I felt his hands sliding down my belly and caressing along the outsides of my legs. Digging in slightly at the supple flesh along my hips. He kissed along the inside of my leg. His lips brushing sensually from the inside of my knee and further up. Further. Further. Until I could feel his hot breath brushing along my most intimate parts. Making me want to clench my legs together, but his shoulders were there. Keeping me from it. I blew a long breath as I felt the texture of his tongue trailing up along the crease alongside my lips. Then drawing back down. He moved to the otherside and did the same. My breath caught. His tongue darted out and licked along my slit. Brushing the small nub along the top that made me arch toward him. Offering him more. “Mmm.” He rumbled against me. “You’re sweet.” I shuddered in pleasure at his words. His hands smoothed along the outside of my hips and up to overlap al

He gave me a weak half smile that was bordering on sad. He trailed his fingertips over my forehead. Moving some hair aside. As he did, I felt strange currents coming from his finger pads and into my skin. Zinging me with strange tingling. I gasped as I was suddenly ripped back to those times, we were young. He was walking across the training field. His eyes landing on me talking with Roger. Watching how the sunlight moved through my coppery strands as a stray wind moved through them. He was thinking that I should’ve had my hair plaited like the other maids, but he was glad I was nothing like them. His eyes wandered to my flashing smile, and he smiled reflexively. Thinking I was beautiful. Then time fast forwarded dizzyingly, and he was training with Archer when he heard me screeching. Both he and Archer dropped their blades, but Archer had no prayer of keeping up as Jackson ran headlong down to the creek. Emerging from behind a tree a

I put that blessed dress back on and laid back on that bed. Finished puzzling over what Gray had said, I vowed to banish everything he’d said or shown me from my mind. At least for now. Without any intention of doing so, I’d dozed off. Letting myself sink into that comfortable mattress. I enjoyed the feel of fabric wrapping my body, the dress, and was lulled into pleasant rest. At least until I felt a tight grip on my forearm. Shaking me so hard my teeth rattled. For one paralyzing moment, I thought I was back in that horrible night. With the boy shaking me awake to tell me everyone was dead. I popped open my eyes and glimpsed the familiar face. “Ssh.” He put a finger to his lips. “Just Old John Thomas for you, Mum.” “What are you doing here?” I sat up urgently. My eyes skidding to the doorway. “If he catches you here, he’ll kill you!” “He’s not as sly as he thinks, Mum.” Old John Thoma

“Is there anything I need to know about the Realm before I leave?” Gray asked reluctantly. Knowing he never liked the answer. “Any troubles we’re having?” “Yes.” Malachi drew a long breath, as if what he had to say would be difficult. “We have one very large problem.” “What?” “The clever Ice King to the East is assembling the Mountain Mob to make war on us.” “Archer?” Gray asked incredulously. “Apparently he intends to have the Eternus Realm as was promised.” “He will have it.” “But he doesn’t know that.” Malachi countered. “You insisted that no one must know of this deal, you and I have made.” “Because they would watch for weakness between you and I.” “I’m aware.” Malachi said evenly. “However, he believes that you are a traitor to the Eternus, by serving me.” “Oh, I’m sure that’s not all.” Gray said keenly. Malachi gave him a quizzical look. “I’d presume he got word long ago that I kill

I cast a look at John’s thin back on the darker horse ahead. Wondering if he might have some answers. I decided on asking him when we stopped for dinner. He’d already mentioned we were going to have to. I’d insisted that I’d be okay. But my growling stomach had given me away. Damn it. John had kindly said he, himself was greatly hungry and would need something to warm his belly in order to risk the perils of travelling in the dark. Which I’d told him would be essential if we wanted to stay ahead of the Pyre Army Ahead of Gray. I knew what the Pyre Army would be doing. Travelling all night. I knew how relentless Gray could be. We were dismounting just outside of a small wolf village. It was so sparse that at first, I thought it might not be inhabited. But we climbed out of the ravine next to the creek and arrived near a square boulder. Able to overlook the whole village.