The next morning was a whirlwind. Rhyan seemed to be in better spirits, carried by the anger he had for his father, and the promise of his removal from power. We spent until lunchtime mapping out our route to Glemaria. We planned to head north in Dobrava, until we reached the Lumerian border of Payunmar. There we’d cross back into the Empire’s territory. We’d been safe all night mainly because most of the surrounding area had been claimed by the akadim who now no longer existed. But moving north we were bound to encounter more hordes since they favored the longer nights here, plus they always saw the human lands as easier prey.
We also wanted to avoid the Allurian Pass in Glemaria, which we knew was infested and quite possibly where Aemon and Morgana were housing more of their undead soturi. Much as I wanted to cure more akadim, it was more important to reach Glemaria. To remove Devon. And get Rhyan’s power back. There would be no way to fight against Morgana and Aemon’s evil without restoring Rhyan’s magic first. So once we reached Hartavia, we’d travel east, then cross into Glemaria. And then, enter the arena.
Sean, now officially acting as Arkturion to Rhyan’s Arkasva, and far more experienced in soturi logistics than I was, started nominating soldiers to act as turion and assigning soturi into troops. Those who’d been human and chose to remain were tasked with clothing and weapons and food, any jobs that could be done without great strength or magic. Everyone else continued taking turns running out for supplies, hunting, standing guard in our outposts, or participating in training exercises that Rhyan was running.
We remained in our camp a second night, but with a routine established, and everyone’s roles understood, we packed up the following morning, making our way north. We reached Payunmar by nightfall, and easily fell asleep after anotherexhausting day. My eyes closed with Rhyan beside me, his arms around me, holding me tight. A dozen of our human soturi, having done what they could, decided to travel home on the third day. But not before they all came to me and Rhyan hugging us both and thanking us.
My heart panged as I watched them travel away, but for the first time in a long time, it wasn’t from sadness, or anger, or fear. It was from hope. Hope that maybe, just maybe, change was possible. And that they’d be okay. That after all the horror they’d faced, there was still a life ahead of them. And a life ahead for us.
We continued to camp in Payunmar through our fourth night, and then we packed up, and began the slow trek to Hartavia, the country bordering southern Glemaria.
Scouts were sent out to the border, and a few Glemarians were assigned to go inside.
All the reports that came back confirmed what Sean had told us. The arena known as the Pits was being set up for the Alissedari, and there was no sign of Kane or his legion in Glemaria. They had truly abandoned Devon. Sean also began sending out messengers to alert some of the other rebel groups who stood against the northern Imperator that we were preparing to move. And more and more soturi were sending word back that they planned to join us, to fight for me and Rhyan.
Making camp the fifth night, I crawled into our tent. We were two days from attacking. Rhyan pulled me in close, his breathing slow. I turned around to face him, tracing the shape of his eyebrows, running my finger down the bridge of his nose and to his lips. He sucked my fingertip into his mouth, then drew me in, rolling me onto my back. I opened my legs, making room for him. He was hard, and rocking against me. We hadn’t come together again since that first night. We’d either been too tired, or we were needed for one meeting or another. Our restwas interrupted frequently by some decision that had to be made about routes, or meals, or shifting soturi to different troops based on strengths. But mostly, with everything happening, there just hadn’t been privacy. We were alone, but our tent was rather close to the others. Much as I loved that aspect of our relationship, what we really needed was just time to hold each other, to talk, but tonight, something felt different. Like an undercurrent of magic was stirring between us.
“I want you,” Rhyan rasped in my ear. “I want you so fucking bad.”
I lifted my hips, gasping as he rubbed against me.
“I want you, too.”
His tongue opened my mouth, sliding inside until he was kissing me so deeply, I could barely breathe. I ran my hands up his back, and moaned as he bucked against me.
His hands cupped my cheeks, tangling in my hair, and then ran down my neck as he lowered his mouth, kissing me in the spot where he’d drawn blood as an akadim.
I whimpered as he sucked harder on my skin, my flesh already so sensitive. His hand ran down my chest, pulling on the hem of my sleep shirt.
I reached for the waistband of his pants, loosening his drawstring and slipping my hand inside. He shuddered as I wrapped my fingers around him, already so thick and hard for me.
He growled against my neck, his teeth grazing my skin as I stroked him from base to tip.
“I need to be inside you,” he said, his lips furiously kissing their way back on mine.
I was already shoving his pants down, as he pulled at mine, tugging them to my knees. I was about to reach down and get them off completely, when Rhyan lifted himself and reached formy waist, flipping me onto my hands and knees. He gripped my hips, his hand sliding down the curve of my ass, and cupping me.
“Fuck you’re soaked,” he hissed in my ear.
“I’ve been wanting you. For days.” We’d been too busy, too tired. But my body hadn’t seemed to care.
“Me too,” he admitted.
“But you—didn’t—” I whimpered. “I didn’t think you—” He slid his finger inside me.
“Partner,” he breathed. “I always want you.”
“Why didn’t you—ah—” He curled his finger inside, his palm pressing down. I hissed. “Why didn’t you take me before?”
His breathing deepened. “I was afraid.” He started to pump in and out, his thumb circling the apex of my thighs.
Another finger slid in.
I sucked in a breath. “Of what?”
“Me,” he said. “Memories. I’m still—still dreaming about it. Being akadim. What I did to you.”
I turned, angling my neck so I could find his mouth again, one hand reaching up to stroke his face. “I’m not afraid of you. I love you.”
