She freezes for half a second, then straightens. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
Her eyes narrow as she scans the people around us, and mutters under her breath, “That traitor to end all traitors.”
I cover my laugh with a cough. Her brother was right.He’ll pay dearly for this, I think to myself as we pass through the city gates, heading toward her new life.
CHAPTER 8
VIVIENNE
The farming village of Brookhollow is a few hours north of the capital and much smaller than I’d expected. The few times I accompanied Father on his travels, within our kingdom, we never came this way.
The streets are unpaved, the buildings a patchwork of stone and timber, their roofs slanted at odd angles, as if braced for harsh winters.
Smoke curls from chimneys, the scent of roasting meat and fresh bread is thick in the air, mingling with the earthy tang of damp soil. Merchants call out their wares from wooden stalls as we pass.
A bit tired from the ride, I sway in the saddle. Unbidden warmth fills my chest as Auren’s grip tightens around my middle to ensure I won’t fall. “I’ve got you,” he whispers in my ear, sending a faint shiver down my spine.
He must mistakenly believe I’m cold because he quickly drapes his cloak over my shoulders, enveloping me in his heatand his masculine scent. “Here,” he murmurs, carefully tucking it around my shoulders. “This should protect you from the chill.”
For a moment I’m speechless. I can’t remember the last time someone cared for me like this. “Thank you,” I murmur.
“Of course, my darling wife.”
His words make my heart do an odd little flip, but I force myself to ignore it and focus on something else.
It’s a bit strange to be traveling as a commoner, but also a bit freeing. We’ve passed several people along the road, but no one has recognized me as the princess. Then again, why would they? There’s no royal carriage or guards anywhere nearby.
As Vaelen pads further into the village, Auren’s steady presence is warm at my back, his muscular thighs bracketing mine.
I’ve never been this close to a man before, and I’m far too aware of how easily he could pull me closer… and how little I trust myself not to let him.
I don’t like that he’s already affecting me in this way, but perhaps it’s because I’ve left my home and my family and I’m feeling vulnerable. That must be what it is. It has to be.
As we reach the edge of the town wall, I catch sight of a man and a woman, their young daughter nestled between them, on a pile of straw near the gates.
The mother smooths a hand over the child’s tangled hair as the father, his face lined with too many years of hardship, hesitates before calling out. “Spare a few coins, my lord?” His voice is low and weary. “For my family.”
The little girl peers up at us with wide, sunken eyes, her small hands clutching at her mother’s sleeve.
My heart clenches. I’ve never seen people in such a state of poverty before.
Auren reins Vaelen to a stop. He shifts behind me, reaching into one of the satchels attached to the saddle. To my surprise,he pulls out a generous handful of gold coins and presses them into the father’s callused palms.
The man’s jaw drops as he stares at the wealth resting in his hands. “My lord, this is too much.” He tries to push some of it back toward Auren, his arms trembling. “We couldn’t possibly accept this.”
“No.” Auren closes the man’s hands around the coins. “Keep it.”
His gaze is full of gratitude as he bows deeply.
“May the gods bless you both,” his wife says, her eyes misting.
“And you as well,” Auren replies as we continue on our way.
As soon as we’re out of earshot, I glance back at the family. A strange sensation twists in my stomach as I think of all my fine dresses, my jewelry, my decadent meals… the lavish life I’ve lived as a princess.
“What’s wrong?” Auren asks.
