Page 115 of The Incendiary

It was going to be nearly impossible to keep her, but I was going to find a way.

“I swear,” I whispered, “that you will never need to know a world without me.” I saw the fear in her eyes and doubled down. “Understood?” I swiped a tear off her cheek. She nodded, but I could tell by the way her eyes wavered that she wasn’t convinced. “It’s going to be all right,” I promised her. “We’ll figure this out. I’ve got you.”

She choked out, “Thank you.”

“Always,” I answered. We held each other in contented silence until her stomach growled so loudly, I worried that Simeon would be able to track her down from that alone. “All right,” I chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to both of her cheeks before standing. “Time to eat.”

She tried to pull me back into bed. “Wait, it’s morning, and we haven’t even⁠—”

“You need to eat,” I urged. “And our firewood is running low. Believe me, Ella, I would happily spend the entire day with my cock or my tongue inside you, but I’m not letting you wither away in my care.” She watched me contentedly as I got dressed. Absent-mindedly, I rubbed my stubbled chin while sliding my boots on. “And I should probably shave.”

“Hmm, I don’t know.” She grinned sweetly. I watched as she tucked her knees into her chest and rested her chin on top of them. “I think I like the beard.”

I chuckled and unfastened the cabin’s deadbolt. “All right. We’ll see.”

“Gavin,” she called as I started to depart. I looked back to see her beautiful smile. “I love you.”

“I love you,” I answered. Before turning my back to her and closing the door, I gave her one last promise. The one I would keep above all else. “Whatever it takes.”

THIRTY-ONE

GAVIN SMYTH

I wish there was some way to know that you’re okay. Something feels… wrong.

—UNSENT CORRESPONDENCE FROM QUEEN ARYELLA I TO THE BUTCHER OF NYRIDA

2nd of Effusia, 402 Years Ago, One Hour Later

During my hunt, I couldn’t stop thinking about all the places I wanted to take her, many of which I hadn’t yet been. Once we were free, the options were endless. I’d heard of a seaside haven on the western side of the continent called Peradine where lovers spent their days in the water beneath the sun and nights entwined in each other’s arms. Much like we were doing now at night, only warmer. I would ensure we were somewhere secluded, where no one else could see her fall apart when she came or hear her scream my name. Or I would just kill anyone that saw.

She was for me and me alone. I still couldn’t believe I was the one privileged enough to love her for the rest of my life.

When I lowered the firewood from one arm and opened our door, I laughed, because the first thing I smelled was rich green tea.

“So, you did get out of bed, then?” I kicked off my boots and dropped a large, dead hare on the table to prepare. “I know you prefer I do this outside, but you’ll need to learn…”

My words trailed off as I glanced around and found our home empty.

“Ella?” I called, panic threatening to take me over. But I got ahold of myself, chuckled and shook my head, immediately denying where my mind went. I moved to the small bathroom. The door was closed. She had to be taking a bath. I wished she’d waited for me to warm the water and fill the tub for her. She always insisted she could do it herself, and she could. That wasn’t the point. I loved doing things for her.

“Ella?” I knocked on the door three times, frowning at her lack of response. “Do you want me to come in?” If she wanted privacy, she knew she could tell me. I was aware that I could be a little overbearing.

When I pushed open the bathroom door, Shera, Aryella’s little gray cat, sprinted straight out and beelined for the front door. She scratched frantically at the wood and mewled.

“Why were you locked in there, girl?” Aryella always gave that cat the run of the place.

A high-pitched whistling sound drew my eyes toward the stove. The water for Ella’s tea was boiling over.

“Shit!” I grabbed the teakettle and tossed it in the washbasin to the left. Maybe she went for a walk? Though she knew not to venture outside without me, just in case.

I cursed under my breath and moved for the door, but something in my periphery stopped me. A small, folded note on the same table where she and I had eaten, laughed, and drank the previous night before falling into bed together.

Next to the note was her wedding ring.

“Aryella?” I croaked, swallowing down bile. “Ella?”

She wasn’t inside the house. I don’t know why I kept saying her name, but I did.