An unfamiliar sensation coils in my stomach. It feels a lot like panic, and I don’t like it.
Dimitri grins and pushes his hair away from his eyes. “You are darling, Anwen.” Then his kisses continue.
I feel torn. I want to close my eyes and see where this leads, but I also want him to slow down.
I stop him again, this time with a firmer hand. “No. Not until we are married.”
He lifts his head and rests his chin on his hand. His eyebrows knit as he studies me, and a ghost of a smile plays at his handsome lips. “When we are married?”
I sit up, pushing him aside. “Yes…”
Something passes over his face, but it leaves so quickly I wonder if I imagined it. He smiles, sits up, and leans over to kiss the tip of my nose. “I will just have to wait, won’t I?”
“Dimitri?” My voice wavers. “We are going to be married, aren’t we?”
He laughs. “Of course we are, my darling, of course.” He kisses my lips, softly this time. “Get some sleep. We will ride soon.”
I shake my head. “I’ll never be able to sleep.”
He studies me, but now his eyes are warm and caring. “I’ll fetch you something that will help.”
When he leaves, I fall back on the cot, groaning. What have I gotten myself into?
It’s only a few minutes before he returns. He holds a pewter cup out to me; steam rises from the liquid it holds. I study him before I accept it, taking in his dark eyes and tall, acrobatic build.
He smirks. “Don’t look at me like I’m a snake, Anwen.” He sits next to me on the cot, and my eyes fall to my new patchwork skirt. He leans close and flicks a curl out of my eyes. “Forgive me?”
I study him. He’s sincere.
Wrinkling my nose at the fragrance, I accept the drink and take a sip. It doesn’t smell nearly as bad as it tastes.
I hold the cup away from me. “Whatisthis?”
Dimitri laughs and nudges the tea back. “As I said, it will help you sleep.”
I grimace and then drink the entire cup, taking it in gulps so I can be done with it as quickly as possible. Already, I feel hazy and warm. I stretch back on the furs and let sleep come.
I waketo a soft breeze blowing through my hair. I don’t open my eyes. Instead, I lie here, enjoying the sensation.
Maybe I’ll go back to sleep. The dappled sun is warm on my face, and Danver is cozy. I nestle against him, and he stretches. I begin to drift again.
Why is the sun on my face?
My eyes fly open. Around me, the forest is exactly as it should be. Pine trees reach toward the sky. Soft grass andlittle white wildflowers grow in patches of sunshine. Birds call to one another from the trees.
But I shouldn’t be in the forest.
Where is the tent? Where is the camp?
Where is Dimitri?
I sit up, setting my hand on the furs under me as I rise. The blankets are exactly as they were last night, but everything else—the cot, the furniture,everything—is gone.
“Dimitri?” I call out, hoping he’s sent the troupe on and he’s just beyond one of those trees, waiting for me.
Nothing.
“Dimitri?” I call again, louder this time.
