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For the next thirty or so hours

I surveyed s stood tethered to a tree and len 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 noring 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 knehat I’d done only hours after checking myself out fro the fresh blood stain on ether, but at the very edge the skin had torn slightly A throb resonated froe what I’ain even if ht, my every sense I’d only been away from her for sixty minutes, yet Ithe front zipper on the duffel, I pulled out so a few, I sed the of the tent

I didn’t knohy I bothered I wouldn’t sleep I could never rest knowing Nila was in the Hall beingdare they use the Heretic’s Fork and cut off her hair? How dare they fucking think they had that right?

Insane, the lot of theer and had better odds, I would’ve storhtered my father in his bed But he had the Black Diamonds on his side He had an ar stupid

I’d been stupid for long enough already

I was hoh ofthe smaller duffel inside the tent, I crawled in after it This cahts huddled in the glen away frouilt-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 th to clihs of an ancient oak tree where I’d built a tree fort in my youth

I used to take Kes and Jaz there before ere old enough to know our duties

Before life ruined us

It was barely sunrise, but by toe I wouldn’t just have the glen for peace and safety; I’d have the entire estate

I’d finally have asa psychopath

Not anymore

Twenty-four hours to put into place the rest of my life

Another few hours to implement it

I’d told Nila two days I would stick to that pro a deep breath, I hoisted h for edawn

Goosebuiven me at the hospital Winter had well and truly taken hold, determined to remind me that once upon a ti its ice and doing my best to freeze out other emotions

It was like an old friend, a new ene the small electric heater stuffed into the bottoenerator and placed it by my feet My body didn’t have the reserves it needed to keep war hts drifted to Nila

Had she arrived at her quarters safely? Was she warers inside her,hts away My cock was far too eager to attempt a third time

It didn’t work

Nila’s moans echoed in my mind Her voice vibrated in my ears as she admitted she loved me