If he considered that no trouble, it made Luna wonder what kind of messes his sisters got caught up in. “Still, you didn’t have to. So, thank you.”
A faint crease formed between his brows. “You know, you’re the first person to ever thank me for something.”
She blinked, unsure what to say to that, and he dismissed it with a huff.
“I’ve never met someone so naïve to the hatred of a human’s heart. It wouldn’t have been right to have gone my own way, knowing you were more than likely in danger.”
“You make it sound like rescuing me was due to some kind of moral obligation.”
“What other reason would there be?”
She bit her lip, gaze dropping to her hands as she dipped her chin, her hair slipping forward to shield her face. Embarrassing thoughts unravelled in her mind, but she wasn’t about to admit that she thought he saved her because he had feelings for her. Maybe she’d even hoped, as silly as that sounds, since they barely knew each other. Practically still strangers at this point.
Besides, she shouldn’t be worried about that. The fate of her family was still unknown; she should be in despair, crying tears of guilt—not sitting here discussing the night’s events in such a casual manner. Perhaps she truly was as heartless as the king said.
No,she scolded herself. This wasn’t the time to have a pity party. Once she was safe from danger, she could cry for all she had lost. Yes. Later, she would process her shock and let the magnitude of everything that had happened hit her.
Without warning, a rogue branch struck Luna’s shoulder. She cried out in pain as she lost her balance. Swift as lightning, Damien’s hand steadied her before she could tumble off Pickles.
She tightened her grip on the saddle horn with both hands and squeezed her legs, sitting more upright. When she was settled, she wordlessly thanked Damien with a smile.
He gestured forward. “We’re getting to the heart of the forest. The trees will open up soon, once we pass it.”
As they continued their journey, her mind wandered. She tried to avoid thinking about all the terrible things that had happened for fear that she would risk insanity if she did. Instead, her thoughts centered around Damien. Curiosity curled around her mind like a cat finding a spot of sunlight—warm, comforting, and, thankfully, distracting. She absentmindedly brushed a hand through her hair and asked, “So . . . I didn’t know you and Gregory knew each other?”
“Oh yeah, we go way back.”
She narrowed her eyes at his back as she processed what those words meant. “Is he also a unicorn?” Or had Damien shared his identity with a human?
He chuckled. “Yes, he is.”
Maybe the answers to her questions seemed obvious to him, but they most certainly weren’t to her. “He was one of the unicorns at the protection ceremony, wasn’t he?”
“Yes, as well as Corey—”
“Corey? Really?” Luna’s eyes widened with disbelief. No wonder the shopkeeper had been so friendly. Looking back, it seemed like nearly everyone she’d interacted with at the marketplace that day had been a unicorn. She glanced at Damien, suspicion creeping in. “And Marion?”
He shook his head. “No. She’s something else . . . but they’re all more or less friends of mine. You’ll see them again once we are at Winta and Felix’s.” He kept his head facing forward as he spoke, avoiding Luna’s narrowed gaze.
Disbelief overwhelmed her. How many were unicorns hiding in disguise? There was no way it was a mere coincidence that she had met these people on the one and only day she had rebelled against the king’s rules and had her first transformation, right? And what had Damien meant when he said Marion was something else? She studied him, unsure if she wanted the answers to her questions. What if she didn’t like them? He was the one currently rescuing her, helping her escape the guards. He was her lifeline, her guiding light to freedom; she couldn’t risk jeopardizing that. Deciding she didn’t want to know, she asked instead, “You mentioned meeting Gregory at Kalt Ravine. Why there?”
“It’s the closest town to Winta and Felix’s place,” he answered matter-of-factly, “but we’re going to stop at the small village of Hazelwood first for supplies before we head there.”
Her thoughts had been consumed with escaping danger that she hadn’t thought about what came next, or what they would need once they were free. She had no means to buy anything, nor to repay Damien for all he’d done. Nervously, she fidgeted with the saddle horn, her attention moving to the ring she still wore. Perhaps she could use it to offset some of the cost. “I’m not sure how valuable this is, but I can sell my ring to help pay for everything.”
“No.”
She blinked. “What do you mean ‘no’?”
“I meanno,” Damien said with a dismissive wave.
Luna’s mouth hung open, but she had no words. Would he use his magic to steal things? Would he expect her to? “I won’t steal,” she blurted out.
A laugh burst from Damien’s mouth, followed by coughing as he tried unsuccessfully to stifle it. Luna glared back at him until he finally answered, “I don’t expect you to steal, and I don’t want your money.”
“You don’t sound like you’re jingling with coins. Let me help by selling my ring.”
“Have a bit of faith in me, Luna.” He twisted in his saddle to face her, a grin tugging at his lips. “I wouldn’t go travelling empty-handed. I have enough to make it there.” It seemed like that would be the end of the discussion, but then he added, “Besides, I wouldn’t be verydreamyif I let you sell the only valuable thing you have.”
