They moved together, close but not touching. Leaves crunched beneath their feet as they walked, but none of them cared enough to stop. He kept half a step in front, more of a guide than a guard.
She must have been so frightened that she managed to get lost. His mission was to return her to the castle, and that was what he was going to do. She matched him just as well, her steps careful but slightly slower than his.
“Keep up,” he grunted.
“I am.”
“I daenae want to have to drag ye.”
“Then daenae.”
The silence that followed felt thin, like silk pulled too tight. He could hear her breathing even out and her stride smooth. At this pace, they would get to the castle gates before the sky turned completely dark.
His mind drifted to the people waiting for him at the makeshift chapel. How was he going to face them? What would he even say about this whole thing when he got there? Would that not reflect badly on him if he were forcing a woman to marry him? Especially since people still thought he was a heinous beast for killing?—
“Wait.”
Her voice was sharp, and it dug into the silence with utter precision.
“Can I take a break?” she asked, pressing a hand to her side.
“Why?” He turned to look at her, his eyes narrowed.
“I need to take a breath. Ye can walk ahead. Forgive me, I’ve drunk nothing but water all day.”
He exhaled, letting the cold evening air settle on his face. “Fine. Take a moment, but we arenae going to waste time. The woods arenae friendly at night.”
“Good thing I have ye to protect me.”
He exhaled and stared at her, then her eyes narrowed at him.
“What?”
“Well, I cannae go if ye keep staring at me like that,” she huffed.
He swallowed, then moved three slow paces and leaned his shoulder against a straight tree. He folded his arms and watched the track ahead. The smell of incoming rain lingered in the air. He could smell the wet leaves, the damp soil from the rains past. He felt the shift in the wind before it properly settled onto him.
When it did, it was too late.
The crack came clean and hard as wood hit bone. Pain splintered across his shoulder, and he dropped to one knee, a groan escaping his lips. He watched the log she had hit him with drop to her feet, and the pain flared hotter.
“Ye wee devil,” he muttered.
By the time he looked up fully, she was already a flash of green among the trees, then she was gone.
He stood up, feeling the heat burn along his shoulder. Then, he drew in a long breath through his teeth, trying his best to ignore the pain.
“It looks like ye enjoy being hunted, do ye nae?”
He set off once again at a steady pace, ignoring the ferns that brushed his cloak. Low leaves tugged at his sleeve and left damp streaks, but he didn’t stop. The more he ran, the hotter the pain in his shoulder grew, but he was determined to ignore it. He had suffered worse and had done more.
Soon, the familiar flash of green reappeared in the middle of the trees.
“Emma,” he called. “Daenae make this worse than it already is.”
“Why can ye nae just leave me?” she threw back.
“Ye said ye would follow me,” he panted, pulling his feet harder from a soft patch of soil.
