“Stop that,” I say. “You don’t need to do that again. Not for you, and not for me. You are your own person now.”
“I thought I belonged to you because of our matehood,” she replies.
My head throbs, and I wince. “You belong to me if you wish it. I will never force you.”
Her hands brush through my hair, but she is quiet.
“Thank you, Ra’Sa.”
“My brother was willing to do anything for others. I felt the need to watch over him, too. I hope, in time, you come to see what he never did,” I murmur against her lap.
She strokes my hair again. “And what would that be?”
“That you don’t have to carry everything alone. We are in this together.” The words slip from my lips, and my eyelids hang heavy. When I try to look up at her, she pushes my eyes closed.
"Rest," she says sternly.
My heart races, keeping me awake. I can’t leave her and can’t stay.
So I wait for her to sleep.
Once her body relaxes under me, I kiss her forehead, apply my glamour, and use what’s left of my strength to leap toward the wooden lid. Once out, I check for the sun on the horizon. I find the sky blotted with the inky moments before the dawn chases away all of the black.
The other guard never returned.
I let out a long sigh. It’s time to go and help the others.
I adjust my half-torn shirt and rush back to the slave barracks.
When I arrive, Abet is already awake, though he still lies on his bunk. His eyes narrow when he sees me, and I cast him a confused look before brushing my gaze over the men just starting to rise.
When I sit down, Abet makes a displeased sound in the back of his throat.
"Where were you?" he murmurs in the human tongue.
I look at him with my own narrowed eyes. "Why?"
Then he purses his lips. "Theywanted you at their meeting. They will be displeased that you didn't come."
Unease ripples up my back, but I don't say anything more. I’ll need to speak with Rodrigo. Surely, there will be another chance.
“What the hell happened to your shirt?” Abet continues.
I purse my lips. “Do you know where I can find another one?”
He sits up, nods, and grunts. “Fine. Let’s get moving.”
Chapter 30
MELISA
"He was here last night," a voice rumbles above me.
There are pains all over my body, but I grit my teeth and sit up. Ra'Sa is gone.
There's a sadness that accompanies that thought, but it’s overshadowed by a pain pounding in my head. It doesn't take long for a cramp to squeeze my lower belly. I groan just as another voice filters through the wooden trap door above.
"So what happened to him? You weren't rutting around last night, right?"