He reached up and stroked her hair. ‘I am sorry. I love you. Give me a chance to fix this.’

She turned away from his touch. He took her hands, surprisingly gentle now, and led her to the centre post. Her face collapsed when she realised what he was doing.

‘Shh,’ he said. ‘Please do not cry. It is only until I return.’ He proceeded to guide her hands to either side of the pole and then bound them together with his belt. Now she truly belonged in that camp. In moments, she had gone from straddling two worlds to feeling like a wastelander.

‘I will be back soon, I promise,’ he said, touching her reddened cheek. Then he turned and exited the tent.

She watched the flap of the tent fall back into place before sinking to the ground.

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

The defenders waited amid the tall conifers for Ita to return. She had needed to get Rabbit to a medic as quickly as possible, and since she was not permitted to reveal the location of their camp, she told them to wait for her there and she would return with the leader of the St Clare group. The defenders had some questions about the group’s plans to free the people in the camp.

Tatum was standing beside his horse, repeatedly throwing a rock into the air and catching it. Blackmane was leaning against a trunk, growing increasingly agitated. He had no idea whether Hodge was treating Isabel like a queen or completely losing his mind over what had transpired. ‘I shouldn’t have let her go with him.’

‘You didn’t have a choice.’

‘I should have kept her with me.’

‘And done what with her? You’re a defender of Chadora. She’s the woman Lord Hodge has selected to be his wife.’ Tatum threw the rock at Blackmane, who caught it. ‘Now, I’m the first to admit theirs isn’t the healthiest of relationships, but show me a noble match that is.’

Blackmane pushed off the tree, turning the rock in his hand. ‘She deserves better than him.’

‘I agree.’

‘She deserves to feel safe.’

‘Every woman does.’ Tatum watched him closely. ‘You’ve caught feelings for her. It’s natural to want to tear off the head of the man she shares a bed with.’

‘She doesn’t—’ He began pacing. ‘You lot always say I’m incapable of feelings.’

‘Well, clearly something’s changed. Maybe Lady Isabel was placed in your path to remind you that there is warmth outside the cold shell you’ve built around yourself.’

Blackmane pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘Or to torture me.’

Tatum studied him. ‘Did something happen between you two last night?’

‘No.’ Blackmane stilled, hesitated. ‘She was cold—’

‘Ah. And you warmed her up.’ Tatum smirked. ‘That’s rather intimate. Don’t you normally just bend your lovers over a bed and tell them not to look at you?’