Goblins. I winced.I silenced but gave her a defiant look.Her dark brown eyes slid down to my lips just above my small pointed chin. She lowered hers to them and pressed her mouth to mine. Caressing her lips over mine.“Mmm. You do taste as sweet as the rumors say.” She crooned. “And I can feel the heat of you, the light when I close my eyes, from just being near you. You are indeed, intoxicating.”I blinked at her. Sighing heavily. Great.“I will let him have you. But after, I will come to fetch my own taste of the pretty Spark.” She reached to slap the top of one bobbing breast.I hissed at the sharp flicker of pain. “Now wash those pretty parts for him, My Dear.”She pointed beneath the water.Closing my eyes in mortification, I took the rag she offered to me in her other hand. Wondering where it had been before, I tried not to think about it as I washed myself.“Why do you keep doing that.” She pointed to my left hand which was still spinning lazy circles in the water.“To keep t

I caught the faint white of pale hair in the dark. I swallowed hard.Did Kareni lie to me?I felt the bed dip and knew a man crawled into it with me.He hadn’t spoken.I don’t know who he is.He’s going to be inside me. I at least want to know who he is!It was probably a dumb thought. But it was even more terrifying to know what I was going to deal with very soon and not having any idea what he even looked like.I suppose in some ways I tended to gauge how cruel or violent someone might be by how they looked. How unkempt their hair was, how thin their lips were, how many teeth they had. Many of those traits could indicate someone was extremely ruthless.But I was soon to discover that this man was more ruthless than them.My mouth was dry, and my body was shaking. I found myself instinctively rolling away from him and scooting to the far edge of the bed. As though that might save me.I suppose it was my great hope that it was someone kind, perhaps someone I knew, that drove me to ask

I clambered out of the window and saw a lower roof off to the side. I stared at it in appall. Already hearing the tearing of my fine pink dress.Wouldn’t Kareni be pissed.I felt some kind of evil glee in knowing that. Giving a long, disgruntled, sigh I began my efforts to get over to that lower roof. I swung out a stockinged foot. Catching the top of it with my toes I fumbled to get footing. Dangling from thew windowsill by my finger. Huffing in aggravation I struggled to reach. Making slow progress I inched my foot up on it. Before swinging the rest of my weight over and landing on it. Teetering forward and back over the edge of the roof before managing to balance above it. I whooshed a long grateful breath and cast an appreciative look Heavenward before walking the edge of that roof to find the best way down. Seeing a small balcony below one side, I swung down on that.Further tearing the dress so it was ripped up to my hip and one of the sleeves was nearly shredded through.Dammit

Fair point. I supposed.He can find me just about anywhere.“Why are you here, Gray?”“Just making sure you get out of the village safe. Care for a roll in the hay?” His sardonic voice made my hair bristle.I scoffed. My disbelief obvious. “It’s doubtful my safety was your priority.”Perhaps the roll in the hay.He’s not funny.“Why would you say that?” That damnable cool voice.“It’s more likely you wanted me out of the village and straight to your King.”I sensed his shrug behind me.“How’d you know I got away?”“Saw the old man creeping around all suspicious and figured there was only one person in the brothel likely to be stirring up that much of a fuss.”Me.“You paid to lie next to me, Gray. You could’ve gotten me out.”He gave a speculative rumble. “Would you have gone with me, if I did?”“No! I’d have known you were taking me straight to your king.”“Then what would’ve been the point?”“You were really going to leave me there?”“Don’t see how I had much choice.” He said a bit

I found myself very glad for my sleep last night and for the nap this morning because it was clear we were going to continue marching throughout the night.It was so dark I lost track of where we were. Having to rely on Gray’s glinting eyes seeing our path.The rest of the Army following him unquestionably.Hope he knows what direction we’re going.I wondered if he’d really slept last night.He usually doesn’t.Which would mean that he was leading this whole army throughout the day and night with no more sleep than I typically had.He has to be tiring.I still hoped that there’d be a sign of weakness or a moment he wasn’t looking that I could try and find my way away from him.And the Pyre Army.And get the hell out of King Eternus’ reach.***Once we were clear of the villagers and Kareni’s goons, Gray stopped me and drew something silver from the inside pocket of his blue cloak. Lifting it carefully revealed that it was a long, thin, silver chain.“Giving me trinkets are you?” I kne