The Ruthless Ring by Jessica Kemery

Author:Jessica Kemery [Kemery, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hot Mess Express Publishing
Published: 2023-10-15T16:00:00+00:00

A few hours later, he was snoring next to her softly, his face peaceful on the pillow. She untangled herself from his grasp without waking him up and padded quietly across his room, naked. The moonlight lit up her terrible scar, and she looked out of the small window onto the stronghold walls.

She was glad she didn’t have duty tonight, although she would have to be very stealthy coming back to her barracks. The other women would ask questions.

With shaking hands, she pulled up her clothes from the floor and got dressed.

“What have you done?” she asked herself. “That was a terrible idea. I really just came here to talk.” She shook her head. Whatever spell had taken hold of her was broken, and now she was just filled with fear.

Carrying boots in her hands, she made her way through the dark stronghold. She encountered no one, thankfully, and slipped into the mess hall. The fires were banked, and only darkness greeted her. She slipped out the back door that led into the courtyard, jumping at the soft hoot of an owl. But she thought she had evaded getting caught as she opened the door to the barracks. But she saw Leo sitting up in his bunk in the dark. He turned toward her, his mouth in a frown. He slipped out of bed soundlessly and met her at the door.

“Where have you been?” he whispered as the other soldiers of Company Six slept around them. Leo was angry; his cheeks flushed, with dark circles under his eyes.

She avoided his eyes and tried to step past him. “I went to talk to Jord,” she explained simply.

A pained looked came to his face. He must know what she had done. He knew her shameful secrets. Leo reached out and touched her neck. A mark on her collarbone was the evidence of her sin. She dropped her chin and moved away from his touch.

“That looks like more than talking,” Leo said, a deep sadness coming into his voice.

Rae clamped her hand over her neck in embarrassment. Avoiding his eyes, she stepped around him, moving through the darkness to her bunk.

Curling up under the scratchy wool blanket, she took stock. There would be questions to answer from the others tomorrow. Maybe she could ask Corra for advice. Her friend had more lovers than Rae could keep straight and would keep her confidence. What she was more worried about was getting with child. That would be a disaster, but Corra had tansy tea and would be happy to share.

Tomorrow, she would wear her cloak. It would cover her neck, but that didn’t solve her problem with Jord or Leo. Rae was ashamed of herself for getting involved with Jord. That is not what she intended when she went to his room. Going forward, things between them would be different.

With a sigh, she turned over and tried to shut her mind off, but all she succeeded in doing was catching Leo's eye again. Of course, he was still awake.

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