She said nothing, but bit her lower lip while thinking, his gaze instantly drawn to the motion.Gods, those lips.The feel of her mouth succumbing to his within his dream flashed through his mind, and Emmeric quickly dismissed them before his body could react.
He knew she was weighing the odds of being stubborn and staying on the horse, and then maybe making a run for it… She nodded minutely. Emmeric swung his leg off the back of the horse, sliding gracefully to the ground. Iyana was about to attempt the same, but he grabbed her hips before she threw herself to the ground; her hands were still tied, and the fall would have resulted in Iyana smashing her nose into the hard-packed dirt. Lowering her gently, her body slid achingly over his. Her mouth parted, and her eyes softened, but they shuttered off the next second, effectively blocking him out again. Attempting to step away from him, she stumbled. He caught her, letting her find her balance, and let her rip herself out of his hold.
“Don’t try to run. You know we’ll catch you,” he said to her retreating back. Iyana paused for a moment, then muttered something aboutall these men inside my fucking head, and she stomped behind a tree to relieve herself.
Zane sidled up next to him as Emmeric was watching the tree to make sure she didn’t actually try to escape. Zane stood there, hands in his pockets, the picture of relaxation. Emmeric knew not to trust it.
“Who is she to you?” Zane asked.
Fuck.Truths and lies flitted through his mind, and he decided a combination of both was safest. “The old woman that had me captured, she’s her granddaughter. I didn’t mention it before, but the old woman died while I was there. That’s how I was able to escape. She…she may blame me for her grandmother’s death.”
“Did you kill her?” Zane asked nonchalantly.
“No,” said Emmeric. “It was just a shock seeing her in Huton. I thought she would stay in the village, since she’s their healer now.”
Zane patted his shoulder awkwardly. Emmeric tried to remain stoic. “Let me know if she gives you trouble,” Zane said.
“Yes, sire.” Emmeric bowed his head.
Frowning, Zane shook his head. “Out here, I think—I think I’d like to be Zane.”
“Okay, Zane,” said Emmeric, giving a shy smile mirrored on Zane’s face. Small talk didn’t appear to be either of their forte. Where was Talon when they needed him? Before things became even more awkward, Iyana emerged from behind the tree. She glared at Zane and Emmeric both and stuck her tongue out at them.
Talon sidled up at that moment and chuckled. “Oh, I do like her.”
After a light meal, they were repacking their horses when Talon grabbed his head and moaned.
“Are you okay?” Emmeric asked. Iyana was standing nearby, watching the exchange, hands still bound before her.
“Don’t worry about me, old man,” Tal said with a pained grin. “Just hungover.”
Iyana raised her hands. “If you’ll let me in my pack, I can help you.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Talon said, his gaze flicking to Zane. Emmeric’s eyes widened in shock because usuallyhewas the sensible one, while Tal would take anything someone gave him. At least it made for some entertaining stories. Like the time someone had spiked Talon’s beer with hallucinogenic mushrooms and he’d spent the rest of the night flirting with a broom.
“Why?” asked Iyana, annoyed. “Afraid I have a weapon and I’ll stab someone?”
Talon barked a laugh, then grimaced. “I’d actually pay good money to see you stab someone, Smalls. Go for it.”Ah, there he was.
Iyana narrowed her eyes at the nickname, but rummaged around in her bag, hindered by the rope around her wrists. Pulling out a small vial, she handed it to Talon. “Here, I made this yesterday. You’ll need to drink the whole thing.”
“You trying to poison me, Smalls?”
“Why would I do that?” Iyana asked, genuinely confused.
“Oh, I don’t know.” Talon swept his hands around, surveying their situation. “We only kidnapped you, separated you from your boyfriend, and have you tied up.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” she mumbled.
Talon perked up. “You hear that, Em? She’s single! And you already have her in ropes, you dirty dog.”
“Phaedros take me now…” Embarrassed, Emmeric rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. Talon laughed uproariously.
“Why would you give this to me?” Talon asked Iyana.
She shrugged. “I’m a healer, and I have something to ease your pain. Besides, maybe I like you.”
Talon grinned widely. “Sorry, Smalls, you’re not really my type. Maybe if you had a di—”
