The wheels of the carriage rolled steadily over the winding stone roads, the rhythm both soothing and hypnotic. Forests blurred past the windows, mist curling around the trees like ghostly fingers. Inside, warmth and silence cocooned the two travelers in a moment of rare peace.
River sat near the window, her fingers lightly tracing the etched glass as she watched the passing landscape. Her thoughts drifted between what they left behind and what lay ahead. The weight of everything they’d endured still clung to her shoulders, even as freedom waited on the horizon.
And then—a sudden gasp escaped her lips as she felt strong hands wrap around her waist.
In one fluid motion, Heiko pulled her into his lap, his grip gentle but firm, as if he'd been waiting for just the right moment. Her body st
