It was the first time I saw Fern that vulnerable, and it only made me want to protect her more than ever before.
The protectiveness burning deep in my chest was so intense that it took me by surprise.
Fern did not calm down for quite a while. And when she did, her eyes were all puffy, and her nose was stuffed up.
"That's so embarrassing." she whispered, her cheeks burning red.
I just caressed her cheek until I recalled that we weren't alone. Clove was there as well. The fae stopped poking the campfire with the silvery branch in his hand and got up, back straightened. He looked a little confused even now, like he was struggling to figure out what he was supposed to do and where to look.
I felt like I had to say something, but my stomach growled aloud before the first word left my lips.
"That is embarrassing." I snickered, half dying from embarrassment, half playing around.
