Leif carried me easily, striding in silence through the woods. His pace picked up to a trot when we came to a field. We traveled far beyond where I’d ever roamed. Sage and I had often talked about running away but had never gone much beyond the shack we’d made our hiding place.
The last light glimmered through the trees when the warrior set me down again. I watched him through the screen of my hair.
“Water?” He offered me a little waterskin tied to his belt.
I shook my head.
“More for me.” He drained the skin, his beautiful throat working as he swallowed.
When he moved to touch me, I flung myself back with enough violence to leave furrows on the ground.
“Shh, shh,” he soothed. “I’ll untie the gag.” He held his hands up as if trying to coax a wild creature. “Do I have your word you wi
