Page 128 of A Rising Hope

“Death would be cheating. What I have planned for you is so much worse,” she whispered back, keeping her sight on the Ten.

“I am prepared. So do your worst, Daughter of the Dead,” I challenged.

“I intend to.”

“I shall wait impatiently,” I murmured, fighting my smile. She sent me a quick, toying look before returning to the group, her teeth scraping the bottom of her lip, fighting and failing at hiding her content grin.

The little wildfire that I now had the honor of calling my wife possessed such a fucking hold on me and she knew it too. All it took from her was a small taunting glance, and I’d crawl on my knees begging for more.

Most of the women in the group pulled their cloaks on. Some purposefully left them off, blending into a small group of townswomen. No different from so many that had flocked to the city walls in the past weeks looking for refuge.

“Time to head out, my gorgeous companions,” Florian’s voice sounded as the Ten, accompanied by Priya, Xentar and Finnleah, turned to follow him.

“A part of me thinks he set up this plan so he’d get all the women to himself,” I grumbled to Orest silently standing to my side, just as tense and watchful.

“Or perhaps he wanted some alone time with me,” Xentar chuckled near him, adjusting his golden tunic.

“Let’s go, Freckles,” Priya ordered—the last one still waiting— as the women trailed down the narrow path to the hidden tunnel opening in the field owned by the Casteols.

Finnleah tied her shoelaces, jumping up to her feet a moment later, but before heading out, she turned to me, her emerald eyes sparkling, reflecting the peeking rays of the morning sun.

“See you on the other side, my dear Emperor.” She blew me a kiss.

“Don’t fucking say that to me before heading out,” I said, suffocating the rising worry that burrowed in my heart.

She was going behind the city walls, away from me.

Fucking again, and though we spent the night discussing every possibility and every outcome, I still had to force myself to let the righteous wrath calm within me, as my instincts screamed to just take her away and never let her out of my sight.

“I meant on the other side of thewall, Gideon.” She rolled her eyes, surely enjoying the ache that gnawed on me as I watched her leave. She twisted on her heels, taking a step towards Priya, the only one remaining from the quickly departing disguised warriors. But before she could take another step, I grabbed her wrist, pulling her body flush against mine before pressing a passionate kiss onto her mouth, my hand on her neck angling her head just right.

“No fucking heroics, Finnleah,” I murmured against her mouth, her taste still sweet on my lips. My eyes darted between hers, looking for any inclination of hesitation, of fear or concern. Any hint and I’d keep her. I’d burn the entire city down, but I wouldn’t let her go. But where I looked for fear, she was filled with determination, with righteous indignation and complete and utter tenacity and courage.

“I’ll try my best,” she joked, rising to her toes before landing a small peck on my cheek.

“Promise?” I didn’t let go of her wrist, even as she took a step away from me.

“Someone stab me right now, because if those two keep talking, I’ll start stabbing first,” Priya hissed, but I ignored her.

“I don’t do those anymore, Emperor,” she loudly proclaimed, pausing for a moment before softly adding, “But for you, Gideon, I will.” Her words settled the anxious worry within me. She patted me on my hand, and I let go of hers.

“If she so much as gets a fucking scrape . . . ” I shot a warning look at Priya.

“I kept her alive when she was escapingyouand I’ll keep her safe now too. Something you are clearly incapable of doing.” Priya’s poisonous truth made its mark, and she knew it too, not hiding a content smirk.

“Priya will need to be fucking dealt with.” Orest’s lip curled. Finnleah surged ahead to catch up with the group and Priya followed, though refusing to run. We watched their figures disappear.

“Already asked. Finnleah denied my request.” I released a slow, calculating breath.

“Since when doyouhave to put in requests to deal with Truth Tellers?” Orest’s face flashed with short-lived amusement at my words.

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“Since the woman that you now call Empress stole my heart, enslaved all of my thoughts so that I am not so much as capable of breathing without her glance of approval, much less murdering the questionable people she considers friends.”

“You are turning soft, Gideon.” Orest shook his head, letting a tight smirk paint his lips.

“Believe me, I know. At some point, I gladly accepted that I’d much rather be a clown making her laugh than fight any fucking wars.” We turned, trailing back to the camp. “I am jealous of afucking cat, Orest. Probably going to find one once we breach the city walls. So if you see one, grab it.”

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