Crow trotted after Penelope as she headed out of the clearing, falling in step beside her once they were making their way into the forest. Truth be told, he hoped she wasn’t actually expecting him to find a stream for her. He did know the general areas where they might find one, but because the summer had been so dry, it was unlikely that any of the locations he knew of were filled with water at the moment. The next closest stop would be the river that flowed past Wellspring. At the thought of it, the thief smiled to himself.

That river had been a turning point in his relationship with the knight. Two years ago, it was the place where he had first ventured to open up to her about himself and where they had made their deal for her to let him go if he completed the former king’s mission. It was likely thanks to that river that they had ended up where they were now. Feeling a mixture of nostalgia and affection for the knight, he sidled a little closer to her side and eagerly laced his fingers with hers when she took his hand.

At her comment Crow nodded and shot her an amused look. “I’d say so,” he agreed. “Well, either that or your father is going to think you’re a clumsy fool by the end of this trip.” Returning her bright laugh with a small chuckle of his own, the thief leaned in to meet her lips when she kissed him. He closed his eyes and held her close, enjoying being able to have some real time alone with her for the first time in almost a month.

When she pulled back again, he grinned at her confidently. “I’m sure we’ll think of something,” he said, his eyes wandering desirously down to her lips as he spoke. “Your father still thinks you’re being courted by Gavin. It can’t be that hard to keep fooling him a little longer.” Unable to keep himself from her any longer, the thief moved in to kiss her again, meeting her lips with fervor and trailing his hands over her back as he lost himself in her touch.