Page 58 of Sent To A Fantasy World and Now All the Men Want Me 7

As I watched them retreat into the shroud of trees, more tears prickled at my eyes.

“Come here, sweetheart.” Maddox picked me up and cradled me to his chest, pressing a kiss against my brow. “Let’s get you to bed.”

“I’m not tired,” I croaked and turned my face into his chest.

“I said nothing of sleep.” I felt him smile against my ear as he bent to nuzzle me. “The demon lord left his stench all over you, and I need to replace it with mine. All night if necessary.”

Heat ignited in my core. “Oh.”

A low chuckle vibrated in his chest as he continued toward the castle. Callum and Briar walked on either side of him, with Lake beside Briar. The sad knot in my chest remained, but being around my men helped make it tolerable. They made everything better.

Even the one too stubborn to join us outside.

The castle was a short distance away but close enough for me to see the rustle of a curtain in an upstairs window as it fell back into place.

Chapter Eleven

A Walk to Definitely Remember

Zombie horses loved apples. The riper, the better. I fed one to Ghost and petted his neck as he chomped down on it. The hair of his dark mane was matted, and bits of bone and muscle tissue could be seen through areas of his black coat.

Not going to lie. The first time I’d seen the stallion, I’d been somewhat horrified, wondering how a creature like him even existed. But his sweet nature won me over. I saw him in a new light, finding beautiful what other people might dismiss as grotesque.

“Does my handsome boy want some more?” I asked, smoothing my fingers over his hair.

A low, rattling sound rumbled in Ghost’s chest. It reminded me of an alligator. He turned his big skeletal head and softly nuzzled me.

I smiled and gave him more pets. And fed him another apple slice. The yellow ones were his favorite. As he chomped down, my thoughts returned to Draven and Reign.

Rowan had traveled with them last night and returned in the early hours of the morning to tell me they’d made it past the mercenaries. Which was a relief. But other worries had me out of sorts that afternoon. Possible war and the uncertainty around my destiny as the saint. And Cedric. The jerk would be officially crowned before week’s end.

“Then what would you propose? Storm the citadel and use your blue flames to bring Cedric to heel?”

The idea was laughable. I couldn’t even walk without stumbling. Battle-hardened warrior, I was not, nor would I ever be. My place was in the kitchen doing what I did best: feeding the people I loved.

“You’re lucky you’re a horse.” I placed another wedge of apple on my palm and fed it to Ghost. “You can just graze in the field and soak up the sun. No worries about a grand destiny, dark mercenaries, or freaky powers.”

Ghost responded with a rough whinny.

“Yeah, you’re right.” I grabbed another apple from the pile, being extra careful with the small blade as I cut off more slices. “I’m sure it’s no walk in the park hauling around carriages and being ridden hard by big warriors either. I mean… the latter I can kind of understand.”

A fact evident in the deep ache every time I took a step or squatted down.

Maddox hadn’t been joking when he’d mentioned it taking all night. He and my other men had shown me no mercy as they’d licked, bit, and groped every inch of me. My throat was sore from screaming into a pillow as I was pounded into the mattress over and over again, coming so hard I’d nearly blacked out.

A warm breeze ruffled my hair, bringing with it the scent of flowers and springtime. I sneezed. “Sorry,” I told the stallion, who had startled at the sound. “While I love springtime, my nose doesn’t.”

The breeze held a slight chill, but the temperature was warmer compared to recent days. I breathed in the fresh air and smiled as the sun warmed the top of my head. It had been too long since I’d taken a stroll and soaked up some sunshine. After eating lunch with my men, I had packed a basket and set off into the castle grounds.

Not that I was fully alone though. Occasionally, I’d catch a whiff of peaches on the breeze. Other times, it’d be a faint pepperiness. Signs that Rowan and Lake were nearby, watching over me from a distance.

More of those alligator-like rattles came from the other horses in the pasture as they approached us—a mix of mares and stallions. They’d seen Ghost getting some treats and now seemed to want some too.

“Afternoon, Ash,” I greeted one of the other stallions before offering him a slice, this one from a red apple. Hints of brown and white mingled with his black coat, which was how I could tell them apart. He and Ghost were the only two I had named. So far.

Birds flew overhead and landed on the branch of a nearby tree, their musical chirps a sign that spring was in full bloom—if my tickling nose wasn’t enough to drive that point home. But not even the pretty spring day could chase away all my worries.

I studied my fingertips, remembering the hot zaps I’d felt in them last night when discussing Roth. Once again, my powers had been triggered by anger.