Page 110 of Esperance

The question caught her off guard. Then she glanced down at herself. Her clothes were smeared with mud, and her face and hair were no better. She met his concerned gaze. “I’m fine.”

Ford nodded once. He gestured to the left. “There’s a path just a little ways down there. It will lead us straight to the camp.”

“How do you know about the camp?”

“How about I give you answers while we walk? I’m sure Carver is tearing the jungle apart to find you.”

Heat curled low in her belly at his words, and the absoluteknowingFord felt. She knew he was right. She may not understand Carver, but he would be looking for her—and he wouldn’t stop until she was found.

She set her shoulders. “All right, I’ll come with you. But I’m keeping the rock.”

Ford’s eyes danced. “I’m pretty sure I like you.”

Chapter 28

Carver

Carver raced through the jungle,chasing that chilling scream until he burst into a clearing. There was a small pond, but it was the bodies on the edge of the water that snared his attention.

Darrin lay there, unmoving. Another man Carver didn’t recognize was also on the ground, and Marriset cowered nearby, clutching her side.

Her dress was drenched in blood.

Carver darted for her, falling to his knees to inspect her wound.

She was shaking, and it took real effort to pry her fingers away so he could see the damage. It was a deep slice—a dodged strike for her gut that would have been fatal.

Marriset’s eyes were partially glazed and tears splashed down her cheeks. “I’m dying,” she gasped.

He pressed her hands back over the wound, his own fingers slick with her blood. “You’re going to be all right.” He had no needle and thread here, but they could staunch the flow of blood and carry her down to the camp’s physician.

Marriset blinked at him, and it was almost like she was seeing him for the first time. “C-Carver?”

“You’ll be all right,” he repeated, even as he tore his sleeves to make a bandage. He wrapped her waist tightly, knotting the makeshift bandage over the wound to increase the pressure.

Argent came to stand beside him. “Darrin’s dead. It looks like he managed to stab his killer before he died.”

“He almost killed me,” Marriset choked. “He almost killed me after he killed Darrin, but then he fell.”

Argent and Carver shared a look. Argent, Jayveh, and Carver hadn’t been the only targets, then. Or the rebels had simply decided to kill anyone from Esperance.

Carver tried to stand, but Marriset snagged his wrist. “Don’t leave me,” she begged, terror stamped across her face.

He wrapped his hand over hers, squeezing once. “It’s all right. The guards are going to take you to the camp.”

Her gaze was frantic. “Where are you going?”

“Amryn is missing. I’m going to find her.”

Marriset’s lower lip trembled. “If she’s out there alone . . .”

“I’ll find her,” he repeated. He pushed to his feet, sliding out of Marriset’s grasp. He turned to Argent. “You should go with them to the camp.”

“No.” The prince turned to the guards. “Two of you will take Marriset down the mountain, the other three of you will come with us.”

Carver thought about protesting, but that would just take time. And as thunder rumbled in the distance, he knew that time wasn’t something they had to waste.

They left Darrin’s body. Someone would have to come back for it later, but for the moment, they didn’t have the manpower to move it. Carver led the way back to the main path, with Argent at his side and the guards trailing behind.

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