Page 37 of Ruling the Green

I nodded.

But as he reached for my flask, I gasped and lunged at him.

“Easy,” he murmured, holding out a hand. “You don’t have pockets. I will keep it right here.”

He slid it into his pant pocket. “If you want it at any time, you can have it.” I tried to relax my shoulders. “Do you think you’re up for a tour? I don’t like that you don’t at least know where the exits are in case of an emergency. Or assassination attempt.”

He said the last one so casually, I almost thought I’d misheard him.

“Knight, come,” he called as we moved into the hall. He turned to look at me. “I suppose we should look like a happy newlywed couple.”

I had no idea what that meant, so I just inclined my head.

But then his arm was lifting, his hand moving out to press into the small of my back.

It was a soft, barely-there touch, but a shiver coursed down my spine and pooled in my core. I didn’t have a name for the sensation, but it crested and pulsed through me as we walked down the long hall, then down a curving stone staircase to the next floor.

He led me through the guest quarters, the ballroom, and the dining hall with a table so long it could seat a hundred people.

“These are the staff areas. I don’t typically come down here, so don’t be surprised if there is a lot of confusion and scrambling.”

Remembering the prick to my skin in passing, I scooted closer to Jet as we stepped into the bustling kitchen.

He stiffened enough for me to start to pull away, but then his arm slid, curling around my hip and pulling me close as the first staff member froze and gasped, nearly dropping the bowl full of plums to the ground.

“I’m just showing the princess around,” Jet announced, his tone carrying an authority that had a tingle starting in my core. “Don’t let us disturb you and your duties.”

At that final word, everyone jolted out of shock and started moving around at twice their already hurried pace, likely thinking Jet was there to judge them and their work ethic.

It was as one of those servants was pulling something round and carved with elegant designs that a scent drifted over to me that I’d never smelled before, something warm and comforting that had my stomach letting out a pained grumble.

Jet followed my gaze. “The bread?” he asked. “Have you never had bread before?” Then, not leaving room for me to shake my head, he shook his own. “Where would there be a hearth near a lake?” he asked himself. He started to call out to someone, caught himself, then strode over—pulling me with him—and wrapped the hot bread up in a cloth. “Does anyone have a basket?” he called.

I watched as no fewer than five women scrambled to bring him one, eyes wide, bodies twitchy. Almost as if they expected something terrible to befall them if they didn’t trip over each other to give him what he wanted.

My stomach tensed at the idea of there being some sort of punishment if he was dissatisfied with their work performance.

I knew there was a lot of talk about how unpredictable, insane, and brutal his father was. But what about Jet? Did he have people beaten when they were too slow? Did he have them tossed in prison for failing to meet his standards?

I watched his profile as he grabbed random pieces of fruit and vegetables and tossed them into the basket along with the bread.

Some part of me I didn’t quite understand didn’t want someone so gorgeous to be so cruel. But could he be good if he was raised by such a monster? Was he only kind to me because our fates were linked? Was he sadistic and heartless to everyone else?

Before I could make up my mind, he was leading me through the door to the back of the kitchen and out into the fresh air.

I took a deep breath of pine, wet earth, crushed leaves, and the scent of woodsmoke from the hearth.

Some of the tension still riding my shoulders lessened. I’d never been indoors before this whole ordeal. And while I had learned to appreciate a warm fire and a cozy bed, some part of me had been craving the sights, sounds, and scents of the outdoors—the place that had been my home as long as I remembered.

“Oh, these bastards.” Jet let out a snarling sound that had me stiffening as I turned my attention to where his was focused.

A few yards away were half a dozen creatures with red sludge dripping down from the tops of their heads. The closer they got, the more strongly I smelled a mix of copper and decay.

“Fuck off,” he snapped at the creatures. But they simply moved closer, unconcerned with his wishes. “Damned redcaps,” he mumbled to himself. Then, to me, “Come. We can get away from them if you’re a good enough climber.”

With that, his hand left my hip to grab my hand again, and I was nearly running to keep up with his long-legged stride. Even so, the redcaps were right behind us with their decay and body odor scents, their crackling joints, and their eerie grunts and whistling breaths.

A shiver coursed down my spine as I felt one close in behind me, his stench making me retch as Jet pulled me faster.