“Don’t protect me anymore. We’ve already broken enough rules.”
27CLARA
The caravan stopped to make camp shortly after the sun set. Everyone was full of laughter and energy. They built a couple small campfires, and one of the men brought out a fiddle and played for them.
Clara clapped to the beat, smiling as the children danced and ran in circles around the flames. A couple of the adults stood and danced in a beautiful pattern. She focused on the flames, the laughter, the music–not Carver’s arm around her. She tried to disassociate from that, because every time she thought about his presence next to her she wanted to scream.
She wanted to beat the hell out of him, show him exactly how capable and strong she was. She would prove to him she didn’t need his protection; he needed to be protected from her. But she couldn’t. Her assignment rested on her pretending to be his wife. Her assignments came before her emotions. Always. This was no different.
She wasn’t sure what she had done to deserve this kind of torture, but perhaps the gods were real and she had managed to piss off one of them. Or, every single one of them to have warranted this kind of sentence. The fate of a kingdom rested on their ability to play a role they discarded years before.
Carver tried to apologize at least five times before they made camp. She smiled at him, conveying to everyone around them how in love she was. But she stopped responding to him. The puppy dog look he kept giving her told her he knew exactly how she felt about him right now. Good. He deserved all of her hatred and more. He should know every smile was an act.
“Wanna dance?” He whispered, breath tickling her ear. She stilled, and breathed in through her nose, out through her mouth, to keep from jerking away from his nearness. Her skin crawled, and she almost shivered.
“No.” She didn’t wish to elaborate. His arm around her was hard enough. But his body pressed against hers? A smile pasted on her face as they swayed to the music? That was more than she could take.
“Oh c’mon. It’ll be a good show for everyone. We’re supposed to be newlyweds, and I don’t think we’ve done a very good job of convincing everyone we’re completely in love.” He continued whispering in her ear, breath hot on her face. She swallowed, eyes glued to the fire.
“Well, maybe that’s because we’re not.”
“Rule number one.” He cited, moving away. She turned to glare at him, annoyed how his dark eyes reflected the light of the flames and caused his entire face to glow with warmth.
“After breaking the rules all day you’re citing them to me now?”
“We agreed the rules were written in order of importance, right? So we need to make sure number one stays the top priority. Besides, just because we broke one once, doesn’t mean we should continue to break it.”
“Doesn’t mean we should continue to break it?” She gritted out, “Then why are you asking me to continue touching you?”
He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. “You know what, Clara? Forget I asked.”
He leaned back, his face devoid of emotion as he laid on the grass.
Julia stumbled over, a drink in her hand and her eyes bright from whatever was in the jar. “Aren’t you two lovebirds going to dance with us?” She laughed loudly, and Clara smiled agreeably. “Wait, you need to meet my husband Mark!” She called out for him to come over.
“Carver isn’t feeling well. We’ll sit this one out.” Clara explained, stroking Carver’s arm gently. The picture perfect wife.
Carver sat up, and Clara’s hand fell to the ground. “Actually, I’m feeling much better now and think we should go out.”
Despicable human. She couldn’t reject him in front of Julia. “Oh, hon,” she laid it on thick, hoping Julia’s slightly dazed state made it more believable, “It was a long day. I don’t want you to push yourself too hard.”
He stood up and brushed the dirt off his pants. “You know, I think it’ll help me feel better.” He smiled at her, but she could see the smugness behind his look. Another deep breath through her nose, out through her mouth, and she resisted the urge to pull him down next to her as she took his hand. The good Calyndor girl would never do that. So she couldn’t do it, no matter how much she wanted to.
A man she could only assume was Mark, reached Julia’s side and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Julia’s told me a bit about you two,” he smiled. His eyes crinkled at the corners, and he looked at least ten years Julia’s senior. Julia gazed up at him, love struck eyes making Clara feel both envious and sick to her stomach.
“We’re always happy to have new people join our caravan. What part of Calyndor do you hail from?” He was far more sober than Julia, and Clara knew she couldn’t smile her way out of this one.
Before she could panic, Carver jumped in, “The south. Our family owns a couple shops in that area. It isn’t often we get away. But we couldn’t resist traveling for the festival. I’ve heard it will be…enlightening.”
Mark nodded, accepting Carver’s answer without hesitation. “There was a rumor they’re unleashing some of the…projectsthey’ve been working on.”
“Projects?” Clara couldn’t help questioning. She looked up at Carver to see if he understood the implication.
Julia laughed loudly, “Mark just likes to be confusing.” She smacked him on the arm lightly, and he softened, relaxing under her touch. “You’re both dancing with us, right?” Carver spun Clara in a circle she was completely unprepared for; she almost tripped and he caught her haphazardly as he pulled her back, his hand resting on her low back. Clara sucked in a breath. Julia clapped her hands excitedly. “This is my favorite part of trips. It’s so much fun and it’s never the same when we’re home.” Julia gazed up at Mark again, “The dancing, the music, the drinks,” she giggled turning back to Clara, “The time with loved ones that feels more…” her voice trailed off momentarily as she searched for the word, “Intentional, than the day to day routine.”
Clara smiled back at Julia, “I understand,” she lied.
Carver tugged on her hand, pulling her onto the dance floor. The second Clara turned her back on the happy couple, she dropped the pleasant expression and glared at him. He ignored it entirely, not deigning to even raise an eyebrow at her anger. He spun her away from him, gracefully pulling her back against him as he led them into the dance circle.
