One glance at him made me think it was for a different reason. A deep frown marred his brow, as though he felt a tad guilty. Unlikely it was enough to change his mind though. Greed conquered even the best of men.
Back to my original plan, then. Making a grand escape. The king’s road was out of the question.
What about in the other direction? What lay beyond the trees? Mountains, probably, and valleys. Lush forests filled with creatures I hadn’t yet encountered. Like monstrous boars. It didn’t matter what I might face. I had to do something.
Determination ignited in my chest. Like hell I’d just go peacefully.
I karate chopped his bicep and then elbowed him in the ribs, slamming my heel against his foot.
“What the?” Stryder lost his grip and faltered in step.
With him reeling from my sneak attack, I took advantage of the moment and dashed toward the trees to the right. Surprisingly, my legs behaved. I didn’t stumble, not even once. I just ran like my life depended on it. Because it did.
Leaves and vines whacked me in the face. Something sharp cut across my cheek. But I kept going, pumped full of adrenaline.
“Think hard before you do this, kid.” Stryder’s voice carried through the trees, calm but with an underlying threat. “Stop running now and I’ll forget about this little mishap. But if you make me chase you, you won’t like what happens.”
A sharp pain in my side made me slow in pace. Running wasn’t my thing. At all. I was a couch potato through and through. I hid behind a tree to catch my breath. Being out of shape wasn’t the only reason I struggled.
The curse of my weak lungs struck again. A wet crackling sounded in my chest, making me wheeze and clutch the spot.
“You can’t run for long,” Stryder said, his voice a lot closer than before. “It’s not good for those damaged lungs of yours.”
A cough built and rose up. I slapped both hands over my mouth and did my best to stifle it. My eyes watered, and my chest burned. A twig snapped from somewhere behind me—somewhere a bit too close for my liking.
I shoved from the tree and kept running, fighting the crackling burn in my lungs. Small coughs bubbled up, and I wheezed harder than I ever had.
If he doesn’t kill me, running sure will.
After sprinting a short distance, I ducked behind another tree.
It wasn’t the first time I’d been chased and used trees as a cover. My heart quaked as I recalled that snowy morning at the cottage. I’d flicked snow at Maddox, unintentionally starting a snowball fight. He’d then stalked me around the backyard, hunting me down.
And just as he’d been about to catch me, a voice had come from the branch above me.
“Gods, can you move any slower? Come here.” Rowan grabbed my arm and lifted me up into the tree.
“R-Ro?” I reached for his face with a shaking hand, sure I was dreaming.
“The one and only.” He leaned into my palm before shifting me onto his back and climbing to a higher branch. “Hold on tight.”
It wasn’t a dream. He was really there.
“Saving me again,” I croaked, still feeling the effects of my exertion. “First from Maddox and his snowballs and now from being Evan-napped.”
“I reckon we’ve come full circle then. Finally makin’ amends for when I Evan-napped you.” He tossed me a tight smile over his shoulder. “Sorry it took me so long to reach you. Had to take care of something first.”
“I knew you’d come for me.” Although a part of me had feared that very thing.
“Nice job with that hit. Seems the rabbit’s defense training came in handy.”
I smiled into the back of his hair. “Didn’t even need a sword to do it either. Just my clumsy little foot and the power of a bony elbow.”
“Stop talking. Focus on catching your breath.” Rowan leapt from one branch to another, traveling between trees. With barely any light to begin with, it was hard to see the shadows swirling at his feet, but I knew they were there, helping carry him through the air.
“What did you need to take care of?” I asked as his earlier words sank in.
When he smiled back at me, it held a touch of impishness. “Brought the cavalry.”
