Page 63 of Ashes of Betrayal

28: FIGHT OR FLEE

GRADUALLY, THE WORLD came back into focus.

Cailean was aware that he was leaning heavily upon Bree and was likely squashing her against the rough wall. However, his legs had gone weak in the aftermath of his climax. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could remain standing. And so, still breathing hard, he pushed himself off his wife, scooped her up, and carried her over to the waiting nest of furs.

Stretching out next to her, he propped himself up onto an elbow and gazed down at Bree.

She stared up at him, her face soft, her golden, cat-like eyes glowing.

Cailean’s throat tightened. He wasn’t used to the vulnerability she roused in him. He’d once dismissed his reaction to her as weakness, but not any longer. She told him things he didn’t want to hear, made him face things he’d rather turn away from. She gave him strength and soothed his bruised soul.

He’d suffer for this woman, and he’d do it willingly. He wasn’t a man who did anything in half-measures. Perhaps he’d always known this about himself, known that once the walls came down, he’d be done for.

None of that mattered now though. She’d spoken the truth. If he wanted to make things right with his sister, he couldn’t justslink away with his tail between his legs, defeated and despising himself.

Instead, he had to fight.

Bree’s cheeks glistened in the firelight. He lifted a hand, smoothing the tears away with his fingertips. But as the silence drew out between them, the ache in his throat became unbearable, as did the burn behind his eyes. And when Bree raised her own hand—which trembled slightly—and caressed his cheek, he realized that she wasn’t the only one overcome by this moment.

“The Hag’s teeth,” he muttered, his voice catching. “What’s wrong with me?”

Her sensual mouth curved into a smile that made his breathing catch in his chest. “Nothing,” she whispered.

A shriek ripped Bree from a deep, peaceful sleep.

Jolting upright, she lunged for one of her blades, only to realize that she was naked and her fighting knives and longsword were out of arm’s reach.

Likewise, the noise had yanked her husband awake.

Cailean rolled off her and grabbed his breeches, hauling them on.

“The Slew shouldn’t be out tonight,” she gasped, leaping out of the furs and hurriedly dressing. Lacing her vest over her woolen tunic with fumbling fingers, she glanced over at where Cailean was strapping on his knife vest.

“No.” Her husband’s face was grim, his blue eyes steely. “But something else is.”

Bree yanked on her boots, collecting her weapons as she followed Cailean to the door. “What time is it?”

“Early.”

They stepped out of their lodgings, into the yard between the two accommodation wings—and froze. The sky was ablaze, acrid smoke choking the air. Screams punctured the night. And then a bright, piercing sound drifted through the air.

Bree’s breathing caught, even as Cailean cursed.

They both knew that noise. It wasn’t the thunderous rumble of a Marav battle horn, but the commanding cry of a Sheehallion trumpet.

Bree’s blood started to roar in her ears.

Her people were besieging Cannich.

Whipping around, she faced Cailean. “We have to get out of this fort.”

Stubbornness settled over his features. “Not without my sister.”

Bree nodded, checking her panic. Aye, he was right. They couldn’t leave Enya and her sons to the mercy of the Shee. “Right,” she said, flicking her fingers by her sides to glamor herself. She then drew her longsword. “Let’s go find her then.”

Beyond the ale-hall, panicked locals packed Cannich’s twisting wynds, while off-duty warriors hurriedly buckled on their weapons and armor as they rushed by. Cailean caught one of them by the arm, pulling the woman up short. “Are they inside the walls?” he demanded.

“Not yet,” the warrior replied, her voice hoarse from the smoke. “Although, the Shee have ladders up against the gatehouse. They’re hurling buckets of flaming pitch over the walls. It won’t be long until they’re inside.” The woman’s armored chest heaved. “Watch yourselves … powries and trow are inside the fort.”

---