Salina's cries are behind us as Dramon carries me outside. I look up at his strong jaw. It's locked tight. He sets me down and shamelessly stares. The sexual tension has not disintegrated at all. Even with the despair of a woman in the distance, Dramon and I want to shut the world down and drown in each other until this fire goes out.

I lock my thighs tight, because that's all I can do.

"She shouldn't have followed me here," he finally breaks the silence.

I don't think she'll come back after that embarrassment I shoved down her throat.

Dramon kneels beside me and takes my leg. He bends it, and I watch him work it gently. My fists don't clench this time. Maybe because of the orgasm he rocked through me, or because I'm trusting him more.

"How is your pain?"

Right, the pain. I forgot it between the adrenaline and dopamine.

"It's, er, fine."

"If you need me to taste you again, ask."

I clear my throat. "Dramon, you probably have more important things to do."

"But none of that is as pleasurable as having you on my tongue."

I cough, hard, and he squeezes my calf tighter.

"Salina requests to speak with you," someone calls from outside. "She says she will not leave otherwise."

Dramon shakes his head. "I'll go in a minute."

"Not you, sire," his man corrects.

"Me?" Venus scoffs. "This should be good."

"You don't have to," Dramon says.

But I do.

"My cane?" I ask.

Dramon leaves for a minute and returns with the cane. I walk as straight as possible with it, and duck into the tent. Salina paces inside, although there's a little limp from how hard I kicked her down.

Her eyes burn into me, and her fists clench. It's sad what she's become.

"You're doing all of this for Dramon? For one man?"

"He's security for me," she grits. "Power, resources, and a good cock."

I raise an eyebrow. "Oh? What happened to loving him?"

"Please," she scoffed. "What is there to love? All Dramon does is work. He does not feel anything but lust. He bores me."

I know that's not true. He isn't boring, just a busy man with many people to look after. Venus understood that because she once had the same responsibilities.

"You lost a child. How can you disrespect him after you suffered with him?"

Salina's eyes caught fire. "It wasn't his. The baby was another man's, but I pinned it to Dramon to secure my title. What are you going to do about it?" She stepped closer. "Beat me bloody? Isn't that all you know how to do, human scum?"

Venus instantly recognized her plan. She wanted her to attack. She wanted Venus to beat her to a pulp so she could play the victim again, and Venus looked like the bad guy.

"Fates yes, I'm going to beat the crap out of you."

She lifted the cane like a bat and swung to hit her stomach. She fell with a cry, and Venus dove for Dramon's hunting knife. With a fistful of Salina's hair, she began hacking away.

How dare she try to free her hair as if she was worthy of such a right? She was a traitor. Dramon grieved a child that wasn't even his. He was played by the witch.

Salina had a bruised rib, a black eye, and hair shorter than Dramon's by the time someone walked in and separated them.

"Dramon, she went crazy!" Salina burst. She pushed a single long strand of hair from her face and looked at him with teary eyes. "I was only trying to apologize."

I stiffen and wait for his response.

"Get out."

"Dra—"

"OUT!"

I swear my heart skipped a beat. This is the first time Dramon actually frightened me.

Salina looks down at the hair that surrounds her. She sniffles and walks over it, running a hand through her ruined hair. It won't be fluttering through the wind anytime soon.

Did Dramon hear everything?

He releases the arm he has around me, and he walks off.

"I need air."

I would need air too if I found out that I've been made a fool and taken advantage of.

Things become tense over the next two days. The valley becomes a jungle in a drastic but beautiful change in scenery. We're back on the road in search of the woman. My pains have dulled down to an ache, and it looks like Dramon's wounds didn't get infected.

We have a lead on the woman's location. A traveling peddler told us they saw Wenches three days ago going East. It's not much, but it's a start.

If we reach a dead end, we'll have to consider turning back empty-handed. A Clan cannot be left alone for too long.

We sit around a small fire as we eat dinner. After some time, I stand and walk into the darkness for the waterfall at the heart of the jungle. It's a bit far, but I don't worry.

I hear footsteps behind me. Dramon's.

"You can bathe first," I say over my shoulder.

He's silent, and I wait at the edge for him. There's no way I'll bathe with him.

"I said you can—"

I'm pushed into the water, but there's not much depth so I don't sink down. Outraged, I wipe my face to curse him out.

There's another splash as he dives in, and I'm pushed against the wall of the waterfall. Dramon pins me there, his head on my shoulder and his arms tight around me to protect my back from the rocks.

He's hugging me.

After two days of being distant and processing his betrayal, he comes to me for comfort.

I don't know how to give it. My mother had never been very affectionate. Awkwardly, I reach my arms up and return his embrace.

"Are you alright?"

There's silence.

"Do you er- want some water?"

There's a little huff. Maybe a laugh, maybe a scoff.

"Being affectionate is the second thing you are terrible at."

His hands are stroking the small of my back.

"What is the first?" I ask him while patting his back as if he's an oversized baby.

"Being ugly." He's quick to add, "inside and out. You are incapable of it."

My chest shrinks, so I splash him. "Get off me. We have work to do."

He squeezes me tighter. "I got a letter. I am needed at The Capital. There is a royal wedding."

"Oh. When will you leave?"

"Will you go with me? I will present you as... my wife."

I cringe a little. I don't miss the stares of The Capital, and I'm still Dramon's wife in name only.

"Rexon will be there. Will you behave?"

I jolt a little when hands slip to my ass and squeeze tight. "How about I take care of your pain instead of answering that question?"

"I feel no pain anymore. Move, you boulder. We have to go back."

That prompts an argument. Dramon doesn't want me walking through his men with clothes plastered to my figure, and I scold him for tossing me in the water in the first place. He starts a fire so my clothes could dry, and I make him turn around to scrub myself down. He grunts about having seen everything already and being nose-deep in my business, but I'm not listening. With his back turned to me, he huffs and puffs while I bathe.