Read Online The Redwood Rebel (The Redwood War Book 1) by Lorna George - Free Book Online
Authors: Lorna George
Ads: Link
fell, probably lifeless, to the ground. Naomi felt nothing but a faint satisfaction that her aim was still good, and dropped the crossbow carelessly. There was a longbow and arrows slung across the waiting horse’s saddle, which she much preferred.
As she climbed up onto the horse, listening to the sounds of the shouting guards at the castle gate in the distance, she looked down at the shocked people. She could understand the fear in their eyes at her ruthless actions, but she had meant it when she called herself their vengeance. Those who had turned would learn soon that excuses and apologies weren’t ever going to absolve them. They were as much to blame for the suffering and decline of Ffion as Adrienne and Cygnus were. She had no mercy for them.
‘Go back to your homes,’ she repeated again, pulling the reins of her horse to begin her flight into the forest and out of Ffion. ‘And know that the one who calls herself Queen is on borrowed time.’
Not waiting for a response, she nudged the horse forwards and into a gallop. She was light and the horse was fast, leaving her confident that she could outstrip any pursuers to the city gates and lose them in the woods. Right now, all she could do for anyone, including herself, was get to Tsumetai and find refuge to recover and make plans.
Chapter Five
Something was wrong. Something aside from the raging hangover that was tearing his brain to pieces.
Arun tried to open his heavy, sleep-crusted eyes, but quickly shut them again as the blinding sunshine poured in, causing his head to pound painfully. After a moment of rubbing his face and attempting to sightlessly work out where he was, he tried again. Blinking and ignoring the throbbing of his head and his aching muscles, he pushed himself up into a sitting position. His mouth tasted like something had died in there and his stomach churned precariously as he tried to take stock of where he was.
He looked down at the woman sleeping next to him with a small frown. It was Adrienne, but somehow it felt wrong. Looking at her buxom form with confused eyes, he felt almost certain she had seemed a lot smaller in his arms the night before. She had been light and fragile, offering no difficulties whenever he had lifted her or supported her weight during their joining, but looking at her now, he was surprised. He didn't think her breasts had felt that large under his hands, her hips that wide....
'You like what you see?' She asked him, interrupting his thoughts.
His frown deepened at this; his mind still disjointed, befuddled by her voice. It was almost right, he was sure. It was so very close, but for some reason it sounded different than she had throughout the night before. She had spoken softly, but with a directness he’d silently approved of, and this new, false turn to her tone grated on his nerves.
His eyes once more ran the length of her body, even as she rolled onto her back to give him a better view. That movement on its own was enough make him seriously rethink his view of her last night. She had flinched when he touched her, as though nervous that he might inflict pain. This sudden confidence in her wasn’t unattractive, but it was unexpected. It was definitely uncharacteristic of her behaviour the night before.
Her white skin was flawless and smooth, which gave him more pause for thought. She had been scarred, he was sure of it. Nothing horrific, but enough for him to wonder how on Ilios she had managed such a scattering of them. He was also sure that she would be marked, even lightly, from his unexpected passion for her. She had responded to his touch as though it surprised her to find she liked it, and her soft whimpers and gasps had touched something in his soul. The way she had clung almost desperately to him, had breathed his name, the silent tears she had shed when he had taken her the first time. The way her own soul rushed up to greet his when he cast the Bond spell, firm and unafraid, had
As she climbed up onto the horse, listening to the sounds of the shouting guards at the castle gate in the distance, she looked down at the shocked people. She could understand the fear in their eyes at her ruthless actions, but she had meant it when she called herself their vengeance. Those who had turned would learn soon that excuses and apologies weren’t ever going to absolve them. They were as much to blame for the suffering and decline of Ffion as Adrienne and Cygnus were. She had no mercy for them.
‘Go back to your homes,’ she repeated again, pulling the reins of her horse to begin her flight into the forest and out of Ffion. ‘And know that the one who calls herself Queen is on borrowed time.’
Not waiting for a response, she nudged the horse forwards and into a gallop. She was light and the horse was fast, leaving her confident that she could outstrip any pursuers to the city gates and lose them in the woods. Right now, all she could do for anyone, including herself, was get to Tsumetai and find refuge to recover and make plans.
Chapter Five
Something was wrong. Something aside from the raging hangover that was tearing his brain to pieces.
Arun tried to open his heavy, sleep-crusted eyes, but quickly shut them again as the blinding sunshine poured in, causing his head to pound painfully. After a moment of rubbing his face and attempting to sightlessly work out where he was, he tried again. Blinking and ignoring the throbbing of his head and his aching muscles, he pushed himself up into a sitting position. His mouth tasted like something had died in there and his stomach churned precariously as he tried to take stock of where he was.
He looked down at the woman sleeping next to him with a small frown. It was Adrienne, but somehow it felt wrong. Looking at her buxom form with confused eyes, he felt almost certain she had seemed a lot smaller in his arms the night before. She had been light and fragile, offering no difficulties whenever he had lifted her or supported her weight during their joining, but looking at her now, he was surprised. He didn't think her breasts had felt that large under his hands, her hips that wide....
'You like what you see?' She asked him, interrupting his thoughts.
His frown deepened at this; his mind still disjointed, befuddled by her voice. It was almost right, he was sure. It was so very close, but for some reason it sounded different than she had throughout the night before. She had spoken softly, but with a directness he’d silently approved of, and this new, false turn to her tone grated on his nerves.
His eyes once more ran the length of her body, even as she rolled onto her back to give him a better view. That movement on its own was enough make him seriously rethink his view of her last night. She had flinched when he touched her, as though nervous that he might inflict pain. This sudden confidence in her wasn’t unattractive, but it was unexpected. It was definitely uncharacteristic of her behaviour the night before.
Her white skin was flawless and smooth, which gave him more pause for thought. She had been scarred, he was sure of it. Nothing horrific, but enough for him to wonder how on Ilios she had managed such a scattering of them. He was also sure that she would be marked, even lightly, from his unexpected passion for her. She had responded to his touch as though it surprised her to find she liked it, and her soft whimpers and gasps had touched something in his soul. The way she had clung almost desperately to him, had breathed his name, the silent tears she had shed when he had taken her the first time. The way her own soul rushed up to greet his when he cast the Bond spell, firm and unafraid, had
Similar Books
