I never should have touched her.
I’m incapable of being around her for any length of time. I’ll never convince my heart to stop wanting her, and this will happen again and again.
With a heavy sigh, I exit the tent and check on the mare, then eat a few more pieces of dried meat. My reserves still haven’t fully recovered, but after Mayah’s healing yesterday, I’m nearly there.
I’m cleaning around the campsite when Mayah thunders from the tent like a raging storm. She strides toward me, every muscle rigid, and jabs a finger into my chest.
“You will not touch me again,” she seethes. “If there’s another storm, I’ll stay outside so my pathetic ‘whimpering’ doesn’t disturb your beauty sleep.”
I dislodge her finger from my chest, ignoring the ache in my heart at the familiar memory. She shoves it back harder.
“And the first chance I get to go my own way, I’ll take it.”
I don’t trust myself to respond.
She grits her teeth. “Tides damn you to the ends of the eternal sea. If we come across ten rebels who decide they’re going to channel their power into me,all ten of them, you will not interfere.”
My anger rises at the thought. “Fine by me,” I growl. “Anything else?”
“And if I decide I want to marry one of those ten men, or all of them, ride off into the sunset and bear their children, you will annul our marriage. Actually, let’s annul it immediately.”
“Sure.” My voice is cold. I ignore the bile churning in my stomach at her words. I don’t give a shit what happens to her. “And if I forget any of that,wife, you’re always welcome to tell me to stop.”
Her face flushes at the reminder that she was a willing participant last night, to the intimacy anyway, if not to the cruelty that followed.
I swallow down my guilt.
“I mean it,” she hisses. “I’m not your responsibility anymore. You made that clear last night. Whatever this was, whatever we were—I’m done being your burden.”
“Finally,” I snarl. I don’t know why I’m so angry. Iwantto be rid of her. It shouldn’t upset me that she desires the same. “I’ll personally hand you over to the first rebels we see.”
She steps closer, studying me with narrowed eyes.
“You’re lying.”
My anger boils over. “Don’t youfuckingtalk to me about lying—”
I snap my jaw shut. By the Skies. Men heading our way, their energy signatures flickering to life as they draw nearer. My hand clamps over her mouth, a finger pressed over my lips in warning. Then I push her behind me, shielding her with my body.
“What—”
“Shh.” Her body tenses when I shush her, but for once, she listens.
The men draw closer. Over a dozen. I summon my power, and the sky darkens with my storm.
In a sudden wave, they emerge through the trees. At least sixteen hooded men, clad in dark leathers.
Rebels.
“Leave now,” I demand in my commander’s voice. “And I’ll spare you.” Thunder rumbles in warning.
“Wait,” Mayah says, coming out beside me. I grab her arm to pull her back, but she elbows me in the side. Hard.
“What are you doing?” I hiss. “Stay behind me.”
She raises her chin. “For someone who claims he doesn’t want me, you sure act like I’m yours.” Turning to the rebels, she says, “What do you want? Why are you after us?”
“Mayah.” Insufferable woman. “You’ve made your point. I’m not actually letting you go with them.Get. Behind.Me.”
