“No.”
His lie struck me, but I pressed my lips shut so I wouldn’t say anything foolish. There were a great many things I wanted to say.
The rest of the guard all looked away as we walked with him, like it was something they always did.
They judged me.
He judged me.
And he was free to do whatever he wished. He planned to continue doing whatever he wished.
I battled my fury as it engulfed me. Releasing it would only condemn me.
The sword slipped from where I squeezed it into my ribcage. “It’s slipping.”
Soren tugged me toward him, pressing his lips into mine. His kiss was just as suffocating as before.
His hand trailing my side as he slowly wedged it back in place under my cloak.
When I regained my grip on it, I pulled back from him.
A stupid smirk hung on his lips. “I had to make it look believable. Try not to drop your sword again.”
“I will definitely make sure I don’t.” I clung to his arm as he led me to the back of the stables.
When we went inside, a fae lord stepped in front of me. Stubbly red hair lined his jaw and matched the long hair that flowed from the top of his head. I recognized him from the journey here.
“Where is he?” Soren asked, clutching my hand onto his arm.
“The sword is slipping again.” I yanked my hand free from his and grabbed the hilt. “Please don’t kiss me again.”
The unmistakable jade-green glow of fae eyes glared at me from the darkness of the stable.
“That was not part of the deal,” Fyn said.
He was here—really here. I could finally breathe.
“I needed to get her out unseen.” Soren’s hand wrapped back around my wrist with my next step forward.
The water in my eyes made my vision blur. “Fyn?”
“I’ll get the horses.” The fae tradesman rounded a corner toward the stalls.
“There is no time for a tearful reunion,” Soren said.
Fyn tugged his cloak hood back. Slender grey rings held beneath his eyes as he glared at Soren. The paleness of hisskin made them even more prevalent. “How will we get past the guard from here?”
“You’ll follow my lead.” Soren released me as he undid the stable stall and readied his horse.
“And you think no one will notice that you have a woman on your horse? Or do you have a disguise on you that I can’t see?” Fyn looked me over.
“They think I had a guest. It won’t be questioned,” Soren said.
“Of course they do.” Fyn grabbed Merda’s reins from the tradesman, before he mounted his horse.
Soren pulled the sword from under my cloak and secured it on the side of the horse’s saddle. “We’ll ride to the edge of the nearest town and then I’ll part with you there,” he said, as I climbed into the saddle. “You’ll have to look like you like me, Ashlyn.”
Fyn’s huffed behind us. When I turned around, his eyes locked on mine. “It’s time to go home.”
