East

I looked at him, startled.

"The Eternal Blue Sky sent you to us. You are meant to be here," he reasoned.

"But …" How to explain to him I was from the future … did I even want to go down that road with someone I had no intention of connecting with? "I want to go home. I know you understand that. You want to return to your home on the steppes."

He paused in the wrapping of my arm to gaze at me. "I do understand."

I waited for more. He was pensive. His thigh was pressed to mine while his wide hand all but swallowed mine. His other hand was on my thigh in a move I took to mean he was either comfortable with no personal space or absentmindedly possessive.

"You said you cannot return home," he added and resumed wrapping my arm.

"I can't stay here."

"Where else would you go?"

The question floored me, not because I hadn't thought about it, but because it really hit me that I was homeless, lost in time. Without waiting for me to respond, Batu quickly bandaged my other arm.

"You have no home of your own. I'll take you to mine," he said firmly.

I blinked out of my stupor. "Thanks, but I do have a home," I said.

"You cannot return to it. I am going home, and you are coming with me." He rose. "What other choice do you have?"

None. It wasn't his fault I was stranded here, but I couldn't help begrudging him for pointing it out yet again. I almost wished he wasn't so rational or conversational, that he had slung me over his horse and taken me somewhere without shooting so many holes in the desperate logic I was clinging to.

He was different. I didn't know if I liked that or not about him.

"Remain here, goddess." He started towards the entrance.

"Where are you going?" I twisted, gaze settling on the wide expanse of his muscular back.

"To inform my uncle he can be expecting censure from the Khan."

That'll go over well. He left. Rather than wait for his uncle to storm the tent, I dressed in my layers of silk and slippers and dug around his belongings until I found a satchel in which I could store some items for travel. If he was lucky enough to return with his head, I didn't think I'd be so fortunate as to leave here with mine.

I packed the satchel with some bread, a bladder of water, the knife he gave me and sat back, satisfied I'd done well. Before I had a chance to assess my best plan for escaping, he strode through the entrance.