“How about camping in there?It’s sheltered, and if those howling creatures check us out, we’ll only need to defend one entrance.”
Ransom forced his tired eyes to focus, his squint telling him Scarlett had picked an excellent site.“Blacklight will fall soon, anyway.”
“You look as if you might vomit,” Scarlett said.
He snorted.“The truth—I’m terrified at the thought of sleep.”
“I’m sorry.This must be a living hell.”
Her sympathy and caring almost did him in.An ache started behind his eyes, and his throat tightened.He couldn’t recall the last time he’d cried.His father had knocked the tendency out of him early, but Scarlett made him want to weep.
The guilt cut him deep, and he fervently wished there was another way.Daenys had told him he had to follow Prince Kalim’s orders.Easy for her to say.Her goal was to free her people and take down their Maphra enemies.She wasn’t betraying Scarlett.She wasn’t leading an innocent woman to absolute hell.She wasn’t lying to a mate.
Ransom forced his unruly mind and body back to business.He cleared his throat.“I’d do anything to protect my people.”
Scarlett nodded and walked into the area they’d decided to camp for the blacklight.She shrugged off her pack and stretched her arms above her head.Ransom stared.His gaze zapped to her breasts, and his breathing stalled.Heat roared through him and concentrated in his groin.In the act of self-preservation, he removed his own pack.
“What do you want to eat?Mistress Aelene instructed me to keep up my energy levels.It’s time to take one of her pills.”
“What will the pill do to you?”
“It will make the prince assume he’s using too much of my energy.We hope he’ll back off and give my body time to recharge.My dragon does his best to repair me, but my healing abilities can’t keep up with the prince.”
Scarlett squatted by her pack and removed a foil blanket and several of the shrink-meals.“Eva gave me several cook blocks.I’ll heat one, and that should be enough for the meals to cook.Sit.Rest.You’re exhausted.I can do this without breaking a sweat.”
Ransom sank onto a handy rock, his muscles heavy and weak now that they’d finished walking this whitelight.
As he watched, Scarlet spread out her foil blanket.She turned to him, concern evident on her face.“Use my blanket.I’ll bring you food when it’s ready.”
“You don’t have to wait on me.”
“You have battles to fight.I have the easy part.”
Ransom stared at her mouth, remembering their kiss and how her touch had stirred him, momentarily offering a diversion.
“Hey!”She clicked her fingers.“Focus.”
He accepted the blanket, although he didn’t need to use it to keep warm.It was better if he was cold since the prince hated lower temperatures.He situated the blanket and flopped down.His limbs twitched with the need for rest, and he stretched out, scarcely heeding the hard rock beneath his body.
Soon, Scarlett was shaking him awake with hot food.“We have soup followed by a pie.I’m not sure what’s inside the pastry, but you can trust Eva’s cooking.My sister-in-law is a magician with food.Where are the pills you need to take?”
“In the side pouch of my pack.One of the blue ones.”
He sat up and sipped the soup.A rich, meaty flavor burst over his tongue.His next sip was more eager.Scarlett handed him a blue pill, and he swallowed it down with more soup.
Scarlett sat next to him.She didn’t fuss about the poor campsite or the lack of amenities.Never once did she grumble about having to prepare their meal.Once again, he compared her with his sister, and Jacinta made a poor contrast.Sable, his youngest sibling, worked hard, and her presence had turned them into a family, the house where he and his siblings lived into a home.He wondered if Sable’s work made her happy because, as Jacinta often pointed out, she was little more than an unpaid housekeeper.The thought gave him pause.Following in his father’s dominant footsteps was the last thing he intended.
A pity it was too late to make the changes now.
He expected to lose his life in this endeavor.
“Oh, wow!This pie is amazing.It’s like a traditional Cornish pasty with a savory and a sweet end.Hmm, peach and raspberry.How did Eva manage this?Taste this.Tell me what you think.Eva will want our feedback on the meals.”
Ransom bit into one end and meat in a rich sauce exploded across his taste buds.He wasn’t sure what the protein was, but it melted in his mouth.He wolfed it down.His next bite contained sweetness.Ransom slowed to savor the unusual flavors.As a dragon, he enjoyed his sweets, but this resembled nothing he’d tasted before.He finished it and turned to Scarlett.“Is there more?”
“Four more.”Scarlett grinned.“Told you Eva is a talented cook and baker.She and my mother design the menus for our resort.We’re always getting compliments and pride ourselves on ensuring our guests have access to suitable food.”
Ransom ate three more pies and drank one more mug of soup—more than he’d eaten in ages.
