Hunter by Joanna White

Author:Joanna White
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: action, medieval, prisoner, dystopian, sword sorcery, action fantasy
Publisher: Joanna White

CHAPTER 11

AVERELLA

It took several tries, but I finally forced my eyes open. I had been going in and out of consciousness for quite some time. When I finally woke up all the way, it was dark, and I was lying on the ground. The stars were bright overhead, and through the leaves of a tree above me, I could just barely see them twinkling. I was about to smile, but then the memories slammed into me of everything that had happened: the maze, getting caught, Hindah, the Hunters, Jared, the chains, being whipped, the flashes, and then Jared’s voice telling someone, “She’s a woman.”

That phrase echoed around in my head over and over again, until it became like a chant. It was a chant that I wanted to stop. I wanted to cover my ears and push it out of my mind.

“Averella?” a voice asked me. I glanced to my left to see Jared’s face looking down at my own.

I swallowed deeply and looked away from him, too ashamed to meet his gaze.

“Are you in any pain?” he murmured.

“Not—" I started, then broke off at hearing the sound of my voice. It was rough and hoarse; it sounded as if it had been scraped raw. “Not as bad as it was.”

He nodded. “We met up with Lehlax and Sine. He had medical supplies, but the Hunters were nearby. So, he and Sine ran off to lead them away from us. That gave me a chance to sew up your wounds. You had lost so much blood, you wouldn’t have lasted much longer.”

I nodded, but still refused to look into his eyes.

“Dal—" he started, then stopped and corrected himself. “Averella. Look at me.” He slipped his hand under my chin and slid it up to my right cheek and gently turned my face to look at him. I looked down at his chest. It was bare, and blood stained most of him, making me gasp.

He looked down and realized I had seen the blood on him. “Most of it is yours. I managed to sew up my shoulder.”

I nodded, still not meeting his eyes.

“Look at me.” His tone wasn’t demanding, though…far from it. It was calm, gentle…pleading.

I looked up and met his gaze, staring into his red-gold eyes. “You don’t have to be afraid of me. This doesn’t change anything. You’re still a prisoner running for your life.”

Something about his tone, the reassurance in his eyes, the sureness in his expression, or the firm set of his mouth, made me feel completely calm. Even though I was badly beaten, and we were on the run, I still felt relaxed, as if we would get through this. But…he had been there, he had seen the Hunters and how they had beaten me…

Shame made me look away from his reassuring gaze.

“Averella, you know I’d…. I’ve felt anger…and rage before…” He paused and swallowed deeply. He looked away from me, as if this time he couldn’t bear to look me in the eyes, instead of the other way around.

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