“Clearly, you’ve never been in love,” Lex muttered.
Teryn had been suspiciouslyquiet all morning. Cora had expected him to bring up his proposition a hundred times already. Instead, he’d said nothing about it. Had he changed his mind? An unexpected disappointment sank her gut but she ignored it. Swallowed it down. Finished making breakfast.
Teryn and Lex returned from the stream and accepted bowls of root vegetable stew. They didn’t even ask if the meal was poisoned. It wasn’t, of course, and perhaps the fact that Cora was eating too eased any suspicions they might have. She watched them throughout the meal and found that Lex kept shooting strange looks at Teryn—ones she couldn’t quite read. Whatever it was about, it had Teryn blushing furiously and wolfing down his stew as fast as he could.
After they’d all finished eating, a heavy silence fell. Cora could feel the weight of her decision resting on her shoulders, but she still didn’t know what to say. Did she want them coming with her? She could admit she’d felt slightly safer last night knowing it hadn’t just been her and Valorre at camp. Not to mention they had supplies, horses, cookware, weapons. Blankets and bedrolls. Meanwhile, Cora had only what she’d been able to steal and carry on foot.
She’d never been one to allow strangers to get close to her, and these two already knew far too much. They knew she was a witch and the one who’d poisoned the hunters. Facts that hadn’t seemed quite so grim last night when their lives were at stake, but now the realization sent waves of anxiety through her. They could turn her in for what she’d done. And what if they found out who she really was? Teryn and Lex may have had no allegiance to the Kingdom of Khero, but after everything Teryn had said about duty and doing the right thing…
Cora picked up their bowls and wordlessly went to the stream to wash them. After a while, Valorre came up beside her. It was the first time she’d seen him all morning. She’d felt his presence close by, but she knew he wasn’t content to stay in one place. He was a restless, wild spirit. Undoubtedly fae.
I’m certain those are clean by now, Valorre said.
She glanced down at her hands, realizing she must have been lost in thought. With a sigh, she stood and began walking down the bank, her steps slow. She knew it was time to make a choice. It was already well past dawn and if she wanted to reach the Cambron Pass quickly, she’d need all the time she could get. A sudden thought occurred to her. Teryn and Lex had an extra horse. If she accepted their company, she was sure she could use the mare for herself. She could travel faster than she ever could on foot.
Valorre rippled with indignation.I am much faster than a horse. I could carry you.
“Yes,” she said with a grin, “but riding bareback isn’t the most comfortable thing, and I’d never dare saddle you.”
That seemed to satisfy him.I would never stoop so low as to wear a saddle. What a silly contraption. I’d look very foolish indeed. Very well. Does that mean they’re coming with us to help save my brethren?
She nibbled her lip. Then the sound of clashing steel drew her attention. She paused, glancing back toward camp. Teryn and Lex were sparring just ahead. It seemed Lex’s injured arm was his non-dominant hand, for he parried Teryn’s attacks with ease. Teryn, she was irked to note, was once again without a shirt. She rolled her eyes as she approached them.
Teryn nodded at her with a grin, one that made her stomach tighten. Or perhaps it was the indecency of him being shirtless. She kept her eyes anywhere but his broad chest, his arms roped with muscle, his pants that seemed ridiculously low on his hips?—
Crossing her arms, she returned his grin with a glare. “Do you ever wear a shirt?”
He shrugged and parried a halfhearted thrust from Lex. “Thanks to Lex and his refusal to let me turn his shirts into bandages, I only have one left. I’m not going to sweat in it.”
“It’s hardly safe to spar without one.”
“Oh really?” he said as his shortsword clashed with Lex’s. “I hadn’t noticed because Lex isn’t trying hard enough.”
“My arm hurts,” Lex said, then muttered something about Teryn showing off. That was when Cora realized what this little performance was all about. Teryn was trying to prove that they were useful. Skilled. That their aid would serve her.
Oh, the tall one is very strong, isn’t he?
Cora cut a glare at Valorre.Do you have a crush on Teryn?
What is crush?
Never mind. She returned her gaze to the boys, watching as they set down their swords and drank from skins of water. Teryn shrugged on his hunting vest just as a familiar shape veered down from the sky. Berol landed on his padded shoulder, a scroll tucked in her talon.
He sent her away in the middle of the night, Valorre said. He didn’t seem concerned, but she narrowed her eyes with suspicion.
“What’s that?” she asked.
He met her eyes over the paper he was reading. “A letter from my father. I sent Berol with a note telling him I wouldn't be coming home for a while.”
She clenched her jaw. That meant he’d already assumed she’d say yes to his proposition. It made her want to deny him outright.
He walked toward her, a questioning look in his eyes. “Have you decided?”
She found her words trapped in her throat as he held her gaze. He held it too long. Too unflinchingly. Blinking, she averted her eyes and pondered his question. Her time was up. She needed to choose.
Her gaze returned to his and she found that his eyes were in the process of sweeping over her form. His assessment made her breath catch. She dared not open her senses to him. Dared not read too much into his gaze. For surely he couldn’t find much to be desired when he looked at her. She was a mess of tangles. Of soil and stone. Of petticoats tucked around her legs like pants. He was a prince, a man used to soft women with even softer demeanors.
She lifted her chin, reminding herself she didn’t care what he thought of her. Not her appearance, not her personality, and certainly not her romantic appeal. He was a prince determined to make amends where his honor had failed. She was a witch with vengeance in her heart and violence in her soul.
