Flaw laughed. “Tension in paradise, huh?”
Growling under his breath, Jethro changed the subject. “Did you manage to catch him okay?”
Flaw grinned, his strong jaw shaded in dark stubble. “Bit of a bugger to start with but nothing a handful of oats couldn’t overcome.” Pointing at the bags, he added, “Medical supplies in that one. Along with water and food enough for a week. Clothing, tent, and survival stuff in that one. I doubt you’ll want to make a fire in case they see the plume, so I brought a gas heater to cook on and to keep you warm, along with an electric blanket that’s solar-powered.”
My eyes widened. “Wait, why does he need all that?”
Jethro turned to me. “Because you might be going back into the Hall alone, but I made a promise that I’d never leave you again.” He took my hand, guiding me away from Flaw and outside where the moon drenched the forecourt. Before it’d been empty and silent. Now Wings stood patiently, saddled and bridled, his back hoof cocked with boredom.
Seeing the black beast caused hope to explode all over again.
I whirled in Jethro’s arms. “You’re staying close by?”
“Staying on the grounds. Yes.” Pulling out a silver phone, his eyes darkened. “I’ll send you messages. I sent you a couple yesterday that you didn’t reply to. Did they take your phone away?”
No, I was just trapped in the Heretic’s Fork and tormented.
I shook my head. “I haven’t checked it. I keep it hidden—just in case.”
“You have to stay in constant contact now,” he growled. I need to know where you are, that you’re okay. Otherwise, I’ll lose my fucking mind.”
My heart reacted like a love-struck teenager. “I must admit, I’m very impressed you remembered my number.”
Jethro smirked, the first lighthearted reaction since he’d returned. “I haven’t forgotten anything about you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I suppose that’s only fair seeing as I remember your number, too. I used to repeat it over and over again as I fell asleep.” The seemingly normal part of dating, of secret messaging, and the delicious joy of finding that the person you were in love with felt the same way glowed inside.
He truly does love me.
It wasn’t a projection of my love. Not a mirror or mirage.
It’s true.
I’d never been more thankful.
He stepped closer, eyes hooded. “I can recite everything about you. If someone asked me how you tasted, I’d have the perfect description. If someone ordered me to list every freckle, I’d have the exact number. And if anyone wanted to know how brilliantly perfect you are—or hear about any of your accomplishments—I’d be able to regale them for hours.” He wrapped his arms around me. “I’ll never forget anything because it’s the little things that make you real.”
Flaw chuckled. “Good God, man, you have no shame.”
I wanted him to bugger off. My heart disintegrated and my core clenched to have Jethro inside me again. I was wet, wanting.
Jethro laughed. “I’m not embarrassed to be honest for the first time in my life. This woman is mine. I love her, and I don’t fucking care who knows it.”
I blushed. My soul ached at the thought of him leaving. He couldn’t leave me. Not now. Not now we’d been honest and finally talked outside of debts and pain. “Don’t go…we can work out something else. Stay…please.”
Jethro’s smile fell, sadness cloaking him. “I have to. Another day or so and then we’ll be safe to do whatever we want, go wherever we please.” Taking my hands, he squeezed tightly. “Go now, Nila. I need you to return.” Looking over his shoulder, he held out his hand.
Flaw came forward and dropped the key into his palm.
Jethro gave it to me. “On second thought, it might be best if you go on your own. Tell them Jasmine gave you the key because she often has tasks for you outside the realm of Cut’s requirements.” His voice cracked with frustration. “I wish to God I didn’t have to make you do this. But I promise it will all be over soon.”
Flaw muttered, “Cut’s been pretty fucking happy the past couple of weeks. Been a lot more lenient with the Black Diamond brothers. Doubt he’ll cause any trouble for the next two days.”
Jethro sneered, “I guess killing his troublemaking sons makes everything hunky-fucking-dory in his world.” Kissing me one last time, he urged me toward the Hall. “Go now. I’ll message you when everything is in place and tell you where to go.”
I opened my mouth to argue—to demand he keep me with him. Wherever he was going, I deserved to be by his side. “Jethro—”
I don’t think I can do this...
He groaned, yanking me back to him. “God, I’ll miss you.” His mouth slammed on mine, kissing me roughly. As sudden as he claimed me, he relinquished me. “Leave. I love you.”
As much as I wanted to argue, the desperation in his gaze forced me to obey.
I had no other option.
I’m strong enough to do this.
He would keep me safe.
I trust him.
To prove that I did, I turned my back on him and returned alone to Hawksridge Hall.
I didn’t look back.
I should’ve looked back.
I did as he asked.
I shouldn’t have done what he asked.
I climbed the small hill and turned to hell.
Dawn did its best to push aside the moon; the ground glittered with blades of frost. My heart was a lump of snow by the time I ascended the front entrance.
It was the hardest thing to ask of me—to willingly go back.
I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to forgive him if he betrayed my trust.
If something happens…
I shook my head.
Nothing will happen.
Two days…it’s nothing.
Pausing on the stoop of the Hall, I glanced fleetingly behind me.
There, on the horizon, was the faint outline of a black horse and its rider disappearing into the woods.
Jethro was gone.
I should never have let him go.
I should’ve run in the opposite direction.
I obeyed because I trusted him.
I should never have trusted him.
Unfortunately, I was right.
Two days was too long.
In two days, my world would end.
MY NEW HOME.
For the next thirty or so hours.
I surveyed my camp. Wings stood tethered to a tree and my tent stood sentry in the small glen. It’d taken an hour or so to set up—it would’ve been less if my body wasn’t low on fuel and the pain from my wound hadn’t decided to make itself known.
Payback for ignoring the warning signs while proving to Nila that I was strong and capable and deserving of her trust.
Louille would have a fucking fit if he knew what I’d done only hours after checking myself out from the hospital.
I swore under my breath, prodding the fresh blood stain on my side. The stitches had done their job and knitted me together, but at the very edge the skin had torn slightly. A throb resonated from rib to lung.
Oh, well. It was a good test to judge what I’m able to do.
Not to mention, I would do it all over again even if my side burst open mid-thrust. Nila consumed my every thought, my every sense. I’d only been away from her for sixty minutes, yet I missed her as if it’d been sixty years.
Opening the front zipper on the duffel, I pulled out some extra strength painkillers. Popping a few, I swallowed them dry and returned to securing the last peg of the tent.
I didn’t know why I bothered. I wouldn’t sleep. I could never rest knowing Nila was in the Hall being mentally and physically tortured.
How fucking dare they use the Heretic’s Fork and cut off her hair? How dare they fucking think they had that right?
Insane, the lot of them.
If I was stronger and had better odds, I would’ve stormed Hawksridge tonight and slaughtered my father in his bed. But he had the Black Diamonds on his side. He had an army where I did not.
I wouldn’t kill myself by being stupid.
I’d been stupid for long enough already.
I was home.
This was my empire, and I’d had enough of my family’s madness.
Throwing the smaller duffel inside the tent, I crawled in after it. This campsite wasn’t a stranger to me. I’d spent many nights huddled in the glen away from the Hall—away from screaming tempers, guilt-infested excuses, and anger-laden requirements.
When Cut tossed me out to make it to the boundary in the dead of winter, I wouldn’t have survived if I hadn’t already self-taught how to build shelter, hunt, and navigate. I liked my little sanctuary. If I’d had the strength to climb, I could’ve forgone the flimsy tent and scaled the boughs of an ancient oak tree where I’d built a tree fort in my youth.
I used to take Kes and Jaz there before we were old enough to know our duties.
Before life ruined us.
It was barely sunrise, but by tomorrow morning, I hoped to change the future of Hawksridge. I wouldn’t just have the glen for peace and safety; I’d have the entire estate.
I’d finally have what was mine.
No waiting for my thirtieth. No obeying a psychopath.
Not anymore.
Twenty-four hours to put into place the rest of my life.
Another few hours to implement it.