Uncertain what the right words would be, instead I pulled him down into a kiss, sucking in when he opened his lips over mine and pulled me closer, an edge of desperation in himeverytime now, as if he never relaxed or felt safe.
The kiss grew deeper fast, but the moment I put my hand to his chest, he pulled away, shaking his head. “Sorry, I just—”
“Don’t be sorry—I want you, too. Just… not here,” I said with a shrug, glancing at the cave around us. “It’s hardly the time.”
Instead of grinning back at me, Jann’s expression grew more serious. “I don’t know how much time I have, Dee. I’m going to make the most of every moment. I can sleep when I’m dead.”
“Don’t say that!” I hissed, but Jann only took my mouth again to silence my protests.
When we finally, reluctantly broke apart, he took my hand and started to lead me again. I followed him willingly. But now I was scared as well.
I loved Jann desperately. But Ihatedthat he lived in so much fear. And I was terrified of what that fear might drive him to if the circumstances turned against us. Particularly, againsthim.
Because I’d seen soldiers at war who believed they would die.
No one valued their own life less, than an honorable man who believed death was inevitable, and his only option was to look for an enemy to take out on his way. They stopped looking for a way out, and started looking for a way to give their own death meaning.
I wasn’t ready to lose him.
I wouldneverbe ready to lose him. Yet, he seemed determined to accept that he was already lost.
Jann’s tension rose the closer we got to the chamber where the rebels were meeting—and his hand tightened on mine when we turned a corner in the tunnel, and a soft glow of light appeared from deeper within. Soon he could set the lantern down and blow it out, so it would be there for our return.
He looked at me several times, but neither of us spoke until we could hear the echoing murmur of male voices. We’d be among them soon.
‘Don’t leave my side.’
‘I wouldn’t, but why would you worry? These are our allies.’
Jann didn’t answer, but pulled me right up against his side, slung his arm over my shoulders, and to my surprise, the easy, cocky swagger of the Jann I’d first met suddenly appeared.
I looked up, frowning, about to ask him, when we rounded the final corner and the chamber opened ahead of us—several fires set around the massive area lighting the entire cavern.
There was a low shout, and dozens of men turned to look at us.
A low roar rose, but one voice in particular.
“Dee?!”
I blinked, shocked at the familiar tone, then I stopped dead as my brother, Jhonas, in a dirty uniform, his hair sticking in five different directions, shoved through the crowd of men ahead of us and sprinted to meet me.
“Jhonas?!” I gasped.
Jann stiffened, but he let me go and stepped aside as my brother reached us, grabbing me up and swinging me around in a circle, hugging me so tightly I grunted.
I felt Jann flash with protective fury and reached for him through the bond.
‘He doesn’t know anything about the baby—and I don’t want him to. Not yet. It’s too early. Please.’
Jann tensed, but remained silent and only glared at Jhonas, until my brother put me down and held me by shoulders, beaming.
“Look at you! You look great! But tired—I thought—” Then he cut off and his brow furrowed with confusion… then with disapproval. “What thefuckare you wearing?” he snapped.
I blinked, then my stomach dropped.
Shit.
I’d forgotten about my newuniform.The flowing, laced up tunic of a sexual slave, over leggings that hugged my skin with panels cut out to reveal the sides of my thighs.
