There haven’t been any signs of preparation for battle yet, but we’ve yet to see the castle—yet to see Moros and what he’s done with Runnswick.
“Lu?” Graylen’s gravelly voice pulls me from my thoughts.
I look down at him, a sad smile on my face as I reach for him. My fingers fan out across his chest as I place my palm right over his heart—the steady thumping rhythm bringing me back to the present.
“Go back to sleep,” I whisper. “I’ll wake you up in a bit.”
He places his hand over mine, engulfing it in his grasp.
As he drifts back to sleep, I watch him. My eyes trace over the features of his face—a jaw lined with stubble, full lips that calm the fear inside of me, long and dark eyelashes that flutter against the tops of his cheeks as he falls back asleep.
My heart aches at his beauty—his strength.
Looking at him, I know we’re going to be okay. We may not have all the answers, and the odds may feel stacked so high against us that we can’t see a way through it, but we have each other.
His fingers twitch around my hand, squeezing lightly, as if saying,I’m here. We’re okay.
I swallow, my eyes welling up as I thank Eurydice for bringing this man to me. Together, we’ll find a way.
The following day, we finally reach the next marker indicating where we are, a small post between a fork in the dirt path.Carved onto it is an arrow pointing to the right that readsSaltain,while the left points toLyland.
My throat constricts. I don’t realize I’d pulled back on the reins until I feel Graylen’s warm hand press against my upper thigh from behind me.
“Lu?”His smooth voice sinks into my mind.
When I don’t answer him—my eyes stuck on the sign—I feel him lean to the side, looking over my shoulder to see what’s caught my focus. Adrian is already steering his horse to the right, toward Saltain.
Memories flood in of maps strewn across tables in the castle library, Linnick and I stooped over them as we devised our plan to escape the castle. To Lyland. I can’t fight the emotions that sweep in with the memories, the grief that pierces my heart.
That time in my life was so…different.
The thought of leaving Runnswick was the only thing that kept me going while stuck in the castle during the matching.
Adrian hasn’t noticed we stopped, oblivious to the turmoil rolling through me.
“When I first met Linnick, you two were in the library,” Graylen says quietly, Adrian well out of earshot. “But before that, I stood outside in the hall and listened to you two talk about your plans to leave—to go to Lyland.”
I twist around, craning my neck to look at him. “Youwhat?”
The left side of his mouth slopes up. He tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes crinkling slightly in the corners. “Don’t be mad, little princess,” he murmurs, his lightness warming my chest. “I found every excuse I could to be around you one way or another.”
My nostrils flare, and his small grin turns into a full-on smirk.
“One way beingspyingon me,” I mutter.
He nods, not trying to deny it. “I prefer to call itensuring your safety,” he tosses back.
My mouth curls into a small smile as I say, “Call it what you want, little soldier; it’s still spying.”
His grin falls at the nickname, and he narrows his eyes at me.
“What?” I smirk. “If you can call melittleprincess, then I can call youlittlesoldier.”
He shakes his head, slow and deliberate, and leans in toward me, his chest brushing against my shoulder. “You can call me whatever you want as long as you call me yours,” he whispers.
My lips part as his gaze drops down to my mouth. I miss him, miss his warmth and security.
Graylen leans toward me, and my breathing stalls.
