Abigail The next day, we entered Knocklean, and not 20 feet inside its borders the sky opened up, and we were caught in a downpour. “Well, this country is quite pleasant,” Thomas joked an hour or so later as we made our way through the mud. “Perhaps I will holiday here one day.” I rolled my eyes, and saw my sister do the same. She and Cat were holding hands, helping each other through the mud that already came halfway up our thighs. The trees closed in around us ominously, as if they were trying to herd us in a certain direction. They hung overhead, their bare branches like boney fingers that offered no shelter from the cold, hard rain. There were things moving amongst the trees that I couldn’t properly see, and strange noises I couldn’t properly hear. The forest looked like it was drowning in sadness and illusion. We tried to trudge through, but the path was difficult to navigate. By the time we stopped at midday, everyone was exhausted. We huddled beneath the trees, trying t
Grayson Abby killed the two ghouls that were attacking her sister in quick succession but did not see the one that was sneaking up on her. I moved to save her, but my legs were stuck in mud that went almost to my knees. By the time I pushed her out of the way, she had already been stabbed. “No no no no no no” I cried. I looked at the thing that had stabbed her and felt a power I had never known before flow through me. I raised my sword and cut off the thing’s head, sending it flying. I cut through two more before I was able to get to her. The wound was bad – and deep. I didn’t know if I had the strength to fix this. “Hold on, Abby.” I whispered. “Please. I love you.” “It hurts,” she muttered. I could tell she was about to pass out. “I know, love, stay with me. I’ll get you somewhere safe.” Rose came squelching over as quickly as she could to stand guard over us. “We need to get her out of the rain!” I shouted. “Grayson…” her voice was weak. She was fading. “Yes, Wildflower?” “I
Abigail **WARNING: mild references to SA** When I woke up, I was lying on a cold stone floor. A dry cold stone floor. I looked around and realized we were inside an almost empty room. Grayson was lying beside me, asleep. Rose came over. “Thank the gods! You’re awake!” She gently hugged me. “What happened? Where are we?” I asked as I sat up carefully. “You were stabbed, and it was deep,” she explained. “Grayson saved you.” She paused. “Abby, did you know he had magic?” My eyes widened. “No, I had no idea.” I looked at the man sleeping next to me. What other secrets did he have? I brushed back a lock of hair that had fallen into his face. So beautiful. “Well, he does, and he’s powerful, according to Aryk. He just doesn’t know how to control it well, apparently, and healing you really took a lot out of him. He’s been asleep for over an hour.” Aryk walked up to us. “Your sister is correct, Duchess. Your prince holds great power, and I don’t even think he realizes the extent of
Grayson I found myself running to a hiding place I’d had as a child, Father right behind me with the switch. I had just seen my father over my brother’s dead body, his hands still around Duey’s neck. Father had spotted me and started shouting. “You! You did this! This is your fault – you and your damned ‘feelings’ and ‘pain.’ I’ll show you pain!” The king grabbed a switch and started chasing after me. I had run as fast as I could, trying not to think about what I just saw. I just wanted to survive. I thought I was safe in my hiding spot when Father dragged me out by my foot. I tried to shield myself from his blows. “You killed him! It’s your fault he died!” he yelled between blows. “You turned him against me! It’s your fault! His blood is on your hands!" “No, father! I didn’t do anything! I didn’t kill him! I didn’t turn him against anyone!” In the distance, I heard a familiar voice calling me. Begging me to come back, saying what I was seeing wasn’t real. I knew that voice. Abigai
Abigail The next morning, we all gathered around a small cooking fire and discussed what had happened. Aryk wanted to give us a chance to talk about what happened. He went first. “My worst nightmare was losing all of you and causing pain to the Queen. Sarah has put a good deal of trust in me to keep you all safe. My biggest fear is disappointing my old friend.” Cat looked at him with pity in her eyes. She reached over and gave him an awkward hug, made even more awkward by his pat on her head. He would not say any more, even though the whole thing was his idea. Cat went next. “We had reached my father, but he had been corrupted already, and I couldn’t save him. I had to leave him behind. He left me to fight the monsters on my own.” Rose put her hand on Cat’s shoulder and Cat looked at her gratefully. On his turn, Thomas said, “I was trapped in a coffin, buried alive. None of you could hear me screaming.” I reached over and patted his arm, and he smiled at the acknowledgment. I
Grayson We all watched as Thomas got up and followed his wife, still looking guilty as hells. “He’s either going to have a terrible time or a great one. There’s no in between there. “ Aryk said quietly. I nodded in agreement, uncertain which one I was hoping for. As soon as Celina left with Thomas, Abigail dove into my arms. I held her tightly, breathing in the smell of her hair. “I love you, my little bee,” I teased her gently. “They’ll think twice before they try to force me to do anything again,” she laughed and then kissed me. I took a moment to appreciate the woman in front of me. Every day, she gave me something else to love and be proud of about her. “Follow me,” Laurie ordered. He led the group to two tents and said gruffly, “Ladies in this one,” he pointed to the left. “Gentlemen in there,” he pointed to the right. When I walked into the tent with Aryk, I saw it was a bathhouse. There were two tubs, already filled with hot water. We could see other empty tubs, towels,
Abigail Grayson carried me over to an empty tent and took me inside. When he set me down, I noticed it was full of cushions and blankets of all shapes, colors, and sizes. It looked quite cozy. “Come here you,” he said in a growl that made my knees weak. He pulled me close and pressed his lips against mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and let him lead me backward to the cushions. “Oh!” I exclaimed, as he picked me up by my bottom. I wrapped my legs around him and deepened the kiss as he knelt and laid me on the cushions, never breaking contact with my lips. My hands went into his hair as he slid one of his behind my head. I could feel his other hand moving over my body, on top of my clothes, stopping to fondle a breast. “Gray…” I moaned as he moved to kiss my neck. I tilted my head to the side to give him better access. “Say it again,” he commanded breathlessly. “Say my name.” He started to nibble on my ear. “Oh Gray… I love you.” I breathed. “I love you, too, my beautifu
Grayson “Abby,” I growled the way I knew she liked. Her hand tightened around me in response, and I moaned as she moved it up and down. Even over my clothes it felt amazing. I pulled up her shirt and exposed her breast. We both groaned in pleasure as I took a nipple into my mouth. “Gray…” she whispered in the sexiest way possible. I felt myself getting even harder. She sped up her hand… I was close already. I wanted to enjoy this, to enjoy her. “Stop, love,” I said, putting my hand on hers. She looked concerned. “Did I do something wrong?” She sounded so sad. I kissed her. “No, my girl. You were doing everything right. I just want us to take our time,” I leaned down and licked her nipple, receiving a moan in response. “I want to enjoy this.” I took my time undressing her, kissing each part of her body as I exposed it. She was a moaning mess by the time I was done, but was still able to whisper, “Your turn,” as she tugged at my pants. I complied and she smiled at what she saw.