“You took everything I have.”
Take what’s left, too.
It’s all yours. Always been yours.Iam still fucking yours.
The frost melts from her eyes with each slow blink. They burn through me, searing desire replacing her fury. It’s not real—it’s never been real.
Her small hands fist in the fabric of my tunic. She pulls me closer, mouth angling for mine and I—
I let her.
She already hates me. She can hate me a bit more for this, too.
Her lips crash into mine with so much force, she sends us tumbling backwards. Nails raking through my hair, across my shoulders, down my chest. Soft thighs bracket my hips, grinding against me until I loose a rough groan.
Her tongue battles mine, every husky moan setting my blood alight.
Soft hair tangles beneath my fingers.
The tang of copper as I bite her lip.
She moans louder, pressing harder into me and—
Something shoves at my boot.
My eyes snap open. Fuck. I’d been struggling to remain awake, knowingshewould come heal my freshly broken ribs under the cover of night.
But a different waterwielder stands before me now, hatred boiling in his familiar blue gaze.
Her father.
“You interrupted my dream, Tormik,” I wheeze, trying not to wince at the effort it takes. “And it was delightful.”
For a beat, he just stares at me, frosted eyes reminiscent of my dream.
“Did you touch my daughter?”
Did I—
A sudden blinding rage scalds my ribs. If she’d married Faramir likehe’d planned, she’d have suffered tremendously. My half-brother would have taken great pleasure in hurting her in unthinkable ways.
I force my lips to curve into a mocking grin, even as violent fury curdles in my gut. “Tormik, please. That’s between me and my wife.”
My teeth clack together as he backhands me.
“Answer me! Did. You.Hurt. Her.”
My mask falls, blistering rage erupting. “What did you think was going to happen to her?” I snarl, teeth bared. “When you wrapped her in a bow and gifted her to your enemy? Where did this sudden concern come from, Tormik?”
“You despicable bastard,” he hisses, knuckles white around the staff that will likely soon be slamming into my already-broken ribs.
I can’t bring myself to give a skiesdamn, not when this monster hasn’t shown an ounce of care for the woman he was supposed to protect.
Not when he sent her to Arbinj.
Not when he refused to send a single letter.
Not when he ignored her when he first arrived in camp.
