“We’ll keep them away from you,” Farley said.
“Can you do that?” I asked.
Farley gave a semblance of a shrug. “We’ll figure something out. We certainly don’t want any aristocrat sympathizers in our woods.”
“So true,” Ryker agreed.
I hugged myself as I surveyed the wreckage. Despite having arrived here later than the other fires, not as much of the woods had burned as I’d anticipated. I suspected the creatures had helped keep the flames and guards at bay.
For all I knew, the trees themselves had worked to keep the fire suppressed until we arrived. Those strange, intertwined trees that protected the gargoyles had brought us to them, most likely in the hope we’d free them.
Frightened that, once we freed the gargoyles, they’d come alive to slaughter us all, we decided it was best to keep them trapped beneath the earth. My heart still battled my guilt over that choice every day, but intellectually, I knew it was the right one.
I’d spent a lot of time in these woods throughout my life, but I’d never encountered those trees until recently. The rest of the woods was full of what I’d assumed were normal trees, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t something more to them too.
The whole forest was somethingmore. It was mystical, trapped the dead, housed gargoyles, as well as other monstrous creatures, and kept its secrets.
The forest would protect itself, no matter the cost, and it knew we were also trying to defend it… as well as ourselves. That’s why those monsters had all retreated instead of turning on us too.
Tomorrow, we’d be fair game again, but tonight, we were a team.
As if sensing my thoughts, the few remaining leaves in the trees rustled. We’d relinquished our rain and wind, and I didn’t feel a breeze, but they continued to move.
I studied the trees as I waited for some other sign they’d sensed my musings. There was nothing, but I knew I hadn’t imagined it.
These woods welcomed us because, while we killed the creatures who attacked us and ate some of the others, the forest understood survival. If anyone tried to harm it, it would find a way to defend itself.
“We should go,” Ryker said. “We all deserve a rest.”
“How long do you think your father will give us before he attacks again?” Ianto inquired.
Ryker ran a hand through his ash-covered hair as he studied the giant from bloodshot eyes. “Not long.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Ellery
Despite our exhaustion,most of the amsirah with us gathered their things and trudged toward the river when we returned to the encampment. Ryker led me through the woods to a bend in the river.
With his arms folded over his chest, he stood guard in the middle of the icy water to shield me from any bathers who might wander too close. My teeth chattered as I scrubbed my hair and skin with soap before handing the bar to him.
When he took it, his fingers lingered on mine before moving away. Unable to stand the freezing current anymore, I waded out of the water. Covered in goose bumps, I stumbled toward my towel.
I dried myself before lifting the heavy wool blanket from where I’d placed it on the shore and pulled it around my shoulders. My shivering didn’t ease much as my wet hair clung to my face.
I loved everything about these woods, except for the freezing baths. There was talk of building a bath house with fires to warmthe water and the building, but unfortunately, it was pretty far down on the list of priorities.
Turning, I watched as the water sluiced down Ryker’s chiseled form while he bathed. My blinking was a little more rapid than normal as exhaustion kept trying to pull my burning eyes closed.
I wanted to sleep where I stood, but I couldn’t help admiring the view as tendrils of sunlight caressed him. He truly was magnificent as his large, powerful muscles rippled with his movements.
The scars on his chest, back, and legs only added to his magnificence. They were a testament to what he’d endured and survived, and all of them had made him stronger as they forged him into the man I loved more than anything in this world.
I was going to spend an eternity with this man, and I’dneverstop admiring him. I was freezing and so tired, but desire stirred in my belly; it was impossiblenotto crave him.
While I’d love to lose myself in his arms for a little while, I wasn’t sure I had the energy to do anything more than breathe. Maybe after a few days or years of sleep, I’d feel different.
When Ryker trudged out of the water, he joined me on the shore to towel himself off. He gathered our discarded clothes and tucked them under his arm.
