She nestled in, rolled over to scoot back against him and tugged his arms tight around her.
He was quiet. Deathly still. Holding her. Listening until her shuddering sobs stopped and she subsided in slumber. He took in the scent of her. Her smell, the texture of her hair and skin. Lightly caressing his fingertips over her shoulder and down her arm.
After a time, she rolled over to snuggle against him. Wiggling her hips and arms in until she was cuddled against his middle.
Once she was still, he slid back enough to see her face. Caressing her cheek and outlining her brows and the slope of her nose with a reverent fingertip. Moving to the sharp lines of her defined cheekbones.
I’m going to miss her face.
He couldn’t imagine the Blue Lark, nor Winter Haven without her. Her vibrant red hair and fiery nature made this place feel alive.
Makes me feel alive.
He’d always had her here, ever since he’d first gotten
At first light he bundled her into his arms and pressed kisses to the top of her head. Sliding his large tunic over her head and pulling a pair of his breeches up over her shapely legs while she sat on the edge of his cot watching him with a mournful expression. He rolled the breeches up at the cuff, so they’d be short enough to her. Despite the slightly bagging waist. He wrapped her in his heaviest fur and carried her out of the tent. “Jax. No…” She whimpered into his bare collar. Face tucked into his neck as she clutched him. “You need to go, Murah. Don’t make me be cruel. You know I will.” “You’ve never been cruel to me!” “I know.” “Don’t…” RedBayne was waiting in the foggy courtyard. Holding his arms out for her, but when Savage went to hand her over, she shrieked loud enough to wake the fortress. Savage’s face crumpled. “Dimurah.” RedBayne chastised. “Ye know I won’t hurt ye.” “I won’t go!” She leapt from S
I absolutely am. Savage rotated on his heel and lowered into the dark stairs of the hold. Poking his head below to see her sparking blue eyes glittering in the dim light. Observing the face of the woman that was so dead set against being left on this island. She was straining the chain, its length pulled tight. “You said I wouldn’t get you out of the Blue Lark either…” Yet I did. “You bound me and tossed me over Delcourt you filthy Whoreson!” She rained a shower of curses down on him. Still angry apparently. “Dimurah it’s-” “No, it’s not!” She cut him off. Knowing him well enough to know where he was going. Better for you. He finished inwardly. “I’m trying to-” “You’re failing!” Save you… There was another bump on the side of the ship. “Floater!” Thank God. “I need to go deal with that.” Savage pointed over his
Road Outside LandingTown into MidGale City, Nightway “They’re there.” Phalanx pointed out the three carriages circled in the clearing. He and Savage wereresting on their bellies, peering over a grassy hill to watch the ongoings. “Easy pickings.” Savage watched. Face unreadable. Though it had been nearly a month since he’d dropped Dimurah off on Sanctuary Island, he still found himself thinking of nothing else. Wondering how she was. Where she is... What she’s doing... He struggled to focus today. The image of her pretty face kept cropping up in his mind. “Brother, are you with me today?” Phalanx murmured. Giving him a green-eyed study. “Aye.” Below they could hear the tall blonde man giving directions. Savage recognized him from the year past. In this same location… They’d followed the Nauvree here last year, curious as to what he was so c
“What?” “His Seditious Lot call him ‘My King.’ And the Weldons just described the bunch.” “The boy running the Blue Lark Guild?” Bast’s brow knitted. “Why would he-” “I don’t know.” The Nauvree cut him off urgently. “But there’s a method behind everything he does. He did it for a reason.” Bast shook his head in confusion as he returned to the Weldons. “Well, whomever it was I doubt they got the things you love imported from the Isle. So have your pick and we’ll be on our way.” The elderly couple wound hands and hobbled to the carriage to peer inside. They selected a few items and the sailors carried them inside for them. “Sebastian?” Ms. Weldon’s soft voice rose again. He paused to look at her, waiting. “Could you take our extra goods to that Boy. To give to the others.” “The Boy that brought you the Goods?” “Yes. He says there’s more in the Blue Lark. Plenty more so we should take whatever we wished.” S
The day came that the gates opened to let in a mass of slaves that had been rescued from trader ships headed for the Isle. Dimurah was quick to weave into the crowd. Twisting enough to look like she was moving forward but making her way further to the back of the crowd until she was able to get out the gates and across the bridge. Scampering over the boulders bordering the fortress and along the ridge. She hissed through her teeth at the sight of the sheer drop. And down below, in the murky green water, she could see the pink bodies floating as they plopped against the rocks and returned with the waves. She grimaced, having no wish to join them as she lifted her skirts and took care of her footing. Making her way around the edge of the castle to get behind it. As she’d expected, it wasn’t long before a guard shouted a warning announcing her presence on the boulders. But no one ran out to get her. Though they often watched for intruders
It was hours of walking at a painstaking pace before they finally reached the edge of the Landbridge and the fog cleared enough to make Sourthern Vale visible. Dimurah blew a long breath of relief. “What the hell were you doing?” The man rounded on her. Accusation in his voice and fire in his eyes. Looking surprisingly fierce. “Trying to escape the fortress.” “It’s a sanctuary! Why would you need to escape?” “I didn’t want to be there. I need to get back to the Blue Guild.” She was already hoping that there was a chance this man might help her in that direction. “You nearly got your fool hind-end turned into demon dog food!” His fists were tight. He was clearly furious. “There’s a reason people sail around the edge of the land through the Sea of Souls rather than risk the Landbridge!” He gestured furiously over her shoulder. Back in the direction they’d just came from. “Very few survive thejourney.” “We just did.”
“No business of yours.” Savage said. Giving him an icy blue study. “No, it’s not.” The Nauvree admitted. “But, as I said, I’m curious. Are you giving it to the peasants?” Not your affair. Savage tossed him a quick look. Surprised by the assassin’s determination on this subject. “Because it involves your brother?” “My twin.” The Nauvree straightened. Sighing in a way that said they weren’t close. “You were watching us.” “I see most things.” Savage shifted against the counter to face Nauvree. “What precisely is this about?” “Are you giving them away?” “What of it?” Savage tipped his head up to stare down his nose threatening
Rhyer’s House, Mane Country THE NAUVREE “Oh no…” Dimurah shook her head frantically. Having just been told by a man she called friend, The Nauvree, that Savage had arrived here. In Rhyer’s country house. Where he’d taken her after finding her wandering the perilous landbridge between Sourthern Vale and Sanctuary Island. She backed up still shaking her head in denial. Refusing to accept that he’d found her already. “No. No!” She turned and fled from the parlor into the entryway, heading for the stairs. “He’s not taking me back! He won’t find me!” She was barreling up the stairs. “Far too late for that, Murah.” He boomed from the entryway. When did he come in? I didn’t hear the door. The Nauvree frowned. The bloody man is as quiet as Rhyers. The Nauvree glanced at the tall dark-haired man who seemed as startled as he was. He didn’t hear him e
“Too far!” Rhyers intervened. Coming from the lower parlor to step before Savage. Clearly furious. But Savage’s eyes were locked on Bast who’d clearly deflated at the words. His hand gripping the railing next to him, shook slightly. Drawing Savage’s keen eye. He could see the fury written over the green-eyed tracker who looked ready to do battle in Sebastian’s defense. I needed to see. Savage stomped down the slight pang rising through him. How does this news really effect him? Savage was watching Sebastian carefully. Bast looked unsteady. Color drained from his tanned skin, and he looked prepared to vomit. “It was my fault.” The words were barely audible, but Savage heard them. “What did you do?” “My magic bound her when our daughter needed her.” “Sounded like there would’ve been too many for her to take on anyway.” “There were!” Rhyers spat. Angry at Savage as he turned to lead Bast t
WaterRose, Meadow Mountain, Grier Country Savage was standing, still as a statue, in the shadowed foyer of WaterRose when Sebastian came down the steps. Gaze on the stairs, he wasn’t paying any attention until he glanced up and spotted Savage’s shadowed face and stopped midway down. “Jaxson?” Sebastian echoed that quiet stance. Like a buck posed in the morning light. Deciding if there was a threat at hand. The Kill Beads in Savage’s hair clinked as he looked up at him. “Nobody calls me that.” Most don’t even know it. How’d he find out? RedBayne or the Nauvree. He sussed out. Didn’t take much to guess that. “What would you have me call you?” Sebastian asked kindly. Savage was momentarily taken aback. It had been a long time since someone had asked him that. Since Chavias, to be specific. “It’s fine.” Savage would never have admitted it, but it w
“How was your night?” He queried. Couldn’t have been too bad. I smelled no blood or Cimmerii. Nor did I hear any unusual ruckus. And he’d been listening. “Not bad.” She slid her undergarments down her milky white legs. And crawled under his coverlet next to him. “How was the last fortnight?” “You know well it was fine. I had a minor argument.” “And?” He leaned up to look at her. How’d that go? “Your bodyguard handled it.” He explained. Phalanx. Of course, he did. Savage relaxed. “And the bartering?” “Shut up, Jax.” She slid atop him. Palms and breasts pressed to his chest. Her legs outside his. Her mouth brushing along one side of his jaw before moving on to the other as she trailed sensual little kisses along it. “Make love to me.” Absolutely! He lurched up and caught her in a vise grip. His mouth consuming hers as his tongue engaged in the wild dance with her
Why? “From whom?” “Your father.” The elf said before ducking back into the tower. Sebastian Bodane. “He’s not-” Savage objected reflexively. Maybe he is. I’ve no idea. He opted for silencing. Rotating he headed for the elaborately vined double doors, entering into the castle foyer. He entered the cold structure and immediately felt it was different. Eerily silent, darker and far less welcome than it had been before. He suspected it was all for the same reason. He paused looking around and saw not a single candle burned on the base or second floor. Candles in the sconces long cold. “He’s not here.” The feminine voice wafted down from the hall of the second floor. Savage looked up. Eyes glowing gold around the pupil. Luminescing in the dark so he could see. It’s her. The healer. “I’m not here for him.” Not this time anyway. Perhaps I’ll return another day to
“But only Dreads float. Or demons. Or well, nothing good!” Phalanx added despite his vow not to discuss it further. “I wasn’t floating.” “But I saw you!” “I was flying. With her.” “Well,” Phalanx tossed his arms. Saying in a hushed voice. “suddenly that makes it okay then!” Savage gave him a sideways glance. Indicating he was getting annoyed. I should’ve heard him coming. “What exactly are you two doing?” Phalanx slowly turned to face the man confronting them. Savage rotated reflexively and snapped his head to meet the stranger’s blue-eyed glare. Who is he? Savage had never seen this one before. But he could instantly tell by the colored lights surrounding this man that he was one of them. He’s a Forever Knight. He’s with them. A quiet one. I thought only the Tracker could sneak up on me. “I came to see why he’s gathering you all here. What you’re prote
“Dimurah?” “Yes?” She blinked those pretty blue eyes at him. “If you’re going to ask me for something, there’s no need for flattery.” “I’m not, actually.” She sighed. “I just miss you when you’re gone.” “But you hate when I’m here.” “I do hate when you’re here.” She admitted. “I never know who you’re going to kill or when. Or what it’s going to do to my business.” He tilted his head in acknowledgement. She’s not wrong. I never know who or when I’m going to kill. “Should we go fly?” “We?” She gave him a chastising look. “I think you mean me.” “Do I?” Savage dressed. Putting back on his sleeveless padded tunic and black breeches and tugging on his boots before helping her do the laces on her green dress. Once she was clothed she caught his hand and began tugging him behind her. “This way.” “I know the way, Murah.” He laughed. But she was jogging. Pulling hi
Giving Delacourt a swat that sent him to the stable where the stable boy would recognize him and properly tend him, Savage made his way straight to the pond. Circling around to the part where very few people went, he shucked his clothes and entered the water. The chilly bite of the water was a relief today instead of a startle. Pleasantly cool on my hot skin. “You’re back.” He popped his head up and saw Dimurah standing at the edge of the water. Her arms crossed. “What are you doing up so early?” She likes to sleep in since the alehouse runs late into the night. “How else do you suppose I bathe in this guild?” She gave him a half smile. “We’ve bathed together many times in the afternoon.” “Yes. When you’re here we can bathe anytime during the day and no one would bother us.” He frowned at the logic in it. “So, when you’re alone you come early?” She nodded. How many times has
“I’m so hungry. And I’m angry…” Samuel said as if considering the same thing himself. “But my friend…” The Tracker? “He likely won’t be your friend now, I’m afraid.” “I’m afraid of that too.” Samuel swayed backward and forward. But the Tracker can handle this mess for himself. Savage saw no danger to the girl as this man would have his most volatile reaction when he neared a Forever Knight. And if he was right and that was precisely where he was heading, both Samuel Marshall and Rhyers would soon be discover what Samuel was and if he was capable of fighting it. Unlikely. He’ll instinctively be driven to kill Rhyers. Well, he’s healed enough to defend himself. Savage shrugged and stepped from the man’s path. Not my problem. But Savage caught another smell. A more potent stink of rot intermingled with the sweaty smell of all the animals that had come to the river for drink. He
Phalanx and the Seditious were partway across the glen but had begun to slow at the sight. There were shouts of objection and yelled threats. Savage’s gaze was fixated on Danbury who leisurely lifted the sword and hooked it under Savage’s throat. Notching his chin higher as he pressed the tip into Savage’s chorded throat. Savage felt the quick bite but was unblinking. “It’s a shame I can’t gut you here. After all you’ve done, it’d be the least warranted.” Danbury said in an enraged voice. Nearly shaking with the desire. You’re too afraid of Radix. Coward. Savage gave him a lopsided grin. Archers had climbed from the second carriage and more paid guard from the third. They all circled around him. Weapons at the ready. “Now whose outmanned?” Danbury taunted. “We shall see.” Savage said emotionlessly. It has yet to be determined. “Yea. We shall.” Danbury gloated as he sheathed his short sword and pulled h