Aria's/Lysara's POV

He uncuffed me himself from the cross, and just as I threatened to stumble onto the floor, my legs weak beneath me, aching, he bent fast and scooped me into his arms. I wanted to drop from him, to push him away from me, but just like my legs, my arms were weak too, loose appendages of me that I couldn't command.

He lifted me onto the chest, carrying me in his arms. Yet for a man who just whipped me to pulp and tortured me brutally, he was surprisingly tender. He pressed me ...