When the men returned, Lonnix carried Disseus’s cloak while he shook dirt from a crumpled tunic. After smoothing his hair back, he’d proceeded to his saddlebag and retrieved the clothing. Using the powder he kept in his bag, to rub his teeth clean.
Feeling far more refreshed than I did waking covered in sweat.
Listening to them proclaiming how I’d cried for her. Self-loathing ran through him at his weakness.
He checked on the horses. Noticing immediately that the one Almora had been riding was missing. He noted a splash of blood on the ground and followed the trail. Dread already rolling through him as he was sure he knew what he’d find.
Just beyond the initial line of trees, he found the bloodied pool of what remained of the horse.
It’d been entirely gutted. Pieces of its throat, its eyes and ears gone. And still steaming in the cool day.
It was clear that the Demon King’s beasts had already been hunting here.
<Disseus had spent the night just outside the door watching the shadows of the trees. Sensing every movement Nim made. She wasn’t too far from the cottage. Only a few hundred feet. And in the distance he could see her outline sinking to the ground and her knees drawing up under her chin. No. Hearing her sobbing in the distance and knowing she cried for fear of what would happen when this was all done, made his chest tighten. He felt both guilt and determination as a result. But to say that the sound of her cries didn’t affect him would’ve been a blatant lie. Though he certainly wished it didn’t. He shifted against the wall. Uncomfortable with hearing her rare tears. Feeling like he should go comfort her. But there wasn’t much he could say. I’m not bluffing. I’m not letting her get away again. No matter how much I dislike her. The sad fact, was that he needed her around for his own survival.
She hadn’t said a word for many miles. Clearly mad at me, thinking I forced her off her horse. He was tempted to tell her so, but knew Almora would have hell to pay for lying to her, if he did. He decided not to. Let her think it’s me. She hates me anyway. But this had gone on too long. “What’s wrong with you?” “What if he’s given up on me?” She breathed. Disseus instantly saw how selfish his own thoughts had been at those startling words. “Your boy?” “Yes.” “He won’t have.” “But, if he has?” “Nim, you’re entirely unforgettable. Certainly, as a lover. And most assuredly, as a mother.” He said with conviction. “He hasn’t forgotten you.” She turned to give him a searching look. He kept his gaze straight ahead and said nothing but felt the emotion in her study. Emotion that seemed to echo through him at her vulnerability. He clenched the rein in a white-knu
As they began the long trek up a steep mountain, Nim began looking around warily. “What’s wrong?” Almora queried. Nealinim murmured. “We’re in the Black Mountains.” “Yes.” He nodded. “That is a concern as well.” “What is a concern?” Catching the tail end of the conversation, Lon was alarmed. “Dogs of Battling.” Disseus responded. Everyone knew the animals belonged to the demon master, Radix. And would obey Nierwae if he bid them to do so. They could be reporting our location back to the demons now. Disseus was unsettled by that thought. Almora flinched at the prospect of running into the evil creatures. Remembering their scaley, bark like coats, and the slinking way they moved. “What exactly is a Dog of Battling?” Lon looked anxiously around at them. “You don’t want to know.” Almora said softly. “Grand.” Lon swallowed. “And what exactly do those do?” Eat whatever Rad
Don’t own- Growling low in his throat, Disseus tossed down the stick he’d been stirring the kindling with. To stalk to her and tower over her. “I am not afraid of you.” Nim lifted a haughty brow. Unmoved by his show of temper. “Perhaps you should be.” His fists tightened and his lips thinned as he glowered venomously at her. It would be wise, since I'm tempted to throw you over my knee until you stop speaking foolishness. “I’m unmoved on this.” She whispered. Meeting his hard gaze. “As am I. We shall see who wins.” I'll tie you to a damn tree if necessary. Disseus gave her his back to go stand near the trees bordering their camp. Leaning against one trunk to glare at her steadily. Making his disapproval of her suggestion obvious. *** They’d all bedded down for the night. Disseus could feel Nim’s eyes boreing into his back. She reached up and tentatively touched his sho
“I can’t go any further.” He huffed. Lowering his end of the spit to balance it on a flat boulder. “I’m unaccustomed to strenuous activity as well as bearing weight. Aside from mine.” Lon reached down to lift his ample girth. “This is just too much to ask of a man. Or Delmar as you’d have it.” He needs some rest. Disseus eyed him sympathetically. Though Disseus seemed as if he could carry the spit laden with cooked meat for an eternity, Lon had long ago exhausted himself. Lon shook arms which now felt soft as jelly from the exertion. Trying to get the feeling back. “You whine like Nim.” Disseus glared at him. “You don’t see me complaining.” She retorted to Disseus’s profile. His head turned so he could give her an impassive study. “You’re always complaining.” “Play nice.” Almora chided, seeing Nim beginning to fume. Nim snapped her mouth shut and tightened her lips turning she stormed away to tie the ho
What is on her mind? He couldn't resist being curious. Shrugging she mouthed she wasn’t hungry. The hell she's not! Brows rising he eyed her in obvious skepticism. Pointedly looking away, she tried to consume as much food as her unsteady appetite would allow. But the pink just beneath the flaky top layer made bile rise in her throat. Glancing up she saw he now gave vague attention to the conversation Almora and Lonnix had been having, across him. Plucking at a hunk of meat gripped in one hand, he put the small portion in his mouth. As Lon said something to him, dimples appeared and there was a quick flash of even white teeth. The brightest sort of smile on such a typically dark countenance. His strange good looks combined with aggressive masculinity. Making him nearly mesmerizing. How long had it been since he’d given her that smile? In some ways she envied Lon. In many ways, she envied Almora
Tilting her head back to look up at him, Nim froze. Blatant pain marring her face. “Why wouldn’t you just say it then?” Because it would've been a lie. “Honor is everything. Honor your woman, your child, your ground and above all, we honor truth.” He quoted the Harbinger code. “It wouldn't have been the truth. And I had no intention of ever honoring the words they were demanding me to say. I'd never have left you alone.” “You could’ve died.” She gasped. “They burnt you and cut you.” "Burnt!" Almora interjected in appall. Nim hadn't gotten to that part of the story. They'd beat him. Then they tortured me. Trying to get me to say it. He looked at her as though she’d gone mad. Lifting his tunic he gestured to his muscled chest and abdomen. “I have not a mark on me.” It wasn't enough. He turned to expose his bare back to her before dropping his shirt. "That is far from the worst b
Surely, she'd not betray me again when I'm on a mission to save her son? His eyes narrowed on her delicate shoulders and slim back narrowing into her fine waistline. As she headed back to the camp. Those shoulders rose and her head whipped, as she realized he wasn’t in the camp. Fear made her breath quicken. He could hear the soft huffs from where he stood. Knew she feared he’d witnessed exactly what he had. Damn her! When Nim turned abruptly, fearing she’d been caught, she found only an empty forest. A branch cracked as Disseus stepped into the clearing opposite her. She froze at the sight of him. “What are you doing up this hour?” He drawled. Piercing blue eyes seeming all-too knowing. “What are you?” “Couldn’t sleep. Thought some food might help.” Let your little minions come. I'll kill them all. We'll see who's left to defend you then, First Water. He strode to her,