Raven stared hard at her kidnappers.

The one who forcefully dragged her from her room – she knew his name was Damyan from previous visions – was busy preparing the camel.

His companion, who had met them outside of the city walls, stared at her with his mouth agape. "I can't believe you really did it," the shocked male said.

"I told you I would," was Damyan's mumbled reply.

"But I thought you were going to kill her," the black-haired, blue-eyed man said.

Raven frowned.

"New plan," Damyan said. "Slaede is too well guarded. We need to draw him out."

"So, you stole his sorceress?"

"Yes," Damyan answered. He turned his turquoise eyes to Raven. "Get on the camel," he ordered.

Raven glared at him, refusing to move even an inch.

"Maybe she doesn't understand you."

"Quiet, Jhon," Damyan said with an eye roll. "Either you get on the camel, or I put you on the camel."

"Why should I make it easy for you?" Raven asked, ignoring his beautiful stare. "Aren't you going to kill me eventually?"

"Yes," Damyan answered with a tight grin. "Now, you can either ride Aelfred or be dragged behind Aelfred."

Raven huffed and eyed the iolite jewel – the one weakness of sorceresses like herself – around his neck. Hadn't Slaede confiscated all iolite in the area?

"Well?" Damyan growled impatiently.

"Fine," Raven mumbled, clenching her fists.

"Why does she get to ride Aelfred?" Jhon complained as Raven climbed onto the camel's back. "I don't want to walk."

"Don't be ridiculous, Jhon," Damyan answered as he swung his leg over the camel, sitting directly behind Raven.

Raven felt heat come to her cheeks as his muscular chest pressed against her back.

"Comfortable?" a hot voice whispered in her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Does it matter?" Raven shot back.

"No."

Raven fought another shiver that ran down her spine. She was mature enough to admit to herself that Damyan was pleasant to look upon. Dark tan skin, green eyes with flecks of gold, strong rough hands, muscular chest - "Woah!" Raven gasped as the camel stood suddenly.

"Careful, sorceress." Raven heard mocking in Damyan's voice. He tightened his grip around her waist and pulled her flush against him.

"We wouldn't want you getting hurt now, would we?" he whispered again.

This time, Raven did shudder.

Damyan tried not to get distracted by the beautiful woman sitting directly in front of him, but he couldn't help it. She smelled so good. He was so used to the disgusting odor of men; he had forgotten that fancy people could afford things like perfumes and myrrh. But he wouldn't get distracted by her smell or hair or eyes or body. Her body, he thought. Thank the gods she was no longer wet. The piece of cloth covering her did little to hide what he'd already seen!

Damyan shook his head. He needed to control his lust. He had a job to do. And thinking about kissing the soft lips of the sorceress was not the job. They were in the middle of a war, dammit! He turned to look at Jhon, who was giving him a knowing smile. "Shut up," Damyan whispered.

"I didn't say anything," the sorceress answered, her voice laced with annoyance.

"I wasn't speaking to you!" Damyan snapped. He felt her body stiffen in front of him.

"Well," Jhon spoke smugly, "I didn't say anything, either. You must be hearing things. Again," he smiled up at the sorceress. "Too many hits to the head." Raven chuckled, and Damyan felt the vibrations everywhere.

Dear gods, he thought with an eye roll, this is going to be a long journey.

Slaede drummed his fingers on his throne, quietly seething as he listened to the guard's report.

"It seems that she is no longer in the city," the guard finished. "Your Highness?" the guard's voice shook.

Slaede nodded for him to continue.

"Do you…do you think she went willingly?"

Slaede stilled, his fingers frozen in mid-air as his mind rushed back to that night in the tent - the night an attempt had been made on his life. Had Raven seen this coming? Is that why she was so adamant about keeping his would-be-assassin alive?

Slaede's jaw tightened. He should have killed that Shadow assassin that night. But no, he just had to get sentimental and show Raven favor. After all, Raven was his favorite and most competent sorceress. Slaede had only lost one battle because of her foolishness. A lesson from his son after that single failure had been enough to ensure she had never made such a mistake again.

But what if she had gone willingly?

Slaede frowned. Maybe he should have rewarded her more. In truth, allowing Raven to live in luxury while her people suffered in the dungeons below may not have been prudent. Still…just in case.

Slaede rose from his throne. "Bring Captain Rickus to me," Slaede ordered.

The guard bowed low before scurrying away.

Slaede walked to the nearest window and looked out at his empire. All who served him lived in luxury. They didn't starve; he never left them wanting; his people were lucky. Maybe it was time he reminded Raven of that fact.

"Bring her sister, Maya, to me," he commanded a nearby guard. Raven's family still had their uses.