Tonight, she’d seen me kill to protect myself. Kill humans, mayhap men she knew, although I didn’t recognize any of them from Tarbert. Tonight, I’d killed, but not in cold blood.
And I wouldn’t start now.
The human slumped into unconsciousness, his body finally succumbing to the lack of oxygen. I took a deep breath and loosened my hold, allowing him to slide into the snow beside the rest of his men.
I had eyes only for Lillian.
I limped toward the stones, and she, with a little whimper, fell into my arms.
“Are you…?”
What did she mean to ask?
Are you well?
Are you badly hurt?
Are you going to allow me to go, to return with my father’s men who still live?
And I wasn’t sure how to answer any of those questions.
So I pressed a hard kiss to her temple, inhaling her scent, reminding myself that we werestill alive… And I said the only thing I could say.
“Let’s go home.”
Lillian
It was alarminghow much of Kragorn’s weight rested on my shoulders as we slogged through the snow toward the circle of stones he’d pointed out in the valley. I’m not sure at what point I managed to get under his arm, but the fact he hadn’t fought me, and in factdidn’t seem to notice how much of his weight I carried should have been terrifying.
Especially after that battle. After I’d seen him turn into the beast my father had called him.
But mayhap I wasn’t scaredbecausehe was relying on me,becausehe was hurt. He’d been through so much pain, all because of my father, and I owed it to him to make sure he reached his home safely. That was my duty as his hostage after all.
“Lillian,” he murmured.
I glanced up to see his chin dropped to his chest. Blood oozed from his forehead, and I imagined he was dazed as well as in pain.
“I am here.” I tugged us closer to the stones, my legs weak from the burden. “We are close, and I will get you home.”
“Thank ye, Lillian.” His voice was a mere rasp now, and I remembered his roar of pain during the battle. “I’m sorry.”
I forced my legs to carry us further as he stumbled beside me. “There is no reason to apologize?—”
“Sorry ye had to see that,” he said hoarsely. “Gentle ladies shouldnae…blood…pain.”
Oh Lord, help him.
“I told you I am no lady.” Here and now, I was his prisoner, aye? His captive. “And I am not scared of blood,” I lied. “I healed you, did I not?”
A snort of breath fogged the air in front of Kragorn’s face. Was that a laugh? “Ye did. Almost home…now.”
I kept my gaze locked firmly on the circle of stones as we approached. The snow in the center was tamped down, or mayhap there was just less snow there than outside the circle? Above us, the full moon hung heavy and round, its light illuminating the valley bright as day.
I wondered if it shone on the battlefield we’d left behind. I wonder if any of the men still lived to report to my father. I wondered if my father had returned safely home, mourning the loss of his favorite horse and favorite cloak.
But not me.
“Almost there,” I vowed, and, as if my words had conjured magic, the middle of the stone circle slowly began to fill with a silvery mist. I pulled us to a stop and Kragorn swayed against me.
