Page 5 of Desire's Ransom
Chapter 2
The air rushed out of Temair’s lungs. Her legs buckled. She collapsed onto her knees.
She was unable to speak.
Or breathe.
Or blink.
Or look away.
She felt like she’d been punched in the stomach.
She stared in horror at the motionless heap that had been her sister.
After an agonizing span of time, the hounds, troubled by Temair’s shocked silence, began nudging her, licking at her face, urging her to get up.
But she couldn’t. She was stuck fast. Frozen in time.
Only the sorrowful wailing of the servants discovering Aillenn’s broken body at the base of the tower finally roused Temair.
She had to go.
She’d promised Aillenn.
She had to go.
Now.
She drew in a ragged breath and rose on trembling limbs. Turning blind eyes toward the forest, barely able to command her legs, she nonetheless forced one unsteady foot in front of the other.
Eventually, she reached the trees.
Shock gave way all too soon to anguish. The path blurred in her vision as her eyes brimmed with tears. Her throat ached with grief. Her chest felt cold and hollow, as if her heart had been ripped from her body. Her limbs seemed to be made of lead as she dragged herself forward.
She staggered along the trail, using the patches of moonlight that sliced through the overlapping branches like stepping stones.
She had to get away. Far away.
If she hurried, maybe she could elude the despair threatening to engulf her.
If she ran fast enough, maybe she could escape the image that was seared into her brain…
Her sister falling.
Over.
And over.
She ran until the trees muffled the sound of the keening servants.
Until the wind no longer pierced the leafy wood.
Until the moon ceased lighting her way.
Where she was going she didn’t know. Nor did she care. She only knew she needed to get as far away from the tower as possible. Hooking her fingers beneath the hounds’ collars, she let them lead her deep into the wood.
She was dimly aware that there were dangers in the forest. Wolves. And outlaws. But there was no room for fear in her heart.
