He was supposed to be asleep, but instead he lay there listening as Caramyn spoke to his soldiers. He wondered what it might mean that Zera, Caramyn, and Leejia were so certain he could save this land. Because he wasn’t so sure anymore. He couldn’t even save his mother. How could he hope to save Evylere from his own sister when he was at the Blackheart’s mercy? How could he hope to rule as a king when he was one slip away from becoming a monster forever?
He couldn’t. And that’s why he’d been struggling to admit to himself that he knew what he had to do if things didn’t go as expected. If the weapon couldn’t break his dark curse, it couldend it another way. A single stab through the heart. That’s all it would take. When its Light pierced his Shadows, his Blackheart should not survive it. But Caramyn would survive, and because of her, Evylere might just have a chance.
The next day the river awaited them. There was no time to travel the main roads leading to the south bridge. They would keep straight on, even if it meant forging their own path.
They woke before dawn so that they were at the river’s edge with the first light. And they’d chosen the narrowest spot they could find. It was small but swift. Especially since the seasonal rain had deepened it since their last time crossing it when bringing Caramyn back to Vaerwynd.
“Hold your horses steady, and if they hesitate, encourage them. Do not force. Trust they’ll take care of you, and they will.” Asterious glanced back at his entourage as he stroked Alofreise’s withers. Then he turned to face the rocky water, standing at the shallowest and narrowest point he could find. It flowed fast and clear along pebble-lined banks winding through tall, scattered pines that traced sections of its border.
Caramyn appeared beside him, her fingers latching around her mare’s mane in reassurance, and she nodded. “I thought perhaps Alofreise would like a friend to go in with him…so he doesn't feel alone.”
Asterious smiled. “I’m sure he would appreciate it.” They urged the horses on together, and side by side they stepped intothe river, splashing up icy water that seeped into their boots. The others followed, with the last scout's horse hesitating after dipping a hoof in.
“Keep him moving, Starke!” Leejia called as the animal balked beside hers.
Alofreise plunged chest-deep into the river. The current was stronger than expected. Asterious’ muscles recoiled tight as the cold water struck his skin like needles.
He looked back just in time to see Starke’s horse rearing in panic, throwing his rider into the river before bolting for the trees. Starke vanished downstream, swept away like driftwood.
“Keep going—I’ll get him!” Asterious shouted to Caramyn as he turned into the current. His stallion swam hard, battering against rocks as they surged after the scout. When Starke slipped beneath the surface, Asterious dove, keeping hold of the reins as he caught the man by his shirt and hauled him to the saddle.
Ignoring the cold water’s bite, he mounted again and dragged Starke up behind him, steering for the bank. The others rushed forward as they reached the shallows, Starke staggering free, teeth chattering.
“Lost a horse,” he managed.
“Here.” Riven rummaged through the saddle bags and tossed him a blanket. “This one stayed dry.”
Caramyn dismounted and pressed Frasya’s reins into Starke’s hands. “You can ride Frasya the rest of the way. You need her warmth more than I do.”
She looked up at the prince, soaked head to toe, sitting atop his stallion as steam rose from the wet animal into the crisp air. “I can ride with you.”
The group was silent, and the prince knew what they must be thinking. He even noticed how Wryan glared at Caramyn for the mention. But he didn’t have time to worry about it. She wasn’t wrong about the warmth. Alofreise was the largest and strongesthorse in the group. It would be easiest for him to be the one to carry two riders the rest of the way without slowing them down.
He’d managed to control himself with her between his legs before. This time should be no different.
He stretched out his hand for Caramyn and she grabbed it, swinging her leg over the seat of the saddle and settling in front of him. She pressed against him, and the warmth of her dry upper body covered his chest like a heavy blanket. He handed her the reins while he removed his gloves, and when he took them up again, she covered his hands with hers. For warmth, he told himself.
This time it shouldn’t have been different. But it was, because he didn’t hate her now. The loathing and mistrust she had once stirred up in him before was at least some form of barrier to his urges. But now there was no confusion to dampen the flames, and nothing standing in the way of his feral desire. He knew what he felt for her and there was not a semblance of doubt about it. And as they traveled on, he fought to fixate on every fallen leaf and drifting cloud, every bird chirping or woodpecker knocking. Every possible sensation besides the one of her hips nestled between his thighs, arousing the hardness in his center. Besides the kindling of a fire he wanted to let consume him entirely.
He was glad when she asked him a question, so he could keep his mind occupied with something other than wondering what her skin might taste like on his tongue. Only, he wished it might have been almost any other question than one that tugged at his already deepening worries.
“When we find this Shadowblood’s sword, what exactly is your plan?” Caramyn shuddered from the cold, snuggling her face down into her own cloak.
“I free the Blade. It will override my curse of steel, and I will wield it. It will bring the powers of Light and Shadow back intobalance under its command, and bind Shadow magic where it belongs—out of Sinevia or anyone else’s reach.”
“And if Sinevia does not yield?”
The prince allowed the question to linger in the silence for a moment before answering. “Don’t think I haven’t considered what it will mean if she is truly too far gone.”
Caramyn reached over the rein, brushing his arm. “If it comes down to it, I will do it for you. I will not let you be faced with the choice to kill your own sister.”
“I won’t let you do anything on my behalf, especially that. I’ve thought this through,” Asterious said, his voice low. “Either way, I will be damned. If the Blade cannot free Sinevia, I fear it won’t be able to save me either. And if the only way to stop her is to kill her, and the only way to save you is to resist you forever—then I fear my curse is life itself.”
Caramyn craned around in the saddle. “Don’t you dare start talking like that. The Blade is going to be able to save you…and her.” She tilted her head. “We’ll find a way.”
“How is it you always believe that?” He nuzzled his lips against her ear.
“Because it’s what I’ve always done.” Her hand slid down to his thigh, and she squeezed it gently, reassuring, cruel, and sensual. A touch that prodded him, drawing him to the flames as he imagined that hand sliding further up to caress the unbearable firmness pulsing between his legs.
