The Scarlet Assassin

Chapter Forty-Six

Late into that night, I lay tossing and turning on the crude pallet that had one less blanket now that we all spared one each to the girl who slept heavily. Earlier, Sophie had given her fresh clothes and some food, and it did not take long for Dalia to sleep. Sophie and Rafe began talking about the mission soon after, bickering over whose version was more accurate while Carter listened intently and scribbled away in his notebook, looking up and smiling ever so often. Ace kept to herself as usual, but I watched her eyes stay glued onto Dalia as if she was a puzzle she couldn't figure out.

But soon, they grew weary and slowly fell asleep.

And now, I couldn't get my brain to turn off. I hadn't slept in two days, my body was exhausted, yet I was not tired. Though I had expected that after the mission was completed, that after the prince was dead, I would be at ease for once, my adrenaline was still coursing through me. I was more anxious now than I had been before we entered the cave because now we were going home.

Because now, I had to face the king and pray he lived up to his word.

Hastily, I sat up. I was too amped up to sleep, and I needed something to calm me, maybe knock me out for a few hours. I rummaged through my pack, but I did not find anything but clothes, food, and my water jug. So I went to my second pack and-

"Looking for something?" Sorin asked from across the fire, leaning against a tree as he stared at me in confusion.

I barely glanced at him before starting to rummage in my pack again. "Alcohol. You have any?"

Sorin laughed. "It's the middle of the night. Why-"

"I just..." I rubbed my face. "I can't sleep and I need... I need–Where the hell is my flask?"

"Vera," Sorin whispered.

"I know I left it here-"

"Vera."

"What?" I snapped.

"It's right next to you." I looked up at Sorin then down to my right where the silver flask lay at my side.

"Oh," I mumbled, taking the flask, opening it, and drinking heavily from it. Sorin watched me. I felt his eyes.

And when I was done, he asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Why, uh," I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because you just drank an entire flask's worth of alcohol in the middle of the night."

"I'm fine, and I think I'm already getting a little sleepy." I feigned a yawn, laid back down, and said, "Wake me up when it's my turn to keep watch."

"Of course."

We then fell silent, and I closed my eyes, expecting to be slowly drawn into sleep. But after many more minutes of trying to force my body to be tired, after minutes of turning from side to side, I gave up. "Sorin?" I asked irritably.

"Yes, little assassin?" The familiar voice asked.

I sighed heavily and said, "I can't sleep."

Sorin was quiet as if thinking this over. Then I heard a rustling sound and footsteps in the snow. I furrowed my brows. "Where are you-" Sorin went down to his knees next to me and pushed me to the edge of my pallet. I stared at him as if he was crazy. "The fuck do you think you're doing?" Slowly, he sank down next to me and threw the covers over his legs.

"Helping."

Sitting up, I scoffed, "By stealing my warmth?" I tried to yank them back, but Sorin beat me to it. And with one hand tightly grasping the edge of the blanket and the other reaching for me, he gently pulled me into his side.