I see it. The moment it dawns on him that he’ll have to fold to my wishes. His fingers tremble with anger before his hands close into fists.
“Promise me. That no harm will come to her.”
“No harm will come to her,” he says through clenched teeth.
“And you will marry her to Phillip.”
“Her guard?” he asks, astounded. “She’s worth far more than that. You don’t get to make that decision.”
“Promise me,” I snap out. “Or I will ruin us.”
Before I hear his words of promise the prince returns, wearing that same bland expression he left with and carrying the reins of the largest white horse I’ve ever seen. My pulse quickens at the sight of him. Clothed like midnight, green eyes even more startling in the daylight.
I see it in my father’s face too.Fear. My father and my new husband have had some sort of interaction and it doesn’t seem to have gone well for my father.
I don’t know what kind of idiocy or bravery compels me. It borders on insanity. I force a smile across my face and reach a trepid hand to his arm. “Oh, there you are,” I say with fake enthusiasm.
His eyes narrow. Now that we’re standing directly next to each other, the size difference is jarring. I barely meet his chest. Even if he wasn’t a witch, capable of monstrous things with a flick of his hand, he could kill me with very little effort. I’m happy to see that he at least towers over my father, as well. I force a swallow, turn my head, and widen my eyes, knowing this could very well blow back in my face.Please?
His countenance remains stony but a flash of awareness pools in his eyes. “We should be off,” he gruffs finally.
What happens to me doesn’t matter. Only Syra. And if she can’t be happy, what’s the point of any of it? I turn back to my father. “I think we’re all in agreement, right, father?”
Face still flaming a deep shade of red, he gives me a curt nod as his eyes sweep over the prince’s large form.
Satisfaction spears in my chest, and although I’m about to be carted off by a witch and probably meet my doom, I fight back the urge to grin, this time genuinely. I turn my gaze to the unworldly horse he’s brought with him, just now realizing he’s only brought the one. “Oh, I have my own horse.”
“You’ll ride with me.”
My mouth dries. “Surely that’s not necessary.”
“Your horse will not be able to keep up with mine.”
His tone leaves me no room to argue, and seeing the size of his horse, I don’t doubt him. I’m not even sure how I’m going to mount that beast. My father’s eyes continue to shoot daggers at me, but then the corner of his lip quirks as he turns to the prince. “I hope she is to your liking. If she’s any trouble, you must do with her as you see fit.”
My smirk falters. The next thing I know, two large hands are wrapping around my hips. He hoists me up and settles me sideways against the saddle, eyes meeting mine as he says, “I’m sure you won’t be any trouble, will you, love?”
I start to careen sideways and he steadies me with a hand against my thigh before turning back to my father. “Her happiness is of utmost importance to me. There isn’t anything I won’t do to secure it. Anything,” he reiterates. “As well as a long and peaceful alliance, of course.”
I hear the threat in his carefully crafted words. My father gapes, and I realize I still am, too, and hurriedly shut my mouth. This isn’t for me. Well, it isfor me, except only to threaten my father.
He nudges my thigh again, a silent request for me to right myself on the saddle, and I do. Hoisting up my skirts and grasping the pommel for leverage as I flip my leg over. He mounts behind me, and I lean back into his chest to finish the charade out strong. He bends down close to my ear. “That enough?” He asks, voice low enough not to be heard by my father.
I give a small nod, and he grasps the reins to urge us forward. “Farewell, father,” I call out cheerfully, beaming as I watch his retreating scowl.
It only takes seconds for my grin to fade. I’m being propelled into an unknown future with a witch at my back.
We head for asmall path carved out of the thicket of woods. As soon as we disappear behind the dense of trees, I grasp the pommel to scoot myself up and lessen the contact between us, holding my back rigidly straight. I’ve never been in such close proximity to a man before, and my stomach turns to knots. I wasn’t even allowed to speak to men, aside from the Priest, let alone share a bed or a horse.
“How did I do?” His voice is a low murmur so close it sends shivers down my spine.
“G-good. Thank you for playing along.”
He adjusts the reins in his symboled hands and our speed increases momentously, throwing me back against him, hair whipping wildly around my face. Now I understand what he meant when he said my horse wouldn’t be able to keep up. This is no normal horse. I clutch the pommel to tug myself forward. The momentum has me sliding back within seconds. I start to pull myself forward again. He grips a hand around my waist and hauls me flush against his hips.
“Relax.”
It’s not a request, it’s a demand, voice firm with authority that sends me prickling. I tense, back still rigid. He lifts his arm and grasps my shoulder, arm braced against my chest, coaxing me back until I’m leaning against him fully. “Relax. Or it’s going to be a very long day.”
