Crow closed his eyes and wrapped his free arm around Penelope’s back as she embraced him. At her hopeful words about the medicine, he nodded faintly, not feeling quite as optimistic. As long as Jane was checking on his condition every day, it was going to be difficult to slip any improvement past the barons if the physician reported it to them. He supposed he could pretend to be immobile longer than he actually was, but even that would only get him so far when she was inspecting the wound itself. He couldn’t hide the improvement of his body from a professional healer.

Additionally, he was starting to get concerned about the fact that he still couldn’t eat. Even taking the medicine for his illness, which was mostly liquid, had irritated the wound on his inside. At this rate, it was entirely possible that he would be too weak to get away from the camp, even if he could move. He needed to heal enough both to get some food into his stomach and to be able to walk on his own if he wanted to have any hope of escaping before the barons decided his fate.

As Penelope suddenly buried her head against his neck, Crow lifted his hand to trail his fingers gently through her hair. Her presence relaxed him. He leaned his head against hers, taking in the feeling of her arm wrapped around him, the warmth of her body pressed against his, and even her smell—something that had become so familiar to him during the time they’d been together. He let out his breath in a soft exhale. Despite the apparent hopelessness of the situation, it was impossible for him to completely lose hope. He was still clinging stubbornly to the future they both wanted, and he wasn’t going to give it up without a fight.

“I’m sure we will,” he agreed quietly, stroking the back of her head with his hand. Despite his lingering uncertainties, he still tried to sound optimistic. “We’ve made it past worse obstacles than this, so I’m sure we’ll think of something.” Turning his head slightly, he pressed a tender kiss to her cheek. “I love you, Penelope, and I promise I’m not going anywhere.”