—and that was something few could claim.

  “You look like a drenched chicken,” he remarked, breaking the silence.

  Rena’s lips curled in amusement as she lazily turned her head towards him. “And you look like an owl with all those dark circles.”

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  Alex’s jaw twitched, his irritation surfacing. “Still got that sharp tongue, even in chains?”

  Rena raised her shackled hands, tilting her head mockingly. “And here you are with all those iron shackles in your hands, not me!”

  He narrowed his eyes. “If you think that makes you any less of a prisoner, you’re delusional.”

  Rena chuckled, closing her eyes briefly as she leaned back. “And yet, you’re here, talking to me instead of resting like the others.”

  A distant thunder rumbled across the sky. Alex exhaled sharply, stepping closer. His patience was running thin. “What is your intention?” he asked, voice cold. “What are you planning to do to our king?”

  The mention of the king made Rena’s expression darken. The easy amusement drained from her face, replaced by something far more dangerous—hatred. Her fingers clenched into fists.

  “Why do you care?” she spat. “And I don’t want to tell that to a dog!”

  Alex’s frustration snapped. In an instant, he crossed the distance between them, grabbing her chin roughly. Their faces were mere inches apart, breaths intermingling. Rena tensed but didn’t back down. Instead, she met his gaze with unwavering confidence, a smirk still lingering despite the obvious threat in his hold.

  “You should stop provoking me if you want to live until we reach the kingdom,” he warned, his voice low, deadly.

  Rena’s smirk widened. “You will kill me anyway, so why does it matter, Mr. Hound? Do you like this, perhaps?”

  Alex’s fingers twitched against her skin. She was infuriating. Reckless. A fool. And yet, he found himself unwilling to let go just yet. Her defiance intrigued him, more than it should have.

  A loud clap of thunder rolled through the night. The rain had begun to ease, slowing to a soft drizzle, but the tension between them remained, thick and unyielding. Finally, with a scoff, Alex released her, stepping back as if the brief contact had burned him.

  He turned sharply on his heel and strode back to his tent. But before disappearing inside, he pulled the fabric aside just enough to keep her in his line of sight. He leaned against the chair inside, arms crossed, smirking slightly as he observed her from the shelter of his tent.

  “It’s a good view from here,” he mused, voice laced with amusement.

  Rena didn’t even look at him as she shifted against the tree, eyes fluttering shut. “And it’s ugly for me.”

  Despite her words, she couldn’t deny the weight of his lingering gaze. But she refused to let him have the satisfaction. The rain had stopped, leaving the night eerily quiet save for the occasional rustle of the trees. Rena exhaled slowly, allowing exhaustion to claim her. She would need her strength for what was to come.

  Alex watched as she finally surrendered to sleep, her steady breaths the only sign of peace in the otherwise tense atmosphere. He should have been resting too, but his mind was restless, thoughts circling the strange, infuriating woman he had captured.

  She was dangerous. Not because she was a witch.

  But because she made him curious.