Rylla nodded. “Elemur, yes. Awful place. But Zaylee’s been there before and they haven’t cracked her yet. Her information will be good. Let’s chuck these nasty buckets now, or they’ll be able to follow us by stench alone.”
Rylla led us along the riverbank. The trees blocked much of the moonlight and I lost my footing a time or two. The walk revealed how exhausted I felt. A full day and more on horseback, plus Dray’s rigorous coupling, made parts of my body ache that I rarely felt.
A longing beat through me at the memories. He’d promised to be everything I needed and had fulfilled his end of the vow. Any man I slept with from now on would pale compared to the pleasure Dray had brought me.
I wondered if it would even be worth it.
Branches scratched at my exposed limbs. Every snapping twig made my heart thump louder. Anticipation became apprehension as we continued to walk through the damp trail without a sign of stopping. Rylla seemed content to lead me in silence.
I opened my mouth, prepared to ask how much farther. Movement caught in the trees, stealing the question from my mouth as a figure sharpened into view.
My legs weakened, and the pounding in my chest hesitated. I’d never forget the shape of that man atop that horse, where he’d brought me to orgasm over and over and promised to be the only monster I ever needed.
The truth of those promises hurt almost as much as the stinging across my face.
Dray turned, letting the moonlight settle across his features. Hot and cold slipped through my chest, twisting inside me as an uncomfortable toll for these barest moments of freedom.
He studied me, but neither of us spoke.
“Are you here to take me back?” I asked. Pain at what he may answer almost tightened my throat beyond speaking, but I forced the words out. I hadn’t worked so hard to break the damn curse, only to remain silenced by myself.
Dray stiffened. “Is that what you think?”
“I don’t know what to think anymore,” I whispered.
The Reaper dropped from his horse. He stalked toward me, and I longed to move back, but I remembered Rylla’s stubborn stance in the cellblock. I ground my feet into the dirt and raised my chin high.
Dray laughed, low and rich. He paused before me and ran a finger down my neck.
“Turns out I couldn’t see this head fall from your body after all.” He brushed his thumb in the corner of my mouth. “Not when I have so much left to do to it.”
A chill slipped down my spine, dipping into a growing fire set between my legs. Every ache and pain called for the Reaper in front of me, the one that both took my life and saved it.
“He organized the whole escape.” Rylla stood beside me and rested a hand on her brother’s arm. “With Zaylee’s help, he found a way to smuggle you out.”
“The servant in my cell?” Concern resurfaced at the reminder. “What will be her fate?”
“Engra?” Dray chuckled. “I don’t think Alvah will let anything happen to her.”
I distantly remembered Alvah as Zaylee’s handler. Had he been some kind of traitor against the king the whole time?
“We need to go before they look for us.” Rylla glanced back.
“Your children?” Dray asked.
Rylla smiled. “Safe, and well hidden.”
“Let’s go, then.”
Dray’s hand circled my waist, and he lifted me onto the horse. Though I wore no shackles or collar, I felt a sense of belonging toward the man.
He reached around me to grab the reins, and his weight on my back provided a warm comfort. Dray pressed a kiss against my ear.
“I like you wearing my mark on your face.” His whispers tightened a low part of my core.
The horse swung us around, Rylla’s mount right behind, and meandered through the trees.
“Where do we head?” she asked.
