Page 156 of Betrayal and Vows

The stars wheel overhead, and somewhere in their cold light, I make a silent vow. Whatever happens when we reach Spain, whatever I have to do to end this war with Vadim and Mikhail, I will make sure she gets the life she deserves.

Even if I'm not in it.

Morning comes too soon, gray and cold. Lena stirs against me, her eyes fluttering open to meet mine.

"Ready for day two?" I ask, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

She stretches like a cat, wincing slightly as her healing arm protests. "With you? I'm ready for anything."

If only that were true.

The second day hits harder.

The incline is steeper. The weather colder. My muscles ache like I’ve been in a fistfight with the whole damn mountain.

It rains off and on, making the trek miserable.

Lena trips twice. The second time she hits her knee and curses so loudly I’m sure the entire mountain heard her.

“Let me help you.”

“I’ve got it.” She slaps my hand away, her frustration evident.

It feels like we are walking a knife’s edge. There are cliffs on one side, snow-covered forest on the other. I see hawks in the distance. This terrain is unforgiving.

It’s why it’s our safest option. Vadim’s men are not going to be out here. No one is going to believe we would ever dare this journey on foot.

Lena keeps pace, but I see her wincing. Her knee’s swelling. I make her stop and pull out the med kit. She grumbles but lets me wrap it.

"This is so romantic," she says. "Snot, blisters, altitude sickness. Really gets the blood pumping."

“I’d fuck you any which way.”

She snorts. And then laughs.

That was the goal with my crude comment.

We press on.

Late afternoon, clouds roll in. It’s too risky to continue in the rain. I find a cave of sorts. It’s not deep but it will keep the rain off us. The fire won’t catch. We’re freezing. There’s no tent, no shelter but stone and body heat.

I pull her against me.

“Do you regret meeting me?” she asks.

“Nope. Not even a little.”

“Fate put us in each other’s paths.”

“I believe that,” I agree. “I believe our mothers knew long before we were ever born.”

We snuggle together all night. I can feel my body draining, but I know I’ll make it.

I have to.

There is no other option.

The last day is the worst.