Page 22

“Let’s go.”

My stomach twisted, this time not from the food. I braced my hands on the side of the horse, unsure how to lift myself. Fast as lightning, Raphael bent down, gripping me under the shoulders and hefting me in front of him.

And with that, we were off into the night.

It was impossible to settle into one spot. The fact there was only one horse meant I didn’t have to admit that I didn’t know how to ride. But it also meant we were so, so close.

A week ago, being so near to the vampire that my back hit his when I lost my balance would’ve had me in tears, vomiting. Now, I felt echoes of that fear, but I was forcedto admit that the echoes were eased by the fact it was Raphael—the vampire who brought me breakfast, even if I had to cook it myself—and hadn’t forced himself on me once, not for blood, not for anything else.

Some distance from the village, I leaned too far forward, trying to avoid contact. My balance shifted, the world spinning around me. My hands desperately reached for the horse’s mane, but it was too late. I was falling—

A firm arm snapped around me, catching me before I could hit the ground. Raphael’s hand clamped over my stomach, fingers spread he like he was locking me in place. The horse didn’t miss so much as a step as the vampire deftly maneuvered the reins with just one hand.

My stomach flipped, and not from nearly falling.

“You can let me go,” I said quickly. “I’m fine.”

“You nearly cracked your head falling.” He sighed. “Humans. So… breakable.”

“I’d rather take my chances with the ground than a vampire.” I should’ve insisted on taking the old horse. Though there was no way it could’ve managed even this pace.

“Good thing I’m not giving you the choice.”

The horse’s pace increased. I was jostled by the movement, landing even closer against Raphael. I tried to lean away, even if it made his hand press deeper into my stomach, the thin fabric of my cloak doing little to muffle the sensation. It was either feel him behind me or in front, and at least I could see his hand. Unfortunately, against an immortal vampire, I wasn’t able to do much more thanput an inch between us, and even that I lost and regained every other step.

“Stop writhing like that,” Raphael said slowly, “or you’re not going to like what happens.”

“What?” I hissed, trying for anger that would mask my helplessness. “You’ll toss the breakable human off the horse?”

“No.” I could feel the grin at my back. “But you’ll soon feel the effect of you rubbing your body against mine. And given the fact you blush like a maiden when I even mention that ‘nice boy’ you stink of, you’re liable to burst into flames on the spot.”

I immediately stilled as his implication settled over me.Like a maiden.There was nolikeabout it. Greymere wasn’t a place where one was courted. Though I had a sense of what bodily effect he was mentioning, given the crude nature of the other servants. His fingers flexed on my stomach like he was adjusting himself. No longer fighting him, I was forced to settle against his chest, keenly aware of the contours of his body against my back. And at my rear… was it his normal body? Or was he… aroused? It was hard to tell. Gods, it was impossible to even fathom. The ideaIof all people could affect a vampire.

Mortifying.

But… perhaps just a little enchanting too.

The next evening brought a chill with it. It was spring, and in Eurobis that was the most fickle season. We’d had fairly warm days so far, but our luck had run out. The horse meant we had moved to open roads, which made navigating easier but left us ready targets for the wind. The cold lanced through me, no matter how tightly I wrapped my cloak.

Raphael, of course, was unaffected. Perks of being a soulless monster instead of a “breakable human.”

His arm was wrapped around me once more. It no longer felt as awkward as it had the day before—instead, it was a steady source of heat. I loathed myself for the fact I liked it. But in this weather, it was a matter of survival.

As the sun set, the last of the warmth was sapped from the air and replaced by an icy rain.

Of course. Because the cold wasn’t bad enough.

The rain started slowly, but it was enough to freeze me to my core. There was no hiding my shivering. Raphael pulled me closer.How was his undead chest warm?I leaned back, desperate for the protection from the cold. I hated seeking comfort in the vampire, but I’d hate losing my limbs to the frost more.

“We should stop for the night,” I said between clattering teeth. “There’s a shelter card. With that and a fire one, we can get warm.”

“No need.”

This close to him, I could feel the rumble of his chest as he spoke.

“Maybe you don’t need rest, but Alphonse and I do,” I insisted.

“I’m aware of your needs. It’s the smell of chimney smoke ahead that tells me we’ll find proper shelter soon.”