Page 84 of Kingdom of Chains

‘So,’ he said, clapping his hands together, ‘I think we should head home as soon as possible and leave all this toxicity behind us.’

That was not where she thought the conversation was going. ‘But you have things you need to take care of here.’

‘Nothing that is more important than us.’ He closed the distance between them. ‘I am committed to restoring our love.’ His hands went to her waist. ‘We shall leave for Hampstead Keep tomorrow.’

His hands made her skin want to crawl off her body. ‘Tomorrow?’

‘I do have a few things to take care of in the morning, but I really think the sooner the better. Remaining here feels like an invitation to fate to throw more obstacles in our path.’

The groups needed time to refine and implement their plans. Once she was back behind the walls of Hampstead Keep, there would be no chance of freedom for her.

‘I would like you to spend the night with me tonight,’ he said.

She stepped out of his hold. ‘No.’ The word came out with more disdain than she had intended.

He chuckled. ‘Relax, my beloved. Your virtue will remain intact until we are wed, I promise you that.’

The man was in for the shock of his life if that wedding ever took place.

‘I simply wish to hold you while we sleep.’ He walked to the corner where her bag was located. ‘I had your things brought in. Normally I would give you privacy to change, but given what happened yesterday, I will be staying in the tent this time.’ He dropped the bag at her feet, then turned his back to her. ‘Take as much time as you need.’

She stared at him for a moment, then looked down at the open bag. It was clear from the placement of things that he, or possibly someone else, had been through it. With no other choice, she fetched out a nightdress and changed into it.

‘Decent?’ he asked.

She hugged herself. ‘Yes.’

He walked over to the cot and stripped down to braies and an under tunic, then climbed into bed. ‘Come,’ he said, like he was commanding a dog.

She glanced over at the lit candle. Normally she would insist that it be put out, but her fear of lying in the dark with him outweighed her fear of the tent catching fire.

‘You can blow it out if you like,’ he said.

She shook her head. ‘No. It is fine as is.’

He held the blankets open to her, waiting. Everything about this moment felt wrong, but she went to him anyway, lying down on her side at the far edge of the cot. She went rigid as he tucked the blankets around her, then buried his face in her hair. His arm went over her, and everything inside her recoiled.

‘I love you,’ he whispered.

She responded with silence.

Thankfully, he fell asleep within minutes, without further expectations. There was no way she could have kissed him. The mere sensation of him breathing into her hair was already more than she could bear.

Seven hours she lay there, blinking and staring up at the roof of the tent, while he breathed loudly in her ear. True to his word, he held her all night.All night. His arm grew heavier and heavier with every breath she drew.

She did not know what the next day would bring. She simply prayed that she was strong enough to survive it.

CHAPTER 26

The plan was not without its faults, but it was the best play they could pull off with the time restraints they had. Blackmane wanted Isabel out yesterday but was forced to settle for the following day instead.

They worked overnight, completing the tunnel into the children’s area. Men and women formed a line from the mouth of the tunnel, passing pails of dirt back and forth along it. They emptied them far from the camp to avoid attracting the attention of guards passing through the area. Not taking any chances, they set up a perimeter of soldiers to ensure they could work without the stress of being discovered.

They broke through the surface on the other side of the fence a little before dawn. The hole was no larger than a cup, widening to three feet below. They could not afford to draw the attention of the guards or the children who would arrive when the sun rose. Once everyone was settled for the day, someone would go in and widen the hole so they could begin the process of extraction.

‘We need someone who the children will trust,’ Tolly said. They were seated high up in the branches of a hornbeam, fiftyyards back from the fence, waiting for the children to arrive. ‘I thought perhaps Ita could do it.’

‘Afraid not,’ Blackmane said. ‘She’s away on a special assignment. But I’ll do it.’

---