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CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Ellery

I woke to a crackling fire only ten feet away. The last thing I remembered was feeling so cold I was sure I’d die from it, but now I was enveloped in a warm blanket and Ryker’s strong arms.

Many of Tucker’s followers were gathered around the largest fire, exchanging ale and pieces of a buxon they cut free and placed on a wooden plate. Despite everyone being slightly more subdued than usual, a jovial air enshrouded them as they clanked the tankards together.

I pushed myself up a little, and Ryker shifted to ensure I remained comfortable. “How are you feeling?” he asked.

I took stock of myself as I pondered this. My side still throbbed from where Gaius sliced me—that was a memory I hoped never to relive. The rest of me had healed while I slept.

“Better,” I told him.

I was relieved to discover that my breath didn’t wheeze out on the word, and speaking didn’t shoot fire through me anymore. When I twisted to look at him, the movement pulled at my side, and I winced before I could stop myself.

Ryker’s silver eyes darkened, and I lifted a hand and rested my palm against his stubble-roughened cheek. “I’m doing much better.”

He grunted as he surveyed me. “I shouldn’t have let you go without me.”

“You didn’t have a choice.”

“I could have?—”

“No, you couldn’t. I’ve always been free, Ryker; even my parents knew that. Don’t try to trap me.”

His thick lips flattened into a thin line. I prepared myself for an argument, but instead, he took a deep breath and lowered his forehead to mine.

“I’d never cage something so beautiful.”

“You would if you could.”

He chuckled a little. “You’re right.”

“How did things go at your father’s?”

“We got the weapons.”

“Good.”

When my stomach rumbled loudly, he lifted his head and turned to one of the nearby amsirah. “Could you get us some food?”

The man jumped to his feet. He hurried over to one of the cooking fires, gathered a plate, and returned to us. When Ryker handed me the plate, I instinctively went to wave it away. Normally, I didn’t like taking food from those in the woods, but I didn’t have a home to return to anymore.

I belonged here now. Not only would I share their food, but I’d help them hunt for it.

The reminder of the loss of my home didn’t hurt as badly as I’d expected, but then I’d known it was coming. Plus, Scarlet’s family and Ryker were here; that’s what mattered most.

I wished I could have brought my mare, Adira, too, but while she didn’t take any shit from any of the other horses, life in these woods wouldn’t be kind to her. However, there was no one left to care for the horses.

“What about our horses?” I whispered, my hunger vanishing as my stomach curdled. “There’s no one to care for them.”

“Scarlet opened one of the stall doors in the barn, and the other door into the paddock was already open to set them free. If they don’t run, they have plenty of grass in the field, and I’m sure someone will gather them before they starve. They’re the best horses in the realm.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. His words eased some of my concern, but I couldn’t help worrying about the animals we’d raised since birth.

They wouldn’t be left there to die. Horses were too much of a necessary commodity in the realm, but I hoped their new owners took good care of them. They all deserved it.

“There’s nothing more we can do for them. What matters is that you’re alive, and you eat and take care of yourself,” Ryker said.

I realized the man was still standing there with the plate. “Sorry,” I muttered as I took it from him. “Thank you.”

The man smiled at me. “Anytime.”

Unwilling to crawl out from under the blanket, I squirmed up a little more so I could eat. When I settled against Ryker again, I set the plate down to lift the blanket. White bandages covered his upper thigh, and he still wore what remained of his bloodstained clothes.

“How are you doing?” I asked.

“The arrow’s out of my leg, and I’m on my way to being fully healed.”

“You need to get better at dodging arrows.”

“That’s tough to do when a whole contingent of archers is aiming at you.”

Though I smiled at him, the memory caused a shudder to run through me. He was lucky to be alive—we all were.

As I looked around, I spotted Ianto ten feet away, leaning against another tree with Scarlet at his side as she finished tying a bandage around his massive, bare chest.

“How are you doing?” I asked him.

He grinned as he lifted his tankard of ale. “I’m getting better with every sip.”

Ianto tipped back his head and downed his drink while Scarlet shook her head. Another woman happily refilled it for him when he finished.

Scarlet left Ianto to settle beside Billy, who sat a few feet away. Billy smiled sheepishly at me and waved. “How’s your father doing?” I asked.

“He’s getting better,” Scarlet replied. “He’s still sleeping, but his color is improving, and his fingers have started twitching. That bastard slit his throat.”

I winced, and my hand went instinctively to my throat. “How awful.”

“Eat,” Ryker said and tapped my plate.

I didn’t like obeying anyone, but my stomach was more than happy to agree to this order. Lifting a piece of buxon, I bit into the tender meat and groaned as the delicious taste hit my tongue.