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Arianna let out a low, amused laugh as she glanced back at me. “First, you are light as a feather, Bastard King. But yes—he is.” She turned her attention back to the road, still chuckling under her breath.

“We had some struggle,” Valentina added, as if to preserve what was left of my dignity.

They were ridiculous in their own ways, but I appreciated how she tried to shield me, even from something small. It was thoughtful in a way that felt… unfamiliar. “Well, thank you for considering my dignity,” I said, raising a brow toward Arianna, “unlike others.”

Arianna’s gaze flicked back to me, humor still glowing beneath that shadow of darkness. “We both know that until you manage to defeat me in a duel, dignity is far from the table.” Her words hit harder than her fists, though that was saying something.

“Fighting a demon wasn’t exactly my plan,” I shot back. “But if that’s the bar you’re setting…” A sharp memory of her knee driving into my gut flashed through me. “…that might be easier said than done.”

A shiver ran through me, and I shook the memory off. I knew I’d have to face her again eventually, and I was already dreading it. Not wanting to entertain her sadistic streak any further, I changed the subject. “How far are we from your father?”

“Not far,” Valentina chimed in. “I left a blood bag in the pack. You’ll find it in the back.” Her hand brushed past my ear as she pointed toward the far corner of the cabin.

My gaze followed. It was the same bag we’d brought through the portal. “Thank you.” I smiled, my attention drifting back to her. The deep brown of her irises caught the lamplight, and for a moment, she looked like something carved from gold. My mouth moved before my mind could stop it. “How about you sit in the back with me?”

“But we’d have to stop… and Arianna would be alone up here.”

I glanced toward Arianna, my grin deepening. “So?” I challenged. She wasn’t the one deciding where I sat, or who sat with me. She might’ve been stronger, but my resolve was iron. “It’s not like she needs the company,” I added, “or like I don’t need to learn more about your father.”

A dimple pressed into Valentina’s cheek as her gaze flicked between us. The way her face lit up… it almost felt like she’d been waiting for me to ask. It would’ve been easier, too, than her twisting around just to look at me.

“It’s not up to me,” she said, feigning innocence. Since the moment I’d met her, every decision she made had been her own. Seeing her hide behind Arianna now, it was… sweet.

Arianna’s attention never left the path, but I caught the faintest hint of amusement in her peripheral glance. Something told me she was waiting. Waiting for me to ask properly. I cleared my throat. “Can we stop for a moment?” I said, more deliberate this time. “I’d like Valentina to ride in the back with me.”

Her composure didn’t crack when she finally looked our way. Whatever amusement I thought I saw earlier was gone, her expression unreadable. “Whoa.” Arianna’s voice snapped through the air like a whip as she yanked the reins. The stallions reared, their front legs kicking skyward before slamming down into a sudden halt. “Go,” she muttered, already turning her attention back to the snowy road.

A shy smile spread across both our faces at the small victory. I couldn’t quite place it, but a part of me liked getting my way, without having to fight for it.

Before Arianna could change her mind, Valentina slipped from the bench and glided down the steps, rounding toward the back. My nerves stuttered as I waited. I could already smell her through the oak, that distinct warmth seeping through the space between us.

Backing away from the window, I settled onto the pallet again. Not wanting to crowd the small space, I folded my knees in, giving her room. Even then, the thought of her being this close sent a spike of adrenaline through me.

A metal latch clacked against the panel outside with a dull thump. My pulse jumped at the sound, and I forced it to steady before she could hear it. The door pulled open.

Daylight spilled in, casting Valentina in a soft azure glow. My breath caught for a moment as that familiar pull tightened in my chest, drawing me toward her. The layered folds of her skirt and sleeves stirred in the winter wind. Still on my knees, I leaned forward, extending my hand to help her in from the cold.

She took it without hesitation.

A small current passed through me, lighting every nerve her skin touched. With a quiet smile, she braced her boot against the floor and pulled herself inside. Before turning to me, she reached back and secured the door from within.

As soon as Val climbed in, the wagon lurched forward again.

She settled beside me as quietly as ever. For a few moments, no words passed between us, just a comforting silence filling the space. Even without touching me, the swell of her dress crowded the space between us, the fabric bunching toward her waist and spilling across the hay.

Valentina patted at it, trying to force it into submission so she could sit comfortably. I didn’t mean to laugh, but I couldn’t help it. She looked like a puffed pastry spilling over a pan. “Do you need help?” I offered with a sly smile. “I can sit on half of it.”

Her eyes rolled as she processed my solution. “You do realize this dress is very expensive,” she said. “I can’t just have you sitting on it for no reason. Are you mad, Alex?” Her expression leaned toward annoyance, but her voice carried amusement.

“If it’s so expensive, how did Arianna conveniently have it ready for you?” I asked, raising a brow, my grin widening. Up close, I could see just how fine the material was, delicate, like it had been sewn by hand with care. “She just has a whole extra wardrobe for you?”

Val chuckled despite herself, glancing down at the dress. “I wouldn’t call it a wardrobe,” she said, smoothing the fabric. “But she does keep a few of my things. I’ve spent a lot of time with her. It’s only right to leave a piece or two with your dearest friend.”

I understood exactly what she meant. Connor used to keep his favorite pair of shoes in the back of Tammy, along with his letterman jacket from Ashland University. He always knew I’d be around, so he kept his things with me.

That thought pulled me back to Monday. To when all of this started. I hoped Connor would still have his things… even if they never found me.

The irony.