When I came back to myself enough to realize I’d gotten tears and snot all over the Valourian crown prince’s shirt, I wishedfervently for Elianna’s magic, so I could cast a spell that would make me vanish.
I mumbled as much, and he started laughing.
“Soli, I have a little sister. Far worse has happened to my shirts.”
It made me smile, as he’d intended, and then I climbed onto the saddle almost before I realized I was doing it. It took me a few days to relax enough that every step didn’t jolt my spine, but now I’m at least comfortable enough to ride Cloud on my own without needing someone next to me.
This morning, just as I’m easing into Cloud’s plodding rhythm, Kaelen stabs me in the chest.
Not literally, but the blow he strikes with his words cuts right to the heart of me.
“We’re almost there. We’ll find the key in the Barrows, and—”
“The Barrows?” I realize I’m practically shouting and lower my voice to pretend to a calm I definitely don’t feel. “Did you say we’re going to find the key in theBarrows?”
When my hands tighten on the reins in reaction, Cloud shakes her head in displeasure. I force myself to relax and pat her neck in apology but then return to the point. “The Barrows? Are you out of your royal mind? The goddess said theBoundaries. I was there, remember?”
Kaelen, dressed today in a forest green shirt, black pants, boots, and a dark cloak, looks every inch the aristocratic lordling. I was too busy staring at him and daydreaming about … Well. Not important. But I was distracted by his unfair gorgeousness, and we’re riding well in front of the rest of our company, just the two of us, so I only half paid attention to his actual conversation until I heard two of the worst words ever: “The” and “Barrows.”
Funny how the word I twined in my braid this morning wasFortitude.
“‘The Boundaries’ is the old Altarran name for the Barrows.”
So much for fortitude. Also, how did I never readthat?
I’m stunned literally speechless. It’s a good minute before I can form words. “Do you evenknowabout the Barrows? Am I the onlyone who has ever read abookin this company?”
“Yes, I—”
“Draugrs, Kaelen.Draugrs.The spirits of the restless dead.”
“I know what a draugr is. They’re probably guarding the key.”
“Why is it always like that, anyway? Why does it have to be spirits of the restless dead? Why can’t it ever be spirits of the happy and peaceful dead? Or spirits of sweet little bunnies?”
His beautiful purple eyes widen.
“We’re all going to die.” I blow out a breath, fear leaking out of me and turning into dire resignation. “That’s it. We’re all going to die. Draugrs will never give up the key.”
Kaelen’s eyes flare hot. “We’re not going to die. If you only knew …” He presses his lips together, refusing to finish the sentence.
“If I only knew what? And how can it possibly matter?”
“Soli,” he growls. Then his face hardens, and before I can think of what to say next, he leaps down from his horse and pulls me from mine, so I’m standing close to him—tooclose to him, his hands gripping my arms. “If you only knew, you brilliant, brave, beautiful, thoroughly vexing woman, that I would do anything in my power—kill any enemy, or even die myself—to keep you safe.”
“If you think—” I blink. “I … You would?”
He groans and bends his head to rest his forehead on mine. “My entire life has been about self-control, yet in less than a fortnight, you’ve hammered cracks in my willpower. I …yearnfor you. Why? There are the obvious reasons,” he says almost to himself. “But not as obvious as the thousand reasons I shouldn’t do this—not that I care about any of them.”
“Reasons? Shouldn’t do … what?”
“This,” he says, the word at once heavy and featherlight.
And then he kisses me.
I freeze, shock and ice and heat swirling through me at the first touch of his lips. This can’t be happening. I let myself dream of it, knowing it would never become reality, that he’d never kiss me when it wasn’t part of our disguise, but here it is, he’s kissing me, he’s …
“Soli.” His voice is husky with laughter. “Stop thinking so hard.”
