own body heat.
The bond was weakening. He could feel it, like a rope slowly fraying strand by strand. The hibernation was holding, but barely. They needed to reach the outpost soon, or all of this would be for nothing.
"We'll camp here," the lead bandit announced as they reached a small clearing. "Too dangerous to travel in the dark. The forest gets... strange at night."
Lian wanted to protest, wanted to keep moving, but he knew the man was right. Pushing on in darkness would just get them lost or worse. And the horse needed rest desperately.
He dismounted carefully, cradling Yueshuang against his chest. The bandits immediately set about making camp—building a fire, laying out bedrolls, posting watches. They were professionals, Lian realized. Not just common thieves, but organized, experienced outlaws.
Which made them both more reliable and more dangerous.
"You can lay her there," the lead bandit said, gesturing to a spot near the fire. "She'll stay warmer."
