Page 164 of Upon Buried Embers
Calian and Kaldar.
“No, wait, please. I’m sorry!” My voice is frantic as I try to get them off of me.
They must be angry at me.
“Still.”
“I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.” My voice is hysterical. I don’t want to be in pain. “I’m sorry, please forgive me. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, please don’t hurt me please, please, please.”
“What the fuck.”
“I don’t know.”
I’m sobbing now, body shaking. Someone curses before the hands are removed and I’m on a lap.
“I’m… sor…sorry.” I hiccup.
“Hush, you haven’t done anything wrong.”
“No, no, please.”
“Elf, calm down.”
“I didn’t do anything, please, please, please.”
“Elf!”
“Whatever I did, I’ll make it better! Rohan, please.”
“Hey, it’s me, I’m here.” My face is pressed into a neck. “Shh. It’s just me.”
He’s here.
I deflate instantly, breathing in his scent. I hear someone cursing, but I huddle as close as I can to Rohan. He holds the back of my head, his other arm around me, safe. Warm.
“Rohan,” I whimper, and his fingers in my hair tighten for a moment.
“I’m here.”
I slowly relax, my fingers softening against his arms where they were digging in.
“You okay?” he asks, his breath against my ear.
His voice is gentle, like he’s trying not to spook me.
I nod against him.
“Look at me.” The order registers, and I pull my face away from Rohan’s neck and look up into dark eyes.
“I was trying to take the collar off.”
I still, hiccups coming from me as he wipes my tears with his thumbs.
“My axe will melt the metal, but I will not hurt you? Understand? I was hesitant to do it this way, but I’ll make sure it won’t touch you.”
“The collar?” I say, my hand coming up to feel it.
“You wanted it off, right?”
