The sky above!
This journey will be the longest journey of my twenty summers. That is,ifI don’t encourage the gelding to a gallop and throw Gabriel from its back.
Laughter bubbles up inside me at the imagery of him soaring through the air and landing in the dirt, but I don’t allow it freedom.
Instead, I hunch forward, creating distance between my back and Gabriel’s chest. He’s still too close. His thighs. His arms. His heat searing through my surcoat. Ten pairs of clothes wouldn’t be enough to chase away this kind of warmth.
He shifts to hold the reins with one hand, places the other against my waist, and jerks me against him. I try to wiggle away, to create separation. His grip tightens, keeping me close.
The warmth of his breath brushes against my cheek as he speaks near my ear. “Don’t move. We will ride like this.”
“You’re holding me too tight,” I protest, needing that comfort of distance between us.
“I’m holding you,” he begins, his mouth near my ear again, “the way a husband holds his wife the day after they have wed. You will stay here.”
Tingles shoot through my fingers with the urge to shove him away. Instead, I hold my body stiff, not allowing myself to sink against him. “Our marriage didn’t matter last night when you left me all alone.”
“It matters now.”
I allow my gaze to move, to catch on the soldiers riding past. They watch us. Every single one of them.
Gabriel cares what they think. He cared last night when he cut his palm to fool the council, and he cares now.
He gives his horse lead, and it follows the group of soldiers moving toward the mountains.
I choke back the resentment, the anger, the mortification that Gabriel spurned me and focus on my path.
Gabriel is one tiny bump in a longer road. I can tolerate his presence long enough to get close to his chieftain.
When I do, I’ll sink my vengeance deep into Roland’s chest.
ChapterSixteen
One day of riding with Gabriel consisted of two quick breaks and no conversation. As the sun lumbers behind the trees, we stop and make camp. Rather, the men set up the tents, and the women prepare food over open fires. When I try to help, Kassandra motions me away, stating she has everything under control.
I perch on a rock near the fire, helplessly watching as everyone around me works.
Like Kassandra, the women who labor with her have the same red circles on their surcoats. Proof, they’re outsiders too.
Why? What makes them different?
Inviting smells taunt the emptiness gnawing at my stomach, and a lazy breeze plays with my hair as I settle my palms against my thighs. The soldiers continue raising their tents and partially unpacking the wagons. Everyone works together. Even Luc.
I study his features, noting his sad eyes, his firm jaw. Luc embodies strength and leadership as he issues orders to his men. They obey without question.
He doesn’t resemble his uncle. If he did, I couldn’t abide to look at him.
As the soldiers finish, the cooks serve them dinner in terracotta bowls.
Kassandra brings me some of the soup and smiles as she speaks. “I hope you enjoy.”
“Thank you.” I blow on the food and take a bite. The rich flavors in the venison warm my tongue and remind me of home. “It’s delicious.”
Gabriel sits near me and eats in silence. Not that I’m surprised. The man seems incapable of offering small talk.
A group of six men join us, including Luc. Leah joins us too.
I stare at the other men, noting their size, their strength beneath their surcoats. The hissing serpents etched into their coat of arms bleed into my mind, sparking the memories I locked away. Those moments when I hid in cowardly silence. What my eyes couldn’t see, my ears could. What my hands couldn’t touch, my heart felt.
