We don’t have to wait long. Trapped on the eastern side of the marshes, the pirates couldn’t do much more than pepper the water uselessly with machine guns. It wasn’t long before our team on the western side of the marshes swarmed the cornered wagons and relieved them of their weapons.
The prisoners, injured and uninjured alike, are locked inside a cart for transport. I feel a momentary pang of guilt, but I don’t intend to waste precious medical supplies on them.
Tovian collects my frightened mare from the marsh and leads the animal, with me on her back, across the marsh and up the steep embankment onto the road. Embarrassingly, I vomit twice along the way.
Some reunion. Despite my injuries—in addition to the blow to the back of my head, I catalog numerous abrasions and contusions from my face to my ankle and everywhere in between—and being soaked in muddy water, I’m overjoyed to see him again.
I don’t quite know how to show it, considering I’ve been caught in a significant lie.
Luza gives me a bucket of clean water and change of clothes. I wash and dress behind the relative privacy of a stand of trees while she stands guard. I still smell like a swamp when I’m done, but at least my cuts aren’t likely to fester.
“Why am I always meeting Tovian when I’m covered in grime?” I complain to no one, wincing as I find a clump of mud embedded behind my ear.
“Are you talking about your mystery man, Princess?” Luza asked.
“He’s not mine.”
“I’ll leave that for you two to sort out.” she says. A shadow flickers. When I glance up, she’s gone. Tovian’s gaze locks on mine. He pulls the hem of a blue T-shirt down over his abdomen. The intensity of that look jolts me physically.
Reila and all the celestial gods above, Lorcan looked great in blue but Tovian looks even better.
Mentally, I slap myself for comparing them. Again. With shaky fingers, I manage to get the shirt I’ve been given buttoned to the throat. It’s too big, billowing around my waist, so I gather the hem and stuff it into the waistband of my pants.
How freaking ironic that every time I see Tovian, I’m dressed in castoff or dirty clothes. My closets back at River Bend are overflowing, yet every time I’m around him I look like a bedraggled tomboy.
Strangely enough, I didn’t mind when he thought I was a nobody. Now that he knows who I am, I’m self-conscious about my appearance.
“Coward,” I mutter under my breath, stalking toward the rest of the Auralians gathered near the small wagon train. Tovian falls into step beside me.
“I presume that wasn’t directed at me.”
Gods, I loved his voice. It was like hot chocolate on a cold winter day, warming you from the inside out. I shook my head and said, “Luza. My guard.”
Tovian is far from a coward. I wouldn’t be alive if he were.
“The one who nearly got you killed?”
“She was following orders. My orders.”
“So you really did lie to me about your identity.”
“Last I heard, Tovian, your people didn’t want to get involved. I made sure you wouldn’t have to.” Despite my fatigue I stride faster—not that he has any difficulty keeping pace with a woman whose head barely comes past his shoulder. “I’m glad you showed up today, but I’m not sure why you think that gives you the right to know anything about me.”
“I saved your life, Sunshine. At considerable risk to my own.”
“Which I appreciate!” I turn on my heel. “What is it you want from me, Tovian? A reward? I’m sure that can be arranged.”
The same thing I want from you?My heart thuds in my chest. I take two steps backward and trip over a rock. Tovian steadies me. Warm hands around my biceps. I blinked up at him.
What I said got under his skin. His beautiful eyes narrow slightly. His grip on my arms is a fraction too hard.
“Depends upon the reward.”
Abruptly, he releases me. Now I’m the one trotting after him.
“What would make it worth your while?”
He cast me a sidelong glance and said, “I already told you. Marry me.”
