Pharis pulled the cloak over my head so I could barely see. Then he released the bonds that held my wrists.
“Keep your mouth shut and your face turned away,” he said under his breath. “Lean against me like you’re drunk or sleeping.”
I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I could read the seriousness in his voice.
Twisting in the saddle, I relaxed my body, allowing it to slump against him so that my face was on his chest, turned away from the road and the approaching rider.
Chapter2
In the Saddle
Raewyn
“Ho there, another night owl,” the strange man called out in a jovial tone.
When the sound of his horse’s footfalls came closer, a new note of recognition entered his voice.
“Prince Pharis,” he said. “You’re out and about late—or should I say early? Dawn is near, as my wife will soon realize, unfortunately.”
Tension filled Pharis’ body, his chest going rigid beneath my cheek. His deep voice vibrated against it as he responded to the man.
“I don’t sleep much. Far too many things to… do,” he said then added a suggestive laugh.
The man laughed as well. “I see. I was just returning from the pleasure house in Grayport myself. Don’t tell my bond-mate, Your Highness, but the King isn’t the only highborn with an itch for humancompanionshipnow and again.”
Pharis’ body tensed further, but he laughed loudly. “I won’t tell, if you don’t. I have no taste for human women myself, but I don’t mind a little stroll on the lower Fae side occasionally. Some of the commoners wash up quite nicely.”
His body shifted in what I could only assume was a gesture toward me. The other man’s lewd laugh confirmed it.
“I’ll let you get back to it then,” he said, urging his horse forward. “A pleasure not-seeing you, Your Highness.”
“Same to you,” Pharis said and pressed his legs against his horse’s sides.
As soon as we rounded the next bend, Pharis directed the horse off the road, into the dark woods.
I lifted my head and looked around. Here in the forest, the waning moonlight was mostly obscured. I wasn’t sure how Pharis could even see where he was going.
“Are we hiding?” I asked, keeping my voice low. “Who was that? Someone dangerous?”
“Just some randy lord. I forget his name. And yes, as far as you’re concerned, he’s dangerous. They all are.”
“That’s why we’re getting off the road,” he added.
“Are you afraid he’ll come back and follow us or something?”
“I’m not worried abouthim. He’s attempting to beat the sunrise and get home before his wife wakes,” Pharis said. “But he might mention seeing me to someone, and word could travel to the wrong ears. As day breaks, there will be more and more riders on the road. We’ll be taking a different route.”
I looked around again at the dense trees and thick underbrush. The large horse would have to move painstakingly slowly to pick his way through this. I didn’t know any way other than the road to get to my village, but this couldn’t possibly be the best route.
“The road would be much faster,” I said.
“No doubt,” Pharis agreed. “And we could take it… if you’re in a hurry to end up back at the palace in Stellon’s retinue—or my father’s. Is that what you want?”
I shuddered at the thought of having toservethe cruel king in such a manner.
“Of course not.”
Pharis continued. “The King is a late sleeper and not likely to learn you’re missing for a few hours yet. But when he does, he’ll send out patrols in every direction. Apparently he considers you quite the prize.”
