Vengeance (The Captive #6)(84)
Bursting free of the crumbling buildings, he ran with her across the snow to the entrance of the cave they’d come here through. He didn’t look back as he followed her into the crevice.
CHAPTER 28
Tempest led the way through the cave, running as fast as her legs would carry her. The damp, mildew scent of the rocks couldn’t drown out the aroma of the smoke and fire consuming her home. It wafted through the cave system and clung to their clothing, hair and skin. It would forever be burned into her nostrils, and she knew she would never forget the smell or erase the screams of the dying. Nor did she want to; she should always remember what she’d done.
She turned sideways and hurried through the rocks toward the exit of the cave. The coolness of the stones around her felt almost as good as cool water would have against her burned skin. Plunging into the lake right now sounded like a little bit of heaven, but so did getting out of here.
Ahead of her, William slowed as he approached the exit. If the rocks felt like heaven against her skin, she could only imagine what they felt like against the blisters and burns covering him. She wanted to grab hold of him and hug him close, to reassure herself he really was alive, but that would have to wait until they were free of these mountains. As soon as they were safe with his family, she intended to hold him for days on end.
William stuck his head out of the cave and looked both ways before stepping out. “Stay,” he whispered to her. She crept to the very edge and was about to walk out when he returned and took hold of her hand.
She stepped onto the ledge and moved over for the others to exit. Her gaze ran over William while she waited; she shuddered at the sight of him. His pants had been burned away nearly to his knees. Blisters were beginning to heal on his calves, but they were bright red and oozing still. One of his sleeves was completely gone, the other still intact. Blisters and burns marred his face, but like his legs, they were fading away. His broken nose had almost healed; only a large bruise across the bridge and a bump in the middle indicated it had been damaged. Two scratches on either side of his chin were still healing; she could see the muscle repairing itself.
“Where to next?” he inquired.
“Down the ledge,” she told him. “I’ll lead.”
“No,” he said and started down the ledge before she could protest.
“It ends abruptly!” she shouted into the wind at his back.
A firm squeeze of her hand was the only indication he’d heard her. She stared at the back of his head as they walked. The bottom of his hair had been singed; it wouldn’t repair itself, but at least it would grow back. The bow and quiver he’d reclaimed from where they’d hidden them away in the cave bounced against his back. He came to an abrupt halt when they arrived at the rock wall at the end of the ledge.
“We have to climb down!” she yelled to be heard over the wind whipping through the mountains and tearing at their hair and clothes. The villagers leaned forward to look over the ledge; two shook their heads and stepped away. “You either climb, or you go back and take your chances in the town!”
Their gazes darted between her and the steep cliffs; for a minute, she didn’t know what decision they would make, but they finally began to nod. “I’ll lead the way,” she said. “Follow where I put my hands and feet; keep your body close against the cliffs to avoid the wind pulling you free.”
She realized those hadn’t been the best choice of words, when all of them visibly paled. “You’ll be fine,” she assured them.
She bent down to grab hold of the wall, but William seized hold of her arm and dragged her up against his solid chest. Before she knew what he intended, his hand snaked into her hair; he pulled her head back and took hold of her mouth with a passion that left her limp and shaking. His tongue swept in to taste her with a desperation she’d never felt from him before. She clutched his arms as he made love to her mouth with deep, penetrating thrusts of his tongue.
Pulling away, his forehead rested against hers; his mouth hovered inches away from hers. “You should have listened to me, but thanks for saving my life.”
“I did listen to you,” she replied with a smile. “I kept my promise. I sent Pallas on with your patch and your message for your sister. I couldn’t leave you behind, William. I simply couldn’t.”
His eyes searched hers before he bent and kissed her nose. “I would do the same for you. I would do anything for you.”
A thrill went through her at his words. She lifted her head to kiss him again. “We must go. I’d like to catch up to Pallas before they make it to the other side of the caves, in case they run into those things.”
“I’ll be right beside you; let me get off the wall before you.”
He stepped back as she turned to the wall once more. Going on years of practice, and her drive to be free of this place, she lowered herself over the edge and began to climb down. Behind her, she heard the shuffle and the muttered words of the villagers as they followed. Halfway down the wall, she glanced up to see the line of villagers following her like ants at a picnic.
She turned her attention back to the climb down. Her arms and legs quivered with exhaustion; her fingers hurt from gripping the wall so tight. Her hair, torn free from the hood that had been knocked back from her face, whipped in the wind. The strands of it beating against her frozen cheeks stung, but she continued stalwartly on toward the next ledge.