anyone can survive this, then it’s me. I’ve lived through worse. At the reminder of my past, Tor growls again and takes a step back, as if he needs some space between us.
“You’re on his radar now though. You were nameless, a no one before, but now he’s watching you, testing you.”
Again, he’s right, but I have something he doesn’t. Touching my Goddess mark, I close my eyes as the comforting tingling sensation floods through my body. I open my eyes and smile slightly at Her presence.
“The Mother will protect me.”
From what I’ve heard, the mountain tribes worship in a different way. They have multiple gods and goddesses, and the Great Mother is one of them, but they believe different things about her and consider her one of the lesser goddesses. So I know that for him, the protection of the Mother might not be much, but for me, it’s everything. I’m expecting him to say something along those lines, to tell me not to rely on her protection, but instead he surprises me with a slow, half grin. Looking like that, he makes me feel warm, awakening my arousal which I haven’t felt for a long time.
“You know I’m going to ask you to leave with me every night,” he tells me with that same grin, and I try to push down my rising feelings and focus on what he’s saying. Blinking, I finally process his words.
“You’re going to keep coming back?”
“Of course, people need a way to escape.” Disappointment fills me and I look away, pretending to glance around the courtyard for other people so he can’t see my expression.
Don’t be stupid, of course he’s going to keep returning to help people, that’s the reason he’s here. Not to see you, he’s only asking you out of a sense of responsibility.
“Besides, this means I can check that you’re still alive.”
I still, ignoring the slight thrill his words bring. I want to know why he cares, but I can’t bring myself to ask the question. You just don’t want to hear the answer, my mind taunts. What am I so worried about? Do I like him? I barely know him, except that small voice I always push away and squash deep inside me is screaming that I do know him.
“Do you believe in past lives?” My question seems to take him by surprise.
“In our teachings, there are tales of some of our greatest warriors being reborn, but I’m not sure what I believe,” he answers, his eyes alight with something I don’t recognise as he takes a step forward to close the distance between us. My breath hitches, and I know by his smile that he heard. Dropping his voice, his words are low and quiet as he inquires, “Why do you ask?”
“I just... I feel like I know you, like we knew each other in a past life,” I reply just as quietly, admitting my feelings with a laugh. “I’m sure it’s all made up in my head, but I just can’t shake the feeling.”
He stills, his grin dropping as his face takes on a serious expression. It’s an odd look on him, he’s usually so expressive, so I’m taken aback by this sudden change.
“Clarissa, I need to tell you something.”
My heart thuds painfully in my chest as excitement and fear fill me. I get a strange feeling that whatever he’s about to tell me will change my life forever.
“Tell me what?” I ask breathlessly.
“About your past—” Whatever he is going to say is cut off by the sound of quickly approaching footsteps. Spinning, we turn to look for the source of the noise, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realised I was holding when a maid with two young children enters the courtyard. They look terrified, their eyes wide as they glance around desperately, and I know this is their last hope. We wait for a few seconds, making sure they haven’t been followed, and once I’m sure, I take a step out of the protection of the shield.
“Liv, wait,” Tor calls, reaching for me, but I’ve already left the cover.
The maid instantly turns and sees me, her eyes widening even more before she hurries over to me, her children following closely behind.
“Thank the Mother,” she whispers, before reaching out and taking my hands in hers. “Jayne said you would be here, that you would help us.”
I take a deep breath and nod. Jayne had promised she would tell those in need there was a