Teryn released a mirthless laugh. He closed the distance between them, his posture mirroring hers until only a foot separated them. Berol ruffled her feathers but remained on his shoulder. Teryn was so much taller than Cora, she had to crane her neck to meet his gaze. “Then I suppose I will too,” he said. Before Cora could argue, he brushed past her, took his sword from his saddle, and left the grove. “We’ll see who gets there first,” he called over his shoulder.
Cora stared after him, jaw hanging on its hinge.
Lex chuckled as he walked over to his horse and took a book and apple from one of his saddlebags. “The two of you are disgusting.”
She whirled to face him. “Excuse me?”
“As if you don’t know.” Lex settled down at the base of a tree, opening his book with one hand and bringing the apple to his mouth with the other. “You must get a kick out of riling him up, making him act all protective like that. It’s cute, I guess. But…ugh, so gross.”
You know what’s gross?Valorre said.Taking an apple from one’s bag without offering me one. I like apples.
Cora stroked Valorre’s neck and glared at Lex. “I promise you, I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.”
He opened his book and began to read. “We both know he fancies you.”
Cora’s hand froze on Valorre’s soft hide while her heart thudded against her ribcage. No, Lex couldn’t be right. It wasn’t possible. The concept was utterly preposterous.
The only word that left her lips was, “What?”
He took another bite of apple, muffling his next words. “I saw the two of you sneak off last night after your sexy knife play. If that’s what does it for you, I’m happy for you both. Still, I’d rather keep our mission professional.”
Cora’s cheeks burned hotter than ever before. “This arrangement is strictly professional, trust me.”
Lex shrugged and flipped a page. “If you say so. But I must warn you, I’ve come to like Teryn. He’s a good man and a good friend.” His eyes shot from his book to her, simmering with threat. “So if you do anything to hurt him, either body or heart, you’ll have me to contend with.”
She wasn’t sure if she should be amused or impressed. Lex was hardly an intimidating specimen, but it was heartwarming that he’d defend his friend like that. More than anything, she was annoyed. Flustered. Irritated beyond belief. With a huff, she shouldered her bow and quiver and left the grove.
She and Valorrecaught up with Teryn not long after. His smug grin was more than enough to make her second-guess not having taken an alternate route, but it seemed he’d already claimed the best path to their destination. She wouldn’t inconvenience herself just because Teryn had a superiority complex.
Or was it more about what Lex had said? Was Teryn’s concern over letting her go alone fueled by…
She couldn’t even think it.
They followed the hunters’ tracks down several different game trails until the wear in the path grew denser, fresher.
I sense them, Valorre said.My brethren. They’re close.
Then this is as far as you can go. Stay out of sight.
Valorre rippled with worry, but he quickly flitted between the trees.
Teryn startled at the sudden movement, then met Cora’s eyes. Up until now, they’d spoken only when necessary and both made a clear effort to keep their distance. “Where did he go?”
“We’re too close now. It isn’t safe for him to come any nearer. He’ll find somewhere to hide where his tracks won’t be easy to follow.”
Teryn gave only a curt nod and they were on their way again.
With only twohours left until sundown, they finally found the camp.
Cora’s palms were slick with sweat as they crept quietly toward the sound of a crackling fire. Once they caught their first glimpse of the clearing, Teryn fed Berol a strip of dried meat and gestured a finger upward. She immediately took off into the sky. Then he pointed at Cora and himself, silently conveying that they should circle the perimeter in opposite directions. She replied with a nod.
Teryn moved first, one slow step at a time. She wanted to mouth at him to be careful, but she kept the warning to herself. She was still a little peeved at how he’d insisted on accompanying her. However, she had to admit she’d come to feel comforted by his company today. Even now, having another person scouting made her feel safer than she had when she was alone. At first, she’d been worried Teryn would have no talent for stealth, but when she watched him take careful steps, prodding the earth with each foot before fully stepping down, she realized he knew what he was doing. She supposed that was one benefit to being a prince. Royal hunts were both a rite of passage and an expected pastime.
Cora circled the camp, pausing now and then to edge a little closer, stealing glances at what was beyond the veil of underbrush she kept to. No matter how many times she looked, she saw the same thing. A quiet camp. Four cages filled with unicorns. A single guard sitting by the fire. When she and Teryn met at the other side of camp—after they’d both startled at the sudden appearance of the other—she gestured for him to follow her away from the clearing.
Once they were well out of earshot, she whispered, “They have a baby unicorn.” Her heart clenched just to say it out loud. She’d nearly stumbled when she’d first caught sight of it. Like the three adult unicorns, the baby was thin and frail. If she had to guess, based on everything she’d seen and overheard and all that Teryn had shared about what he’d learned, the creatures were close to harvest. Either the Beast would come to take them soon or the hunters would carve the horns from the unicorns’ heads while the creatures were still alive.
Torture.
