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“We’ll reach the city late tomorrow afternoon.”
“So far.” If I escaped, I’d never be able to walk back to the village. My heart plunged down into my belly, the two churning together. Tears smarted in my eyes, but I sniffed them away. I was here so Lyneth wouldn’t be, and I’d thank the fates for that.
Jaus gathered wood and cleared an area beneath the broad branches of an evergreen. He lit a fire quickly and the heavy scent of smoke clogged my nose when it gusted my way.
“Sit,” he said, waving to a spot beside him.
I still stood where he’d left me beside Feyla. She watched me with what I swore was indulgence in her eyes. At least she hadn’t taken a bite out of my arm.
With a huff, she started nibbling on the grass by her front feet.
“She doesn’t eat meat,” Jaus said, tossing a few thick branches onto the fire.
After drinking from the flask, I walked over and dropped it beside him. “I need to . . .”
He nodded and rose from a crouch, hefting his mace. “I’ll go with you.”
A squirm rippled through me. “Please, no.”
“I promise not to watch.”
Because he snarled out the words, I decided to trust him in this at least. Pivoting, I walked into the woods, though I didn’t go far. The sound of the shayde’s shriek still haunted my mind, and I didn’t want to draw another close. We needed to rest, not fight them off for the rest of the night.
After I’d finished, we returned to the fire.
Jaus crouched again, adding more wood. I sat opposite him, savoring the warmth of the flames licking hungrily at the logs.
Rising, he came around and dropped down beside me, placing the pouch in his lap. Before I could move again, he latched onto my arm. “You’ll remain with me, tiny mate, to make sure nothing snatches you away.”
Shivers tracked through me. I peered into the woods, but all I could see were the flames I’d just stared into.
“Don’t look at them directly. They’ll momentarily blind you, and you won’t know something’s stalking you until it . . .” His low chuckle rang out. “Pounces.”
“Wise advice I’ll apply to you as well.”
His chuckle grew louder. After placing his mace in the sheath on his back, he opened the pouch and drew out an oil-soaked cloth, unwrapping it to reveal large chunks of what looked like grain, dried berries, and something greasy holding it all together. He broke one in half and handed me a piece, sinking his tusks into the other eagerly.
I nibbled on it, and my belly soon roared, stating tiny bites were not enough. After eating more than half, however, I handed the rest to him.
“You need it,” he said. “How else will you grow my orclings in your nicely rounded belly?”
“It’ll be interesting to see how you intend to gain orclings from me if you don’t plan to fuck me.”
“Oh, I’ll rut you soon enough.”
“Allow me to say I don’t look forward to that moment.”
“You will.”
“Braggingagain?”
“Stating the truth.” He ate the rest of the meal and tossed the pouch over to where I’d left the water flask. “Time to sleep, tiny mate.”
“I’ll lay there.” I pointed to the other side of the fire. “And you can remain over here.”
“We’ll sleep together from now on.”
My breath caught, but I bit back my sharp retort. I was too tired to keep up the battle. I could lift my sword, so to speak, again in the morning.
