He cursed himself for six kinds of a fool.
Focusing on the now, he swept his hair back from his face, and checked her body for further injuries.
She woke briefly when he turned her onto her opposite side to see if the dagger had gone clean through.
It hadn’t.
As he rolled her flat again, he noticed her eyelids fluttering.
Her gaze focused on him.
He met it steadily. Looking rather pale himself. “You certain this is what you want?”
I do not want to do this.
“The faster it’s out, the faster I can heal.”
She kept saying that.
His only thought was. If it doesn’t kill you in the process.
“Do it.” She urged.
Shaking his head worriedly, he drew an unsteady breath.
Putting his palm flat on her chest, just below her collar to hold her in place, he applied his weight there. Steadying her body against her shivering. He grabbed the crude metal handle.
<
Watching her in pain was unbearable. He suffered with her. Every hour her agony dragged on, he regretted more and more how he’d treated her. I might’ve built a bond with her again. If only I’d been kinder...Perhaps they could’ve spent these last few nights warm in each other’s arms rather than sick with resentment and old bitterness. Or restless beneath a barrage of tortured memories. He wondered if she had been too. Or was it always just me? There were so many torturous ‘what ifs’. Instead of all I could’ve done, I actively kept ourdissension alive. He was very aware that chastising himself now was not going to help her heal. It was only increasing his fears. But he’d refrained from considering all these things for so long that now he couldn’t help it. They washed over him in an endless flood. And to what end? He remembered her secret talk with
“I feel like myself.” She argued his rationale as she caught his large hand. Pressing it over her body. Letting him feel every gentle swell and smooth plane of her flesh. Blinking wide eyes, she asked. “Don’t I?” Good god, Woman. His lips parted. As the past and present blurred painfully. He wanted this moment with her. He wanted to relive it again. His hand seemed to wander of its own volition, even after she stopped guiding it. Memorializing every curve of her. Damn her! Choking a little, he retracted his hand and set her back from him. Seeing her creamy body shining in the blue lights from the water. Her darkly tipped breasts propped on her elbow. Their delicious crests begging to be nipped. His cock was getting rigid beneath his pants. Not now. “Nim.” He urged. Ignoring his own, predictable reaction. “We’re not there anymore.” His voice was harder. As he tried to co
Their darkly skinned bodies were frail and knobby but tall enough to be terrifying. Their skin was leathery and dry, and their jaws opened too far back into their skull. Allowing them the ability to fit a grown man’s head between them. To crush it. Styx could hear the dog’s occasional whine and sometimes the rattle of a cracking branch. They rode on. Trying to appear calm. Styx fell back a few steps to walk behind the horses. Guarding their backs. “Almora?” Lon broke the extended silence. Taking the opportunity of some privacy to chat with her. “Yes?” “Promise me something?” “Of course.” She waited for him to explain. “If they attack. You won’t interfere. You’ll just get away.” “Lonnix!” She cried appalled. “I don’t want you hurt. You said you’d promise!” “But-” “This may be my last request. The last thing I ask of you...” Drawing a shaky breath, she gave a reluctant nod.
“Pray tell, why?” Disseus drawled in response. His sword lowering in shock. Utterly confused by the fact that the King of the Blue Lark Assassin’s Guild was hunting him. What the hell could the King of the Seditious possibly need of me? And why come to my aid? Disseus was still staring at the younger man in astonishment. Where did he even come from? Disseus hadn’t sensed anyone following them, other than Cimmerii. Though their stink could have masked his smell. He acknowledged to himself. “I was hoping for a bit of help.” He nearly laughed. Gesturing beyond the cave. “Though after that, I’m a bit more hopeful regarding your response.” “My help?” With what. Disseus was eyeing him warily. “I am fixing to go to war. I need a warrior like you with us.” “Us?” Who? “The Forever Knights.” Disseus had heard such beings referenced befor
Bernus was inside the cottage. Sitting in the chair, tipped sideways, with his head craned back against the rest as he watched the door. His large feet were firmly planted on the dirt floor. His posture was relaxed. He'd been here far too long for him to be tense any longer. He’d gotten the message the Edre had left him. And he was to meet her here. So where is she? He’d been waiting for over a day and was now beginning to wonder if the woman he so respected was playing him for a fool. She’s wasting my time. There was much he could be doing as a guardian of Enuchte. Wasting time along the surface of Ardae was not something he enjoyed. Bernus was a man set on achieving goals and moving on. Calm down, Old Boy. He told himself. Reminding himself that if he was wrong, what he desperately wanted was well on its way in this direction. She could be bringing my target straight to me. Pati
Styx’s eyes glittered like rubies and his mouth tightened in the direction of the guardian. Not missing the open contempt, the guardian was presenting. “I’m no Firoque.” “A full Cimmerii then?” Bernus was implying he was upgraded from a firoque, which was still a twisted human under Radix’s sway. But a Cimmerii was something purely demonic. With no more humanity. Styx snorted. Refusing to be insulted by the guardian. “Not hardly.” “You look a hell of a lot like one.” Bernus sneered. Styx opened his mouth with a vicious retort but Lon’s voice silenced their interchange. “So, you need a Harbinger to fight your battles? Why don’t you fight your own?” Lon asked shrewdly. His fingertips sawing across his thumbs as he eyed the other man. Badly wanting to sock the smirk right off the guardian’s face. But all he could do that moment was stand there, wondering if there was any chancehe was quick enough to
Having uttered the ominous warning, Bernus turned his head and his eyes narrowed meaningfully on Lon, as if to warn Almora what he'd do to the chubby man. I won’t hurt her, if she runs, I’ll hurt him. Lon was clearly too far out of shape to run for anything. He’d be easy to catch. Bernus’ gaze flitted over to the demon male with them. Watching him warily. “I don’t like you.” Almora hissed, as she turned to face Bernus. He shrugged. Unsurprising. She marched back over to stand by Lonnix. He laughed coldly. “Most don’t. My job is not an easy one. But I do what I must.” “Perhaps you should consider doing something else.” Lon commented. Bernus' laughter was a rough bark. Shaking his head, he leaned back and watched out the window. Before asking more soberly. “When are they coming?” “I don’t know.” Lon deflated. Surrendering his little act that they weren't on their way.
“Your elders didn’t want us to have attachments because they believed we were weaker with them. They could be used against us.” Dissues sighed as he took a small, corked bottle from the drawer. At Bernus’ confused silence, Disseus barely spared him a slow glance before saying “Do you know that, not so long ago, we were accepted into the First Water Fey? Considered their elite?” Bernus’ brow furrowed in disbelief mingled with confusion. “Until it was found,” Disseus continued. “That we’re just as at risk for burning, as you. But not born at as fast a rate. So, the more that died, the fewer there were. So, yourelders, none of which were harbingers, decided to keep us separate from the women.” He sneered. “Because if we never had the chance to love, we could never burn. Right?” Bernus shifted. Discomforted by this tale. “That’s not why.” “No? Then what were you told?” He cleared his throat. Shifting again.