Page 14

Soft sunlight rouses me, and I groan stretching my stiff muscles. I rub the sleep from my eyes flicking off a rouge leaf sticking on my cheek. It’s an effort to push my aching body off the ground.

Everyone else is awake and Ledger makes eye contact with me before grabbing the discarded saddle blanket and walking to Apollo.

I shiver against the chill morning air, still exhausted and bleary-eyed.

Archie cuts the vine from my ankle and helps me up, offering me his canteen full of cool stream water.

“Thanks.” I take a drink and hand him back the water, rubbing away the goosebumps that pepper my arms .

Ledger comes from behind me and drapes his cloak around my shoulders. “Take it; you’ll be of no use to me if you fall ill.”

“Gee, thanks.” I pull it around me. “You don’t happen to have a cup of coffee in that saddle bag? I like it with a touch of honey,” I joke lamely as Ledger rifles through it.

“We leave in five minutes, and we will ride for most of the day.” He ignores me completely, and I nod.

I find some water and splash it over my face. I sit in silence listening to the small creek and breathing in the morning air.

It is serene and calm and more picturesque than I could have imagined. Even though I am a prisoner, this is the freest I have ever felt. The desire to see more and experience more grows inside of me by the minute.

I pull some wild weeds I remember Maddox feeding to his horse. He said it was their favorite treat.

I bring the weeds back to Apollo and offer them to him. He looks at me suspiciously before turning his head in rejection.

“Alright then,” I grumble, dropping them to the ground. He turns his head, eating my offering where it lies as I walk away. Being disliked by an animal is a strange feeling, sparking determination within me. I will get this hardheaded horse to like me .

Ledger holds out his hand when I’m ready, and I take it, bracing. I am not looking forward to another day on Apollo. My body aches in places I wasn’t even aware possible.

He pulls me up, and I settle in front of him. My back presses up against his front and his arms encircle me again as he grabs the reins.

I squirm at his closeness all too aware of all the places he touches. “Are you alright?” he asks.

“I’m fine,” I reply, scooting forward and effectively silencing him.

We ride for hours until my body is achy, sore, and begging for a break, and then we ride for even longer. Cam struggles to stay awake, nodding off. And Archie keeps shifting in his saddle, proving I’m not alone in my misery.

I don’t dare complain or ask to stop. At some point, I give in and rest back into Ledger, and he takes some of my weight, making the ride more bearable.

When he finally announces we must find camp before the sun sets, I blow out a breath of relief.

We choose to set up camp next to a small stream, luckily not deep enough for anything to be lurking in it.

When we stop, Ledger dismounts, and when I go to follow, I nearly fall flat on my face, one of my legs having gone numb.

Ledger catches me midair and places me down with surprising gentleness .

“Uh, thanks,” I stammer. He walks away without a response.

“You’re welcome, Layla, anytime Layla,” I grumble. I can’t be sure, but I swear I see the ghost of a grin on his face as I pass him.

I limp towards the stream, shaking out my numb legs. Cam fills up his canteen, and I seize the opportunity to finally catch him alone. “Hey,” I say softly, sitting down next to him, unlacing my boots, and wiggling my toes.

“Hey,” he responds, glancing back at me.

“Listen, I, uh, I wanted to apologize for my actions when we first met. It was nothing personal, and I feel horrible about it.” My eyes flicker to his bruised, swollen temple.

“I have to give it to you, you have fast reflexes and hit way harder than I’d expect from a girl your size.”

“Thanks, I suppose.” I grin at him. “That bump looks pretty nasty. Would you let me heal it for you? This time, I won’t knock you unconscious, you have my word.”

“You promise?” he asks hesitantly.

“I promise.”

“Okay, what do I need to do?”

“Just be still, it won’t hurt,” I encourage.

We both turn our bodies to face each other. I lift my hand to his head and the other to where the cut still marks his ribs .

My power flows out of me in a glowing mist. It warms my skin and fills my palms. It coasts over the injuries in a matter of seconds and snaps back inside of me.

Cam touches his temple gingerly as if he is expecting it to hurt. His eyes widen when I assume he doesn’t feel the bump or any pain. He then rips up his shirt revealing his pale skin that is now free of any cuts or scratches.

“You’re so awesome,” Cam says, and I smile softly.

“Rein it in, Cam. You’re too young for her.” Archie comes up and ruffles Cam’s hair.

“I feel like her type is blonde, incredibly handsome, strong, brave, can move things with his mind?” He smirks down at me as Cam pushes his hand away.

“Okay, I’m out, it’s nauseating watching you try to flirt.” Cam stands but before he walks away, he turns to me. “Thanks for healing me.” His cheeks turn a light shade of pink.

“It was the least I could do.” I grin at him. My toes delve into the water as he walks away.

“So, was I right about your type?” Archie plops down next to me and I huff a laugh.

“I’ll have to get back to you on that one.”

“I can be whatever it is you like, you tell me what you like, and I can be that.” My lip tugs up at his flirty banter, a distraction I welcome.

“What if I told you I liked murderers and dirty cheats? ”

“Hmmm,” he considers. “For you, I’d send this dagger through Ledger’s heart right now.”

I snort, knocking his shoulder with my own. “Tempting.”

Archie chuckles, removing his shirt and splashing some water on his chest and neck. I glance over at the mangled skin of his back and swallow thickly as I assess the severity.

He catches my stare before I can look away and stiffens before rigidly putting his shirt back on.

“Did King Sandor do that?” I ask softly, my stomach flipping as I await his answer.

“Did you know I grew up in Bellehaven?” he asks, and I shake my head no. “My mother died giving birth to me, and my father didn’t want to be involved. My aunt raised me, and when my abilities began to surface around age six, she brought me to King Sandor.”

I listen as he speaks.

“I was a difficult child. I didn’t like authority, or being told what to do.

I was unserious, unruly, and stubborn—all traits King Sandor detested and attempted to rid me of.

He would get especially angry when I would make a quip after his discipline attempts, and that would lead to more beating, whipping, or sessions with Tamish. ”

The color drains from my face and my throat squeezes. I reach for his leg and give his thigh a gentle squeeze.

“One day, Callum and his son came to visit. Ledger and I met, and we connected almost instantly. When we were playing, he must have seen some of my scars or healing skin because the next thing I knew, we were all on our way back to Westray.” He looks at me as he finishes.

“King Sandor never releases anyone willingly from his grasp. He hoards and collects the powerful like they are something to be possessed,” I say surprised.

“Callum won’t admit it, but I’m almost positive he traded one of his own for my release.

” His nostrils flare as he blows out an angry breath.

It’s the first time I’ve seen him affronted.

It’s an emotion I’m very familiar with, one I’ve shoved down for years.

“Either way, he gifted me a second chance, and I’m thankful for that. ”

“Sandor did that to you when you were just a boy?” I ask the question, looking at his now-covered back.

I already know the answer, and it makes me sick.

Ledger glances up from a few feet away where he is moving brush around.

Archie stays silent so I speak again, “Callum—is he a better man than Sandor?”

“I wouldn’t have stepped foot back in Bellehaven and assisted in your kidnapping if he wasn’t.” He tosses a rock into the water. “Did Sandor ever hurt you?”

I pause, contemplating my answer. “He killed my father.” From the corner of my vision Ledger goes predatorily still, clearly listening.

“And then he plucked me from my home. He could sense that I had power and is not a patient man. He spent weeks experimenting on me, attempting to bring it fourth. His methods were–cruel.” I frown at the dreadful memories.

“That was the worst of it.” With my mother safe in the castle any treatment after felt bearable.

“I’m glad Callum got you out.” When I look up at Archie he wears a look of understanding.

“Me too.” He stands, brushing his pants off. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a comfy, luxurious bed right about now. And a beautiful woman warming it.”

“Sounds like you have been sleeping on the cold ground alone for one too many nights,” I tease.

“You’d be correct. If you get tired sleeping next to a brooding Ledger, know I’m a few feet away, waiting with open arms.”

“Archie, get over here and leave that poor girl alone. The last thing she needs right now is your advances.” Mia’s voice carries over to us as she shouts at Archie from where she is taking supplies out of her saddle.

“Well, that’s my cue. It’s been a pleasure, Layla.” He gets up, bowing to me before grabbing his boots and heading over to help Mia.

I force a smile as he walks away and begin putting my boots back on, still shaken by what he had revealed. He seemed to be a few years older than me, leading me to believe this all must have happened before my arrival at the castle.

I wasn’t surprised at all by the actions of King Sandor. He spared no mercy even for a child.

I take a few deep breaths trying to quell the burning anger that flares in my chest .

“Was your father a healer like you?” Ledger walks over to me as I tug my boots back on.