The tension between them was a rubber band that had been stretched and twisted to near snapping. It felt easier to not speak. If he spoke, they might argue, and Rayne would send him away. And right now, he simply wanted to be near the man.
For more than a week, Rayne had avoided him, dodged him, and created buffers with anyone he could find. Quite a feat, considering they were trapped on a ship together. For at least a while, he wanted no more barriers.
Rayne pushed open his door and stepped inside the cabin first, but Eno stuck impossibly close, ready to grab him and pull him to safety if someone was hiding within the small space. But the room was empty.
Eno followed him inside and closed the door but didn’t take another step. He looked around the space, trying to find hints that Rayne made this room his own. Not many clues to be found. The man was insanely tidy, and they were traveling light yet again. The cabin consisted of a bunk against the wall, a small desk and chair, a narrow dresser for his clothes, and a mirror hanging above it. A neat stack of papers rested on the desk next to a laptop. Rayne’s cramped writing was scribbled across the papers as if he’d been taking notes as he worked.
Eno dragged a deep breath and stopped, releasing it when he caught a hint of an unexpectedly familiar scent. Was that Rayne’s cologne? Or maybe his favorite soap? Before leaving Stormbreak, they’d all briefly slipped into their private apartments to grab a few personal items for their trip. He’d wondered what Rayne would value most for this journey. His mind had immediately conjured up research notes and books. Maybe a favorite pair of thick socks since where they were headed was supposed to be that much colder. But had his lover really grabbed cologne?
“I’m fine,” Rayne announced sharply into the silence.
Eno leaned his shoulders against the door and crossed his arms over his chest. “You were stabbed.”
“And as you saw, Caelan healed me. I’m fine. I don’t need a babysitter.” Rayne started toward the bed and then seemed to change his mind, moving to the desk. Rayne’s stubborn attitude left Eno feeling that not only did Rayne need a babysitter, but he desperately needed a nap.
“Are you demanding that I disobey a direct order from my king?”
Rayne finally looked at him, his jade eyes flaring wide behind his glasses. Their eyes locked for a heartbeat, and Eno couldn’t help but smirk. Rayne shoved away from the desk and crossed to the bed, throwing himself down on the thin mattress, but not without a wince that Eno caught.
“Feeling quite smug, aren’t you?” Rayne grumbled. He folded his arms over his stomach, but he was moving a little more carefully now. He’d obviously tugged on the tender stab wound enough that it was giving him more than a lingering pain.
“And what would I be feeling smug about? That the king has fixed it so you can’t run from me?”
Rayne opened his mouth, ready to argue with green fire filling his eyes, but he snapped those perfect lips shut again. Oh, he didn’t have a fucking leg to stand on. He knew he’d been running and hiding from Eno at every turn.
“Smug that you’re right about me. I have no business being here, and my injury proves it,” Rayne replied. His words were like a whip crack. If anything, Rayne proved that he had a wicked sharp tongue when he wanted to use it.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Eno exploded. Half the ship probably heard him, and he didn’t give a damn. He’d spent too much time on pins and needles waiting for Rayne to give him the time of day, and this was the conversation he wanted to rehash? “Is that what you really think of me? That I’d rejoice in you being hurt just so I can be right?”
Rayne’s eyes darted down to the bedspread and pink painted his cheeks.
“Damnit, Rayne!” He took a step forward, his hands balled into fists at his sides. “The only one on this ship who doesn’t believe in your fighting skills is you. If it weren’t for you, Shey might be dead right now. I’ve lost count of the number of times you’ve protected me, Caelan, and Drayce.”
“But you’re the one—” Rayne sharply cut himself off.
“What? What did I do?”
“You questioned my skills. My abilities,” Rayne finished quietly.
Eno jerked his head back, his brow furrowing as he searched for the memory. “What? When?”
“In the Godstone room.”
Eno took a breath to call that utter bullshit when the memory slammed into the forefront of his mind. Before they left Stormbreak well over a month ago, they’d been standing in the Godstone room, and Eno had brazenly asked if Rayne was prepared to protect Prince Caelan. Their entire world had been so different then. Queen Amara had been alive. There had been only one godstone, the Godstone of Erya. Caelan hadn’t yet bonded to two gods, and they were not yet in the middle of a war with New Rosanthe while racing to wake the Dead God to save all of Thia.