“This side is clear, too,” Trick says.
Chitai and Kaelen dismount and help move the log. I think about doing the same, but my knees wobble when I climb down, so I concentrate on taking calm breaths.
When the task is done and we’re on the road again, Chitai rides ahead with the others. I catch myself staring at Kaelen again and force myself to turn away.
Oh, trees!
Look at the nice trees and stop remembering what the prince looks like naked.
I can’t stop myself from sneaking a glance, though. Memories of our time in Merrion rush through me, and I catch my breath. Kaelen glances at me, and a moment later, a slow, wicked smile spreads across his face. “I keep thinking about it, too.”
“It?” I swallow.
“You. Naked. Your hair like silk on my skin,” he murmurs. “Your body against mine. Your tongue in my mouth. Your hand on my cock. My tongue in your hot, wet, luscious—”
“Oh, dear goddess. Stop. Please.” My face is on fire, but the flames are racing through me to lower, more sensitive parts of my body, too. I shift in the saddle, my breath catching.
“That’s not what you said in the inn,” he drawls.
“Kaelen! I don’t—”
“Soli!Kaelen!” Elianna shouts from behind us.
I whip my head around to see what or who is attacking her, but there’s nothing and no one.
“Tell everyone we’re going to switch things up,” she calls out, scowling. “I need some sleep before I fall over, so somebody else needs to drive this ravens-begotten wagon. And I’m sure Soli could use some rest, too.”
“I’m fine for a while,” I tell her, not wanting to invite round two of the conversation about who should carry the amulet.
Bern rides back to take over driving, but none of the others want to rest, either. Elianna frowns at all of us and climbs into the back of the wagon to get some sleep.
“What was that about?” Kaelen is studying my face, and I realize yet again how perceptive he is.
“She told me she should carry the amulet. She thinks it might restore her magic,” I confess.
“If Artemisen wanted to restore her magic, she would have done it.”
I throw my hands in the air. “That’s what I said! In a rather unkind way, though. I should probably apologize. I would have at the time, but that’s when the bounty hunters attacked.”
Trick rides back to join us, and Kaelen nods to him before urging River toward Andras and Chitai in the lead, while Sergeant Neville falls back to the rear behind the wagon.
“Almost dawn,” Trick says.
It’s true. The golden glimmer of sunlight has been peeking up from the horizon for some time.
“Are you okay, Trick? No injuries?”
“No, but there are two men who will never attack anybody again, thanks to me,” he says with grim satisfaction.
“And the … the mental effects? Are you having any problems coping with all this danger and killing?”
He reaches across the space between our horses to touch my hand. “I’m okay. I know this journey is as different from your life in the library as night is from day. You were unbelievably brave back at the camp. I just wish you hadn’t had to face anything like that.”
“I wish the same for you. For all of us.”
“If you need to talk about any of it, I’m here,” he says, suddenly awkward.
“Thank you.” I turn my hand over and thread my fingers through his. “Thank you for being my friend all these years. There were so many times when you were the only bright spot in my life.”
