Theron yelped, his arms tightening around my waist to keep himself secure on Mauro’s back. I wanted to laugh, but the sudden closeness of his body was unnerving. I swallowed, choosing to ignore this opportunity to tease him, and instead focused on maintaining my own balance. I’d ridden Mauro plenty of times, but with Theron’s added weight, it felt as bouncy and unstable as my first ride. I tucked my legs closer, my knees digging into Mauro’s fur.
“Watch it,” Mauro huffed.
“I don’t want to fall!” I argued.
“I’m offended. You think I would let that happen?”
I relaxed my legs slightly, my heart softening at the indignation in the stag’s voice. Mauro had never failed me before. I trusted him with my life.
“Are we truly to ride this creature the entire way to Taerin?” the assassin asked.
“Yes. He’s rather good at navigating through the woods.”
“We aren’t taking roads?”
“Of course not. I thought you were supposed to be stealthy! What would people think if they saw me riding a stag?”
“That you’re insane. And rightly so.”
I jabbed my elbow into his gut, but my arm met hard muscle, and he didn’t even flinch.
“Will you two be quiet?” Mauro barked. “You’re distracting me.”
I bit back a grin but fell silent. Generally, I didn’t speak while riding—mostly because Mauro hated conversation. This would definitely be a trying journey for him.
For all three of us.
I didn’t knowhow the princess was able to get under my skin. I could endure Queen Calista’s taunting, but I couldn’t handle the half-human Snow Princess? Absurd.
And yet, her presence, her teasing jibes, even the sound of her voice was so irritating it made my blood boil. How I would survive the entire journey to Taerin, I didn’t know.
If it weren’t for this damned fae bargain, I could have ended her life in seconds. Hell, the princess would probably have met her demise at the hands of the fae creatures she trusted so much. Her idiocy would do the job for me.
The thought brought a smile to my face, but a rough jostle from Mauro’s hindquarters made my grin vanish. The beast was correct; hewasfast. But my position gave me a bumpy ride, my frame lurching with each turn. I had to grip the princess’s waist more times than I would have preferred. Each time I did, she stiffened ever so slightly. I wasn’t even sure she noticed it, but I did. Part of my skill as an assassin was to take note of every move, every reaction of my enemy. And she visibly reacted to my touch. To my closeness.
Perhaps I could use that to my advantage.
After a few hours of hard riding, Mauro slowed to catch his breath, and I made my move. With a long sigh, I leaned forward, wrapping my arms tightly around the princess and nuzzling my face into her shoulder.
She jerked so violently I was nearly thrown clean off the stag. “What the hell are you doing?”
“What?” I asked innocently. “I’m tired and would like a rest.”
“Not like that, you won’t.”
“Well, if it bothers you, you can continue on foot.” I drew closer again, and she jabbed me with her elbow. Her pitiful blow only made me laugh. She couldn’t hurt me.
“Keep your distance, hunter,” she seethed.
I didn’t move. “You’re the one who insisted I ride the stag.”
“You’re doing this on purpose.”
“And what if I am? What will you do about it?” My lips brushed her neck, and I felt her shudder slightly. My face flushed from the intimacy of the moment.
“Silence, both of you!” Mauro roared. His voice startled me so much that I withdrew from the princess, loosening my hold around her waist. “Blood and ice, you two are insufferable. Snow, this is the last time I do you any favors.”
“You know you don’t mean that, Mauro,” she said, her tone immediately softening.
