Sounds of muffled commands carried on the wind.
“Why are we stopping?” She cried. “We have to keep going. Please.”
“I will never stop. Do you hear me?” I grabbed her handin mine. “I love you and when we get to the other side, you will be so sick of me telling you exactly how much I love you.”
She nodded. “Promise it?”
“I promise it.”
Edward pulled his horse alongside us again. “We need a plan.”
“You know I function far better without one.” My throat dried when I said it. I absolutely didn’t have one.
Her freedom was all I cared about.
She would pay too great a price if our plan failed. I couldn’t let that happen.
I steadied her with my hand as the sound of the horses and the men on them only grew louder. “I’ve got you. I’m not leaving you.”
“You should.” Her back twisted in a way I knew was causing her pain to face me. “You and Edward can go through the divide here. And I will wander back on the path… and they can take me.”
“No. I am not letting you sacrifice yourself for me.” I would never.
I dismounted Merda when we reached the divide. “We’ll walk alongside it on foot. If we need to, we can send the horses ahead as a distraction.”
The moon’s glow highlighted Edward’s glare.
“Do you have a better plan?” I scolded him. “You can still cross. Go if you must.”
He looked back at Ashlyn as she climbed down from the saddle. “I promised I’ll guide you both back, and I will stand beside you, Lord Chancellor.”
There was only one way I could give her the life she needed.
I would hold them back if I must.
No matter what it cost me.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
ASHLYN
Fyn reached into his collar, searching for something beneath his shirt.
He pulled a bronze chain free. I couldn’t make out the brass object that bobbed at the end.
“I need you to wear this.” He lowered it over my head.
My fingers slid over ornate filament that swirled through the top. A slender rod gave way to prongs. It was a key. “Why are you giving this to me?”
He traced my cheek. “I need you to keep it safe for me.”
His eyes found mine before his lips did.
I folded into his kiss, into him.
“Promise me…” Fear struck his gaze. “That if it comes to it, you will go on without me.”
“I am absolutely not promising you that.”
