entirely, he still shouldered some blame because he’d drugged us and tossed us into wagons. He’d left us exposed and then rushed us into a decrepit old house that was one strong wind away from being firewood, which it had become.
Torrin wasn’t faultless, but we’d probably have been attacked by something else on our way here. I’d planned on getting captured before reaching the border so they would bring us into the kingdom. I’d never expected to be captured by the head of the army or a legendary warrior.
“Get onto the bed, woman,” Torrin growled, and I closed my eyes, ignoring him as the fire heated my face.
He lifted me without warning, and the sheet dropped from my body. I tensed, inhaling to release the anger that rushed through me with his touch. Torrin set me down gently, his eyes skimming over my body before he stepped back, turning on his heel to move to the bag he’d gotten the clothes from earlier.
Returning, he sat on the bed, staring at my impassive face before twisting the lid from the jar he held. Dipping his fingers into the salve, he leaned over to rub some over my side where the stitches were itching. I breathed past the lump in my throat, ignoring him while he tended to my wounds. He was gentle, slowly working the salve into my skin, which made it slowly numb from the pain and itching of the flesh that healed.
“I can do that myself,” I muttered under my breath, feeling his fingers pause before he pushed them into the wound on my arm, causing me to cry out.
“Be a good girl and shut up,” he growled, holding my stare before his lips tipped into a cocky smile. His finger pushed back into the wound, and I shuddered from the delicious bite of pain while he watched. “You like to be hurt. Don’t you?”
“Leave me alone.” I fortified my emotions, turning away from him.
Torrin shoved me down onto my stomach on the mattress. His elbow pushed into my spine before his mouth slowly hovered over my back. His body held mine down, somehow managing not to cause pain where I’d been injured. Lips brushed over my spine, sending heat rushing through me. Fingers slipped between my thighs, and his dark, husky laughter rumbled through me.
“Is this what you want from me?” he growled hoarsely, pushing his fingers against my sex that clenched for more. “You need to hurt, so it’s easier. It won’t make it any fucking easier. You lost them, and they’re gone. Hurting yourself won’t help you or numb the guilt. You’re a fucking leader; act like it,” he snarled, telling me what he told me when my seven sisters were lost. Then he pushed his fingers into my body hard, spreading them wide before slowly withdrawing them. “Sleep, because we leave at dawn.”
He lifted from the bed, grabbing his cloak before exiting the room. I closed my eyes, caving to the weakness of sleep that demanded I succumb to it, and eventually, I did. Nightmares met me when I entered my dreams, wraiths feasting on my body while I watched helplessly as the girls died. Tossing and turning, I gave up on sleep, dressed, and left the room.
Outside on the porch, I watched the stars that shot across the skies as the full moon approached. The closer it got, the prettier the darkness became. It also made my body ache with the coming call to breed. Swallowing the groan, I sat on a chair and looked at the stars, enjoying the cover of darkness that hid the silent tears burning my eyes.
A scream sounded from the woods, forcing my attention to where it had originated. Noting the eeriness of the darkness, I searched the surrounding forest. Exhaling, I grabbed one of the rusty swords from beside the chair and started from the porch. When I entered the woods, the scream sounded again, and I sucked my lip between my teeth, inching forward.
Rounding past the thicker trees and shrubs, I stopped cold at the sight that met my eyes. Torrin had the woman tied between two trees. Her body was covered in angry red welts from the branch he held in his hand, slapping it against her exposed back while she pleaded for more.
I fought down the unease that slid through me, watching as he whipped it over her back and ass. He moved around her, grabbing her throat before lowering his head against her shoulder,