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Back Sea of Shadows
Chapters (61)
  1. Dedication
  2. Prologue
  3. Ashyn: One
  4. Two
  5. Three
  6. Four
  7. Five
  8. Six
  9. Seven
  10. Eight
  11. Moria: Nine
  12. Ten
  13. Eleven
  14. Twelve
  15. Thirteen
  16. Ashyn: Fourteen
  17. Fifteen
  18. Sixteen
  19. Moria: Seventeen
  20. Eighteen
  21. Nineteen
  22. Twenty
  23. Twenty-one
  24. Twenty-two
  25. Ashyn: Twenty-three
  26. Twenty-four
  27. Twenty-five
  28. Twenty-six
  29. Twenty-seven
  30. Twenty-eight
  31. Twenty-nine
  32. Thirty
  33. Moria: Thirty-one
  34. Thirty-two
  35. Thirty-three
  36. Thirty-four
  37. Thirty-five
  38. Thirty-six
  39. Thirty-seven
  40. Ashyn: Thirty-eight
  41. Thirty-nine
  42. Forty
  43. Forty-one
  44. Forty-two
  45. Forty-three
  46. Forty-four
  47. Forty-five
  48. Forty-six
  49. Forty-seven
  50. Forty-eight
  51. Forty-nine
  52. Moria: Fifty
  53. Fifty-one
  54. Fifty-two
  55. Fifty-three
  56. Fifty-four
  57. Fifty-five
  58. About the Author
  59. Back Ad
  60. Credits
  61. About the Publisher

Her hand shot down and hit the folds of her cloak. Yes, she had her dagger—uselessly hidden under her cloak.

Her hands flew up to ward off the scorpion. It struck her, knocking her off balance, its armored body ice-cold against her fingers, and then—

It gave an earsplitting shriek. A spray of something cold and wet hit her. Venom. It wasn’t simply going to sting her. It had sprayed her with—

Fingers wrapped around her arm and hauled her upright before she hit the ground.

“Where in blazes is your dagger?” a voice said, sharp with irritation.

She looked up to see a dirt-smeared face and blazing brown eyes. Ronan.

She stared at him, then down at the scorpion. It was cut in half, still twitching on the rock. She stared at it and felt not relief but shame. She was armed with a dagger and hadn’t even had the sense to draw it when walking into the Wastes at night. She might be her sister’s wombmate, but clearly they shared little beneath their outward appearance. That’s what he must be thinking.

Moria would have huffed that she’d been relieving herself, which did not usually involve being attacked by giant scorpions. Ashyn said, “You’re right. I ought to have had my blade out.”

“Yes, you should have. And your hound ought to be at your side, not lying ten paces away like a stubborn mule.”

Tova whined and moved closer to Ashyn, butting his head under her hand.

Ronan sighed. “You need to be more careful, Ashyn, but I lay most of the blame at the feet of that guard who accompanies you. I’m starting to wonder if he’s a farmer who stole the sword and boots. He ought to be arranging a nightly watch schedule and choosing safer campsites, preferably ones with a pissing spot nearby.”

“A guard isn’t expected to lead. I’ll help him.”

Ronan motioned her away from the rocky outcropping. “You’ve been through a great tragedy, and I ought not to have left. That shames me, Ashyn, but I hope to make up for it now.” He looked into her eyes. “I was worried about you.”

She blushed. “I understand why you—”

“No, there was no excuse. I told myself I was doing the right thing, going ahead to send help back, but you needed me. I failed you. I have barely slept these last three nights, thinking of what I’d done.” Another look, deep into her eyes. “Thinking of you.”