Chapter 289
Chapter 289
“I need to gather some herbs from the forest.” I gestured vaguely in the direction of the trees beyond the camp. “For my pregnancy. There are certain plants that can help with nausea and fatigue. I know where to find them p>
Asher leaned back in his chair, studying me. “You want to leave the camp p>
“Just for a little while. And only with an escort.” I forced a sweet smile. “I promise I won’t run. I just… I need the herbs. They’ll help me feel better. And I could use the exercise p>
He was silent for a long moment. I held my breath, waiting. Finally, he nodded. “ Very well. But you must wear your ring, and you must stay within sight of your guard at all times. If you try to run, there will be consequences p>
“I understand.” I stepped forward and, before I could second-guess myself, leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you p>
Asher’s good eye widened. He reached up and touched the spot where my lips had been, and a slow smile spread across his face. “You’re welcome, poppet p>
An hour later, I was standing at the edge of the forest with my guard and a woven basket in my hands. The trees loomed overhead, their branches swaying in the breeze. I took a deep breath, savoring the scent of pine and earth. Freedom. The sensation bolstered me. I would get out of here soon. I was sure of it.
“Stay close,” the guard grunted.
“I will.” I stepped forward, scanning the underbrush for the plants I needed.
I found the first one almost immediately. Valerian root. It was growing in clusters near the base of a rotting log. I knelt and carefully dug up a few of the roots, shaking the dirt off before placing them in my basket.
The guard watched me but said nothing. I doubted he recognized any of the herbs.
Next, I found chamomile. That one was easy. It grew everywhere out here,
Then came the most important ingredient: passionflower, It took me a while to find it, but eventually, I spotted the distinctive purple blooms climbing up the trunk of a tree. I picked several of the flowers and tucked them carefully into my basket.
With these three ingredients, I could make a sleeping serum. Something strong enough to knock someone out for a few hours. I didn’t know how I would use it yet, but I knew I would figure it out. Maybe I could slip it into a guard’s drink. Or into
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Chapter 280
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Asher’s food. Anything to give me a window of opportunity to escape. Because no one was coming for me. I had come to terms with that by now.
I was just reaching for another passionflower when a loud, piercing alarm blared from the camp. The sound echoed through the trees and sent the birds scattering into the sky. My guard whirled around, his hand going to the knife at his belt.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
He didn’t answer. He just grabbed my arm and yanked me away from the tree. ” We’re going back. Now p>
“Wait, I’m not done p>
“I said now!” He dragged me through the forest, nails digging into the skin of my forearm. I clutched my basket to my chest and stumbled after him, struggling to keep up with his long strides.
The alarm was still blaring when we reached the camp. Rogues were running everywhere now. Somewhere in the center of the camp, I thought I saw smoke. But I couldn’t see exactly what was going on.
“What’s going on?” I asked again.
The guard shoved me toward my tent. “Inside. Now p>
“But p>
“Inside!” He pushed me through the flap with enough force to make me stumble. I caught myself on my table, hands biting against the wood, and whirled around. He had shut me inside, and I could see a wolf’s shadow standing directly next to the door.
For some reason, he wasn’t just keeping watch, but he had full-on shifted. And he wasn’t moving. I was trapped in here.
What was happening out there?
P
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