He opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, but nothing came out. Instead, he pulled me to him and breathed into the side of my neck deeply.
Draw pushed his hands up each of my thighs, his thumbs resting on the crease my hips made on either side. All I had on under my dress was a pair of cotton underpants. They seemed sufficient to wear riding, but now they felt as flimsy as the lace ones.
“You feel wonderful,” he murmured into my neck.
I felt a small tug of movement between my legs. It wasn’t my own eagerness, it was him. I rocked my hips experimentally.
I felt Draw strain to make contact again when voices carried around the corner.
In moments, we were standing, my dress was down, and I had patted my hair into order. Chatter grew in the distance as villagers broke for their homes. Torchlight spilled at the edge of the alley enough for me to see Draw’s olive eyes.
He shared a small smile with me.
“Happy to discuss strategy anytime, Lady Dottie.”
Chapter Four: A Positively Medieval Date
Stop laughing you’re...insulting the gods.”
Omar fell to his knees and smirked at me. “What does a dog have to do with magic?”
I also fell out of downward dog to the grass. Omar was Jerrald’s cousin, but I was learning they were very different. Jerrald was controlled and savvy. Omar was turning out to be a bit of a goofball, and that was exactly why I never considered becoming a teacher. The only thing worse than a middle schooler who thought he was hilarious was a medieval middle schooler who thought he was hilarious.
It took me a moment to brush my long hair back which had fallen all over the place. “I told you, it’s called yoga. This pose strengthens your shoulders and stretches your calves.”
“Which will help with my magic how?” Omar challenged.
That was the crux of the issue. I certainly didn’t know how to teach magic—I’d tried convincing Jerrald of the fact, but the queen’s field commander was stubborn. Besides, Jerrald was training Lord Draw in combat, something that could make the difference as Ironclaw’s betrayal approached. Hence, I had to teach Omarsomethingthat could pass for magical tutoring.
I took a deep centering breath in demonstration. “It will help focus your mind, enhance your physical strength—”
“Can’t you teach me that fire trick you did at Sage Ravine?”
I held back a groan. I should have known the trick would build a false impression of my powers.
Real or not, there were some in the camp who didn’t seem entirely comfortable with me since—Lord Parable had scowled at me over last night’s hasty camp dinner as if he thought I might set the forest ablaze.
