I hear him chuckle, the sound muffled and short.
“Though I think the ground would have possibly been more forgiving than your… whatever you call that.” Waving my hands exaggeratedly in his direction, I can’t help but let my eyes skim across forbidden places.Gods.
“May I have your hands? I’ll need to unlock the bands,” I whisper. I remember the raw feeling that’s barely left my own wrists.
He slowly brings his hands to me and I can see the angry marred skin that threatens to split with the weight of the iron. An uncomfortable feeling settles heavily in my stomach. Are we just as bad as King Euron for using such methods?
The bands fall off with the twist of the small key I had tucked away in my pocket.
The Devourer rubs his wrists but doesn’t act like they’re as angry as they appear.
Snapping my eyes shut, I grab the saddle horn and lift myself back into the worn leather seat. A warm hand grasps my hip, causing me to wince.
“Are you hurt?” He’s looking up at me with his sea—green gaze, urgency spilling from him.
“No, no, I’m fine. It’s just tender.” I swallow down the lie. The truth is, my hip fucking hurts and it’s taking everything in me to not scream at being in the saddle.
He rolls his fingers over the fabric in an attempt to rub the soreness away.
“You’re such a beautiful liar. The way your tongue seems to drip honey.”
His hand slides down to my thigh and he grips the muscle before pulling himself on the back of Dahla.
“You’re such a rake.” I don’t know why I say it, but it feels like it needs to be said. Like I need to stir him into this fencing match of words. I yearn for his smart mouth to speak much like I’ve dreamed of his mouth on mine and those other sacred places.
He continues, “I’m no such thing. I’m rather a gentleman, if you could believe that.”
“That’s not somethingI’veassociated with you.”
“If I was a rake, I would so ungentlemanly sneak my fingers beneath your shift.” He sits forward, his fingers moving back to my hip, making gentle swirling motions. The other hand moving to my belly as I guide Dahla back onto the trail to follow behind Leeson.
Caym still rides ahead, unknown to him that The Devourer and I had just taken a spill into each others arms.
Leeson kicks her horse forward, in a rush to catch back up with him.
“If I was a rake, I’d put my lips to your neck and worship every star—kiss on your skin. I’d beg you to let me sink my teeth in while you clawed back.”
A whisper of a kiss falls on my exposed neck, the skin turning to gooseflesh.
I suck in a breath so sharp the gasp is audible.
“Whatever this is between us, it’s driving me mad. I don’t know what’s worse: knowing we can never be or knowing that you were very well made for me. It’s a cruel joke, us being on separate sides of fate.”
My insides suddenly turn cool. Wrong. Empty, and any lightness I had felt earlier leaves.
We are on separate sides of fate, and I think that kills me too.
The warmth of his hands abandons me and settles into his lap as he draws away.
The turmoil of my thoughts return, along with the stark reminder of how I’ve lost it all ricochets in my mind.
We ride on, aimlessly trailing behind our companions.
Loneliness once again crawls and creeps inside my rib cage. This time I don’t choke it down. Instead, I let it swarm and eat me from the inside out. Because it’s what I deserve.
It must be what the fates have predetermined for me. Because what else is my purpose in this forsaken land? Why else do I see Hanin’s face when I close my eyes?
The chilled air continues to cool, a fierce wind picking up and rages against my cheeks. I feel a cool drop of emotion running down my chin and move my hand to smear it away. I look to the sky and see it gathering shadowy overcast, though it hasn’t begun to rain, to my shock.
