Page 161 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

“Don’t go anywhere,” Baylis said, fastening my shackles to an O-ring hook before hopping out of the back of the cart.

I rolled my eyes.

“Alwin, start a fire,” she commanded the mercenary who was twice her size.

“You know, you don’t hold my contract. The mage does. So, if I were you, I’d cool it with the orders,” he said.

I peered out over the cart’s edge just in time to see my sister nock her bow.

“I am betrothed to the king of the Highlands, Midlands, and soon to be…”

A ringing in my ears drowned out her next words, but I heard enough to know Gideon was on the move. He was up to something. But how would he conquer anyone without the full strength of his army?

My head ached, and I tightened my jaw to try and numb the pain. Had they given me something to knock me out, or was this just a side effect of being shot in the back by an iron arrow?

I laid back down in the bed of the cart. There was little else I could do with my arms and legs locked tight.

The wind howled overhead. I looked to the stars and thought of Tharan. Was he looking at the stars as well? Was he wondering where I was? Did he even know I was missing? Surely, Amolie had sent a raven or told Roderick by now. But would they know where to look? I had made so many enemies. Anyone could have taken me. Would they think of Gideon and Erissa first, or would they look to the sea queen? At least I had enough foresight not to bring the Scepter of the Dead with me.

My breath turned to vapor in the cool night air. I imagined Tharan’s arms wrapped around me. Would I ever see him again?My heart sank. I should have told him how I felt. I should have told him how much I loved him. Why did I have to be so afraid of a good thing? Why couldn’t I accept the love I knew I deserved?

None of these thoughts mattered now. Tharan would kill Baylis and this mercenary without another thought. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. My sister had betrayed me, but I hoped she was still in there somewhere.

I should have listened to my instincts and kept a better watch on her. The time for regrets was over. I had to move forward. She was Gideon’s creature now, and I had to accept that. My thoughts drifted to my horse, Adion. I would likely never see him again—never feel his soft fur beneath my fingers—never feel the wind on my face as we raced through an open field. Would he wonder where I’ve gone? Would he think I’ve abandoned him? My heart clenched in my chest, and I smothered a sob.

From where I lay, I could see the golden hue of fire licking the trees. There would be no warmth for me.

Baylis returned.

“Here,” she said. “Three rabbits. Cook them up, and I’ll get some water for Aelia.” My name sounded foreign on her tongue.

A few minutes later, she returned. The smell of roasting meat wafted through the air. Holding a sack of water in one hand and a roasted rabbit in another, she jumped into the back of the cart.

“Can’t have you dying on us now. Erissa will be pissed, and we both know it’s better to be on her good side.”

She pulled me up into a sitting position. It took everything I had in me not to scream in pain. A heat radiated from where she’d shot me, bringing tears to my eyes.

With her delicate fingers, she stripped the meat from the bones. “Open up.”

Despite my growling stomach, I shut my mouth tightly.

Her brows knitted.

“Now, Aelia, don’t be stubborn. If you want to heal, you need to eat.”

She was right. Without sustenance, it would take longer for me to heal, which meant more time in this sustained state of agony. Reluctantly, I opened my mouth, and she placed a piece of the rabbit on my tongue. I considered biting off another one of her fingers so she couldn’t hold a bow but thought better of it. I needed to appeal to my old sister. The one I knew. Going tit-for-tat on who could inflict more pain on the other would get us both maimed or killed.

The meat tasted rough and gamey in my mouth, but I was starving, so I ate every bite.

“Good,” Baylis said, uncorking the water sack and holding it to my lips. “Drink.”

I did as I was told, guzzling down the water as if I had been wandering in the desert for ages.

“Get some rest. We’re heading out in the morning.”

I didn’t say anything, just nodded. The perverse part of me wanted to know their plan—to see where this was all going.

Baylis covered me with my cloak before jumping out of the cart.

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