Betrayal's Price (In Deception's Shadow Book 1) (31 page)

“It’s the mark,”
he said, his tone neither worried nor surprised.

“The one
denoting members of the Twelve?” she asked sleepily.

“Yes.” His
voice sounded stronger, renewed. “We’re healed, blessed by both the Great
Mother and the All Father.”

Ashayna stroked
her tattoo and marveled. “Does it mean we can go home?”

“Yes.”

Ashayna got to
her feet and mulled over his words for a moment while she arranged her blanket
into a dress. She didn’t want to think about the real world at the moment, not
when Sorntar’s scent still coated her like the finest perfume, but it didn’t
look like she had a choice in the matter. “What about the creature Dakdamon
created?”

He stood up and
stretched. “One problem at a time. The other members of the Twelve will find
their way to us.”

“What about
Lamarra?” she asked around the tight knot in her throat. “The Dead King still
has her.”

“We will find
her and together we will face what comes.”

“With Itharann’s
help?”

“Yes, the three
of us together,” Sorntar agreed, drawing her forward until Ashayna stood
looking up at him.

She studied his
face for some moments, then reached up to stroke his jaw, just to reassure
herself he was real. “There is something I’ve wanted to say to you for a long
time now—should have said before.”

He leaned into
her and rested his chin against the top of her head. “Some things don’t need to
be said. They are understood.”

“Yes, but it’s
still nice to hear it, I imagine.” She nipped his shoulder in a playful kiss. “Some
emotions are so powerful words can’t describe them. That is how it is for me. I
lack the words to even begin to convey how much I love you.”

“Ash. While you
might be lacking in words, your actions speak clearly.” He caressed her bare
arms, and then curving a wing around her shoulder, he tucked her against his
side. “And I plan for my actions to speak as clearly as yours, for the rest of
our lives. Hum, I think we need more practice.”

A chuckle
bubbled up within her. “First, I need to thank your god and goddess for
bringing us together.”

As she took in
the beauty of their quite glade, she sent a silent prayer to the gods. She
stayed like that, her body touching his, until the shadows stretched out long
behind them. And for the first time Ashayna could remember, she felt whole.

The
End

Thanks for giving
Betrayal’s Price
a
try. If you enjoyed the read, you may also like Herd Mistress, book two of my
In Deception’s Shadow series.

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Lisa
Blackwood grudgingly lives in a small town in Southern Ontario, though she
would much rather live deep in a dark forest, surrounded by majestic old-growth
trees. Since she cannot live her fantasy, she decided to write fantasy instead.
An abundance of pets, named after various Viking gods, helps to keep the
creativity flowing. Freya, her ever faithful and beloved hellhound, ensures
Lisa takes a break from the computer so they can rid the garden of cats with
delusions of conquest.

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find out more about me and what I'm up to come visit my website.

http://www.lisablackwood.com/

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