“What are you doing?” A boot tapping softly on my already screaming head has me jolting away from her touch.
“Gods’ name woman, what do you want?” I practically groan the words.
A feral grin graces her lips, stretching them wide.
“Retribution.”
Our conversation is cut short by the sound of hooves and whispers. Looking up to see the newcomers, my eyes settle on the dark—haired beauty atop a sorrel mare.
“Hello, Dahla,” I croak and return my head to the ground, the coolness helping to ease the smallest amount of throbbing .
The mare snorts and paws the grass in front of where I lay.
“Alora, I’ve just been introducing myself to the beast himself.”
She looks from me to her companion, her blue eyes looking weary.
“Leeson, I wasn’t sure you’d make it…” Alora’s voice falters, and she holds her hand to her mouth to stifle a sob. Both of the women quickly hop off their horses and embrace in a tight hug.
“I drove myself mad thinking you’d be alone in this damned realm.”
Her throat bobs as she swallows. She quickly clears her throat and turns Dahla to her companion, closing the space between them.
I can’t bring myself to say anything. To be honest I’m not sure what happened in those last moments when I lost control.
“Where are the rest of my companions?” I address the one known as Leeson.
“You mean mashed potato brains?”
I quickly raise my head again and stare at the woman. She has to be a little off.
“Excuse me?”
“You asked about your companions. I don’t know of anyone in particular you’re speaking of, so I assume you’re referencing the man who’s head you bashed in until his brains turned to … mush.” A theatrical look of disgust follows the statement.
Fuck. A loose end.
“Goddess, Lee. It’s not enough that I had to pull this bastard from that pile of potato brains, but you’re making me relive it too?”
A man with pale, sandy skin appears. His brown hair is longer, reaching his chin. He walks towards us, torch light in hand.
He appears to be a few turns older than the women. The blonde runs to him, throws her arms around his neck, and plants a tender kiss on his lips.
“Caym! Gods, I thought you were dead!” Alora’s voice almost cracks. “Nevermind that now, how many did we lose?”
“None, by the gods’ favor. I assumed that to get you back we’d sacrifice a few dozen honestly.”
“That’s concerning, don’t you think? It feels too easy.”
“Alora,” his voice turns serious, “we almost didn’t make it. We were lucky we had the element of surprise for once.”
“And at what cost? What was lost to retrieve me?”
“To retrieve you? I think you mean to rescue you.”
Their conversation seems heated, irritation fresh in the air.
“What was lost?”She’s not backing down to this man, clearly not her superior.
