DO I HAVE RESERVATIONSabout this? Of course I do. Am I nervous about going up into the Goddamn mountains as winter encroaches?AbsolutelyI am.
But then I hear Dom laugh.
Over the next couple of days, Dom goes about planning with the enthusiasm of a kid at a carnival. We’ve lovingly started calling this little trip ‘Operation Homecoming,’ and as he lays out a route, a timeline, aplan, I realize just how deeply he’s already thought about this.
“If we have horses, that’ll cut our travel time to Airedale nearly in half,” Dom says. “I’m thinking we can take Mo and Valar. Alternate riding and walking, stay at inns along the main road as often as we can.”
I rub the back of my neck as I look at the parchment he’s laid on the ground between us. The little triangle-shaped trees and peaksand blocky inn markers he’s drawn leave much to be desired. Looking at our squiggly line of a route makes it difficult to fully grasp the reality of this trip. “And when there isn’t an inn?”
“We’ll camp,” Dom says simply before he points to a few spots along the squiggly line he’s drawn of our route. “There are a few nights we’ll be camping for sure. Even going at a faster pace with the horses, the days are too short to make it from Crofton to Glendale or from Barrowin to Copper.”
“The peaks are already coated in snow,” I say. “Camping while it’s raining is one thing, but when it’sfreezing?”
“Beautiful, I used to go on hunting trips in the dead of winter. I know this route well, especially once we reach Barrowin,” Dom says as he points to the little blocky marker on his map. “I can find us shelter and keep us warm. Plus, even without magic, the Crux has more supplies than Ieverdid.” He reaches out to take my hand, giving me a warm squeeze. “We’ll be fine.”
My unease lingers even as I say, “If you’re sure...”
Dom’s grin turns sly. “You know that you stay warmer if you’re skin to skin with someone else?”
I roll my eyes, though a smile tugs at my lips. “You just want an excuse to fuck me in the middle of nowhere.”
“The idea’s definitely crossed my mind,” he says before his voice pitches to a sultry purr. “You know what else has crossed my mind?”
I hum, leaning back on my arms. “What’s that?”
“Once we’re on the road, I could send you off,” Dom says, and his heated tone rushes over me, making me shiver. He leans forward, shifting onto his hands and knees to prowl slowly towards me. “Give you a head start.”
I find myself sitting up straighter against his bed as his arms come to rest on either side of my hips. He brings his face close to mine, his eyes shining with wicked pleasure, and I realize just how much I’ve missed this playful side of him.
“Don’t know if you know this about me, but I’mrealgood at tracking,” he purrs. He kneels over me, teeth teasing over my neck before he bites down. I arch with a muffled moan. He licks the spot in something like an apology, his lips tickling my ear. “You could hide as well as you like, but I’ll hunt you down all the same, beautiful.”
I bite back a whimper as I grab his hips. With nothing but a few words, he’s gotten me hard, and as the thought takes root, I realize how much Iwouldenjoy that.
“You like that idea, huh? Like the idea of me hunting you down to have my way with you?” His hand reaches down to cup my straining length, and I roll my hips to meet him. “You want me to pin you against the ground? Rut you like an animal?”
I bite back a moan, and as much as I appreciate a good distraction, we still have a grand escape to plan. I drape my arms behind his neck, my nose brushing his as I say in my sultriest voice, “I would like that all a lot morewithoutthe snow.”
Dom chuckles before he pecks my lips. “Snow will give you a softer landing when I tackle you to the ground.”
The thought sends another errant shiver through me before Dom backs away. My cock gives a disappointed throb even as I ask, “Are yousurewe can’t wait until spring?”
The shadows that have been so absent briefly eclipse his face. “I’m sure,” he says. “Something’s telling me we need to leave as soon as we can.”
I don’t like it, but he has far more experience than I do with cross-country travel. My mad dash from Marikadar to the Eastern Tower had been nothing short of disastrous. I’d sold every piece of jewelry I’d owned, and I still barely managed the trip. Even on assignments, I don’t travel far.
But the weather isn’t the only thing I’m worried about.
“Dom,I...”
Arlon told me this in confidence, but the Black Burrows humbled me. I need to be sure we’re planning for everything.
“A few months ago, right before I teleported to the Tower, an Immen scouting party was intercepted near Airedale.”
Dom sits up straight. “Oh, fuck.”
“I haven’t heard anything more since then, but... I have no doubt that Straetham has alerted Frostcliff,” I say. “Not to mention, a number of larger caravans have been heading into the hills recently. I think the Crown has sent soldiers straight from the capital.”
I’ve tried to get even a vague update from Galiva on that front, but she’s been zealously guarding information. Her and Arlon go to the palace two or three times a week, and runners are seen here nearly every day. There’s no doubt thatthingsare happening. I just wish I knew the extent ofwhat.
