Page 54 of Seized to Sacrifice
Nyx went back into the room and closed the door, locking it securely and putting a chair in front of it. He closed the casement as well, ensuring that it too was well and truly locked.
He put her new boots by the fire and unwrapped the package Thorne had brought. Inside was a thick, oiled cloak that would keep her warm and dry if the rain continued. Thorne may profess to hate Elle, but he’d not skimped on quality or cost. Nyx hung the cloak on a hook by the door.
Everything now ready for the morn, he lay in the bed next to her and found she was now truly asleep. He drew her into his arms, taking care not to wake her as he cuddled her to him, knowing that even if he stayed here like this with her forever, it still wouldn’t be anywhere enough time.
* * *
Elle
The next day,Elle was woken by the sound of the rain. It was coming down fiercely, she thought as she looked up at the ceiling, glad that she was warm and dry, nestled in Nyx’s strong arms. She wasn't looking forward to travelling in this weather and frowned as the pitter patter of the rain turned into a roaring torrent, hammering down hard on the slate tiles of the roof.
Nyx shifted next to her, his bare body cradling hers and she froze as she felt something hard against her thigh. He mumbled an apology, kissing her and moving away and she found herself disappointed.
Did he not want her? He hadn't actually touched her unless she'd made the first move. Perhaps he didn't. She considered this as she lay next to him and hoped that wasn't the case though she felt mortification creeping into her countenance when she remembered how she’d practically forced his hand the other day.
Surely he wouldn't have spent so much time doing those things if he hadn't wanted to, would he? She got up carefully and moved away from the bed, getting dressed quietly, not wanting to be bare when he awoke.
She had to remember that even though it felt as if she had known him a long time, she hadn't, no matter what they remembered.
Elle noticed a pair of tall, black boots on the floor by the fire and smiled, knowing by their size that they were meant for her. She slipped them on gratefully and, though they were a bit too big, they were warm and comfortable. She’d not been looking forward to trying to keep her feet dry in the oversized, holey shoes she’d been wearing so far.
She looked over at the bed and found Nyx sitting up, watching her.
‘Do they fit?’ he asked, looking almost excited at giving her the gift.
She nodded. ‘Thank you. Did you go out last night in the rain?’
He shook his head. ‘I would never leave you here alone. I told Rye who made Thorne go out. You should have seen how soaked he was when he returned, but you were already asleep.’
She grinned, stifling a laugh. She shouldn’t find it funny that Thorne had had to go out to get her these in such awful weather, but the way he’d treated her didn’t lend her to giving him much sympathy. Nyx’s eyes locked on her, and he chuckled as well.
A knock at the door broke their commiseration and Nyx grabbed his knife from under the pillow, stalking towards it and not bothering to cover himself. Elle averted her eyes as he opened it just a crack.
‘Get your arse out of bed if the company hasn’t tired you overmuch,’ said Rye’s voice from the outside and Elle’s cheeks heated at his words, understanding his meaning all too well.
Nyx snorted and shut the door in his face. He dressed quickly and then knelt down by his pack and found a dry biscuit, handing it to her. She took it from his grasp, her fingers brushing against his. Her heart leapt in her chest.
He looked up at her uncertainly and she knew that there was something more that he wasn't telling her, something stopping him from trusting her. Her brow furrowed as she looked at him and then she understood.
‘You said before that I betrayed you.’ She played with the hem of her tunic. ‘I did something awful, didn't I?’
His expression immediately shuttered, and she saw that she'd hit upon the truth.
‘I know it won't mean anything because I don't remember, but I'm sorry I hurt you,’ she said quietly.
A series of emotions passed over his face but by the end, it was blank again. He didn't want her to know what he was feeling.
Saying nothing, he grabbed their packs and urged her towards the door, taking a cloak off a hook on the way out.
‘This is for you as well,’ he said gruffly. ‘You’ll be glad of it when we get outside in the wet. It's been oiled so it'll keep you dry.’
He whirled it around her shoulders, pinning it together around her neck. He raised the hood over her hair and then he was gone from the room, leaving her to catch him up.
The tap house that had been so lively and merry the night before was deserted, except for a woman cleaning tables and sweeping the floor.
They left the inn, going out into the rain. The yard was thick with mud, though at least the torrent had petered out slightly. It definitely wasn't coming down as hard as it had been when she'd woken up. Their horses were waiting for them under the eaves, and she mounted without too much trouble, remembering with amusement the day before when Nyx had believed her too small for her horse. In truth, she found his protective nature endearing. The comfort she drew from him was immense.
She turned her horse with ease, and it struck her that although she couldn't remember these men, didn’t know anything about her life before, she could make this horse do what she needed him to do. She knew exactly how to tell him what she wanted.
