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Had it not been for his radiant warmth, she might have missed the opening altogether. The rock formation jutted out just enough to hide the entrance, but it was there.
    “Clever.” The mouth of the cave was small. Brienne stooped just to get in. She couldn’t imagine how Evan had fit. Once inside, the chamber was massive with three distinct tunnels leading from it.
    She couldn’t stop the shudder from coursing through her or the goose flesh from rising on her skin. Caves were her least favorite places to be. When she had first arrived in the Dark Lands, she’d been cold and alone and had taken refuge in a small cave close to the Avalorian border. She would never forget the high-pitched screech of the venomous creatures, or the wailing of the animal they had surrounded and killed. The slow and agonizing death had haunted her nightmares for weeks. When Argram had found her, she had been exhausted and starving, too afraid to go out and find food. She had stayed huddled in that little cave, praying the creatures had moved on yet not brave enough to go into the night to find out.
    Snap out of it, Brie. You’re not the same scared girl you were back then. She took a step, then another, not allowing her fear to take root. It wasn’t hard to follow Evan’s lead. His body heat warmed the tunnel, enticing her forward.
    The steep incline made walking difficult, but she didn’t mind the physical strain. She was used to harsh terrain and uncompromising situations. This was a mission, like any other. She just had to keep herself focused on the task and get it done. Keeping her bearings inside a cave was paramount. The absolute darkness, even with her enhanced eyesight, made it treacherous. Sliding her hand along the wall to her left, she kept pace, putting one foot in front of the other until she reached a juncture in the tunnels.
    She couldn’t tell which way he had gone. The area was warm, too warm to be coming from Evan alone. Why hadn’t she thought about the heat of the volcano before? He might not be in there at all. She tried to swallow around the dry lump in her throat as it threatened to close off her air supply. Goddess above, what am I doing in these tunnels?
    A small trickle of sweat raced down her spine. Heart racing, she reached out for the help she had sworn she would never ask for. “ Evan?” The thumping of her heart sounded like a drum in her ears. “I… I don’t know which way to go.” If he were in these tunnels, he would help her. Wouldn’t he?
    Brushing strands of hair from her face, she was surprised to find her fingers trembling.
    “If you’re at the fork, you’ve almost arrived.” His weary voice strained with each word.
    “Do I keep left, or go right?” Shoving the panic aside, she took another step forward. At least he wasn’t too far if she needed him. She had never seen the vicious Grondas so far in these lands, but she was no expert on the nasty creatures.
    “Right is faster, but left is easier. Both end here.” He paused before adding. “Go left. I’ll meet you.”
    More than anything, she would love his reassuring presence in the oppressive darkness, but he wasn’t fit to be exerting himself. “No, sit and rest. I’ll be there soon.”
    Turning to the right, she kept moving. She had been walking for a few minutes when loose pebbles had her tumbling and scraping her palms against the jagged stone walls on her way down.
    “Damn it.” She rose, more careful of her footing, brushing away the small stones embedded in her palm.
    “How did I know you would go right?”
    She let out a little scream and stumbled back at the sound of Evan’s deep voice. “Goddess above. You scared me half to death.” She couldn’t see him, but his energy was close.
    “I apologize. I thought you’d heard my approach.” Pale blue light flared to life a couple of feet in front of her, pushing the darkness to the edges of the tunnel.
    “I hadn’t. And don’t look at me like that. I took the