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RYDER RODE HIS HORSEas fast as he could toward the palace. There wasn’t a moment to lose. He needed to tell Clarissa.
He still wasn’t certain the witch was the one causing the king’s guards to die, but knowing she was a witch and knowing about the curse she’d placed on the flower made him want to dig deeper to find the evidence that proved she was responsible for more. He wouldn’t rest until she was stopped.
When he reached the palace, he jumped off his horse and started up the stairs. If Clarissa wouldn’t listen to him, he’d get the king and queen to hear him. They would believe him.
Just before reaching the palace doors, he heard his name whispered in the night breeze. He stopped and turned, scanning the shadows, trying to find who had called him.
A woman’s cloaked form emerged from the large tree landscaping the side of the stairs. When she walked into the moonlight and lowered her hood, long, curly, blonde tresses fell free, covering her shoulders all the way down her back, reaching her knees. Clarissa smiled at him with such tenderness, he couldn’t help but respond with enthusiasm.
His heart knocked a crazy rhythm against his ribs as he bounded down the steps toward her. Had she changed her mind about him? Either that or the spell had worn off. He could only hope. She held out her hands, which he grasped once he reached her.
“Oh, Ryder. I’m so relieved you came back,” she said breathlessly.
“But of course I came back. Did you think I would leave forever?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “I didn’t know what to believe. I made you upset, and it wasn’t my intent. Please forgive me?”
As he gazed into her shadowed eyes, he could only guess that she hadn’t smelled the flowers since he’d left. Perhaps that was why Prince Ormond had insisted the spell wasn’t working.
He stroked her cheek. “Of course I forgive you. Always, my love.”
Her head moved from side to side as if she were searching for someone. “Ryder, I want to be with you in private.” She met his gaze again. “Will you come someplace with me?”
His heart soared as happiness quickly spread through him. “I’ll go anywhere with you.”
Smiling, she brushed her delicate fingers against his cheek. “Thank you. I want to be in your arms again, but I don’t want an audience.”
He laughed. “Neither do I.” He lifted one of her hands and kissed her knuckles. “I have something to tell you. I discovered something tonight that you’ll find very interesting.”
She nodded. “Then let’s hurry and leave, so you can tell me.”
“I’ll saddle your horse.”
“No need to,” she whispered. “I’ve already done that.”
He led her to her horse and helped her mount before running to his. After he pulled himself on the animal’s back, he rode side-by-side with her until after they left the palace grounds. A small lantern was attached to her horse.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
She gave him a teasing grin. “A place where nobody will be able to find us.”
“I like the sound of that.” He winked.
They didn’t talk much as they rode along an out-of-the-way trail. She acted as if she knew the place well, but not knowing where they were going made him a little unsettled. But he put his trust in her and continued to follow her lead.
His heart softened as he watched her. She was such a fine horsewoman, and very accomplished. Every once in a while, she’d glance back at him and flash him her charming grin. Excitement and happiness had a race inside of him for which one wanted to be in the lead. He didn’t care, just as long as the end result would bring him and Clarissa closer together. And to think he had worried over nothing...
After they rode for at least thirty minutes deeper into the east forest, doubt filled him. “Clarissa, should we not find a place closer to home? How about the wood where—”
“No, I assure you. I have the perfect place.”
He couldn’t imagine where she was taking him. He didn’t know this part of the kingdom very well, and so his instincts were keenly aware of everything. Each and every night sound, every owl’s hoot, startled him. He kept one hand over his sword just in case.
Finally, up ahead he could see the outline of some tall and narrowed structure. What could possibly be clear out here? But whatever it was, it had to be abandoned, since he hadn’t seen any civilization this far into the forest.
As they neared, the structure became more recognizable.A tower?How interesting. And more interesting was that Clarissa knew about the location as well.
