" He looks at Erik. “The last thing you’re going to do is wallow. You’re going to get back on your feet and figure out how to adjust. Trust me, you’ll thank me for it later.”

Erik grimaces but nods. “I’m sure I will,” he says, forcing himself to sit up, and groaning as he does. “But right now, I’d like to say some far less savory things to you.”

“Keep a list,” Heron says with a small smile. “You can tell them to me over dinner.”

For an instant, Erik is shocked and flustered—a look I’ve never seen on him before. He recovers his wits quickly enough. “It’s a deal,” he says.

Artemisia looks between the two of them, eyebrows raised so high they almost disappear entirely into her hair.

“We are at war,” she says with a sigh. “Surely there is a better time to flirt than when death is around every corner?”

“Truth be told, I’m hard-pressed to think of a better time to flirt,” Erik says, pushing himself to his feet. “You very well may never get another chance.”

Artemisia rolls her eyes.

“Just because I can’t see you doesn’t mean I don’t know you’re rolling your eyes, Art,” he says, holding an arm out to her, which she takes. She guides him a couple of hesitant steps. “Just because you don’t know how to flirt—”

“I know how,” she snaps indignantly as she leads him out of the tent, the two of them continuing to bicker as they go. "

― Laura Sebastian , Ember Queen (Ash Princess Trilogy, #3)