I didn’t know why I bothered. I wouldn’t sleep. I could never rest knowing Nila was in the Hall being mentally and physically tortured.
How fucking dare they use the Heretic’s Fork and cut off her hair? How dare they fucking think they had that right?
Insane, the lot of them.
If I was stronger and had better odds, I would’ve stormed Hawksridge tonight and slaughtered my father in his bed. But he had the Black Diamonds on his side. He had an army where I did not.
I wouldn’t kill myself by being stupid.
I’d been stupid for long enough already.
I was home.
This was my empire, and I’d had enough of my family’s madness.
Throwing the smaller duffel inside the tent, I crawled in after it. This campsite wasn’t a stranger to me. I’d spent many nights huddled in the glen away from the Hall—away from screaming tempers, guilt-infested excuses, andanger-laden requirements.
When Cut tossed me out to make it to the boundary in the dead of winter, I wouldn’t have survived if I hadn’t already self-taught how to build shelter, hunt, and navigate. I liked my little sanctuary. If I’d had the strength to climb, I could’ve forgone the flimsy tent and scaled the boughs of an ancient oak tree where I’d built a tree fort in my youth.
I used to take Kes and Jaz there before we were old enough to know our duties.
Before life ruined us.
It was barely sunrise, but by tomorrow morning, I hoped to change the future of Hawksridge. I wouldn’t just have the glen for peace and safety; I’d have the entire estate.
I’d finally have what was mine.
No waiting for my thirtieth. No obeying a psychopath.
Not anymore.
Twenty-four hours to put into place the rest of my life.
Another few hours to implement it.
I’d told Nila two days. I would stick to that promise.
Taking a deep breath, I hoisted myself onto the fold-out stretcher. Flaw had truly come through for me. He’d even packed a small generator so I could charge my phone and keep a light against the slowly creeping dawn.
Goosebumps covered my body, hidden below the thick parka Flaw had given me at the hospital. Winter had well and truly taken hold, determined to remind me that once upon a time I’dwelcomedthe frost. I’d mimicked winter by absorbing its ice and doing my best to freeze out other emotions.
It was like an old friend, a new enemy, a family member I no longer needed for help.
Grabbing the small electric heater stuffed into the bottom of the duffel, I plugged it into the generator and placed it by my feet. My body didn’t have the reserves it needed to keep warm—not while most of my cells focused on healing my side.
My thoughts drifted to Nila.
Had she arrived at her quarters safely? Was she warm in bed, thinking of me—reliving my fingers inside her, my tongue sweeping hers?
“Shit.” Shaking my head, I did my best to force those thoughts away. My cock was far too eager to attempt a third time.
It didn’t work.
Nila’s moans echoed in my mind. Her voice vibrated in my ears as she admitted she loved me.
How am I supposed to concentrate?
Nila was replaced with images of Kestrel—slowly dying alone in a strange hospital. Then my father leapt into my head, laughing, tormenting.
