"It's pretty out here,' I said. I liked all the deciduous trees. I might be homesick for Montana, but the wide leaves here were a neat contrast to pine needles. "And hey, at least you get lots of privacy, right?'
"True.' He smiled. "I figured you'd think it was ... I don't know. Too rustic. Or savage. You probably think we all are.'
His observation startled me. Most of the Keepers had been so fiercely defensive of their way of life that I hadn't thought anyone would even think an outsider would question it--or that any Keeper would care if we did.
"It's just different,' I said diplomatically. "A lot different from what I'm used to.' I felt a flash of homesickness for all the people and places I was now cut off from. Lissa. Adrian. Our other friends. Court. St. Vladimir's. I shook the feeling off quickly. I had no time to mope and could at least check on Lissa later.
"I've been to human towns,' continued Joshua. "And other places the Tainted live. I can see why you'd like them.' He turned a bit sheepish. "I wouldn't mind electricity.'
"Why don't you guys use it?'
"We would if we could. We're just too far out, and no one really knows we're here anyway. The lily-people say it's better for hiding us.'
It hadn't occurred to me that they simply endured these conditions because they were forced to in order to conceal themselves. I wondered how many of their choices came from clinging to the so-called old ways ... and how much was influenced by the Alchemists.
"Here we are,' said Joshua, pulling me from my musings.
He gestured to a dark hole at ground level. The opening was big enough for an adult to enter.
"Nice,' I said. I'd noticed earlier that some of the caves were set higher into the mountains and had watched their residents either climb the rock bare-handed or use homemade ladders. An easy-access doorway seemed luxurious. Joshua looked surprised at my praise. "Really?'
"Really.'
We'd ended up losing too much daylight. He paused to light a torch, and then I followed him inside. We had to duck a little at first, but as we went deeper into the cave, the ceiling slowly expanded and opened up into a wide, rounded space. The floor was hard-packed dirt, the stone walls rough and jagged. This was a natural cave, but I could pick out the efforts made to civilize it. The floor had been cleaned and leveled, and I saw some stones and rocks in a corner that looked like they'd been gathered up to clear space. A couple pieces of furniture had already been moved in: a narrow wooden chair and a mattress that looked like it could barely hold one person.
"You probably think it's small,' said Joshua.
It was true, but it was actually bigger than my dorm room at St. Vladimir's. "Well ... yeah, but I mean, how old are you?'
"Eighteen.'
"Same as me,' I said. This seemed to make him pretty happy. "Having your own, um, cave at eighteen is pretty cool.' It would have been cooler still with electricity, Internet, and plumbing, but there was no need to bring that up.
His blue eyes practically shone. I couldn't help but notice what a pretty contrast they made against his tanned skin. I dismissed the thought immediately. I wasn't here for a boyfriend. But apparently, I was the only one who believed that. Joshua suddenly took a step forward.
"You can stay if you want,' he said. "The other Tainted would never find you here. We could get married, and then when we had kids, we could build a loft like my parents' and--'
The word married had me moving toward the entrance as shocked and panicked as I would be by a Strigoi attack. Except, I usually had fair warning before those.
"Whoa, whoa, slow down.' No. I hadn't seen a proposal coming. "We just met!'
Thankfully, he didn't come closer. "I know, but sometimes that's how it is.'
"What, marriages between people who hardly know each other?' I asked incredulously.
"Sure. Happens all the time. And seriously, just in this short of time, I already know I like you. You're amazing. You're beautiful and obviously a good fighter. And the way you carry yourself ...' He shook his head, awe on his face. "I've never seen anything like it.'
I wished he wasn't so cute and nice. Having creepy guys profess their adoration was a lot easier to deal with than one you liked. I remembered Sydney saying I was a hot commodity here. Scorching was more like it, apparently.
"Joshua, I really like you, but,' I added hastily, seeing hope fill his features, "I'm too young to get married.'
He frowned. "Didn't you say you were eighteen?'
Okay. Age was probably not a good argument around here. I'd seen how young people had kids back in Dimitri's home-town. In a place like this, they probably had child marriages. I tried another angle.
"I don't even know if I want to get married.' This didn't faze him. He nodded in understanding. "That's smart. We could live together first, see how we get along.' His serious expression turned back into a smile. "But I'm pretty easygoing. I'd let you win every argument.'
I couldn't help it. I laughed. "Well, then, I'm going to have to win this one and tell you I'm just not ready for ... any of it. Besides, I'm already involved with someone.'
"Dimitri?'
"No. Another guy. He's back at the Tainted Court.' I couldn't even believe I was saying that.
Joshua frowned. "Why isn't he here protecting you then?'
"Because ... that's not how he is. And I can take care of myself.' I'd never liked the assumption that I needed rescuing. "And look, even if he wasn't in the picture, I'm leaving soon anyway. It would never work out between you and me.'
"I understand.' Joshua looked disappointed but seemed to be taking the rejection okay. "Maybe when you've got everything sorted out, you'll come back.'
I started to tell him not to wait for me and that he should just marry someone else (despite how ridiculous it was at his age), but then I realized that was a pointless comment. In Joshua's fantasies, he could probably marry someone else now and then add me on to his harem later, like Sarah and Paulette. So, I just simply said, "Maybe.' Groping for a change in subject, I searched for anything to distract us. My eyes fell on the chair and a leafy pattern carved into it. "That's really neat.'
"Thanks,' he said, walking over. To my relief, he didn't pursue the earlier topic. He ran his hand lovingly over the ornately carved wood. The design looked like braided leaves. "I did it myself.'
"Really?' I asked in true surprise. "That ... that's amazing.'
"If you like it ...' His hand moved, and I feared there was a kiss or embrace coming. Instead, he reached into his shirt pocket and produced a finely carved wooden bracelet. It was a simple, sinuous design, the true marvel being how narrow and delicate it was to all be one piece. The wood had been polished to brilliance. "Here.' He handed me the bracelet.