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Something flickered across his face, and I waited tensely for some nasty rejoinder from the man, but he gave a single nod. “Understood.” It seemed enough to satisfy Alise. She surged forward and hugged me again.

Turning, I stepped around him and resolutely began marching back to the stables, my riding skirts swishing around my boots. He fell in beside me, a big heat-radiating wall next to me.

“Thank you for that,” I grudgingly offered.

“For what?”

“Giving her that assurance. I know you did not mean it.”

He sent me a sidelong look and grunted. Not precisely a denial, and that stung. I supposed I had been fishing. I wanted him to insist that he had meant it. Apparently I would get no more than that grunt from him.

We passed the stables.

“They’re waiting for us in the bailey,” he said.

Indeed they were waiting, staring crossly at me as I came into sight. The dozen warriors were assembled and already mounted atop their destriers, the horses so much larger than anything I had ever seen in the palace stables. The royal family and the lordregent and several other retainers stood on the steps of the Great Hall, come to see us off.

I ignored Lord Dryhten and his warriors. Their impatience was palpable in the morning air, and I ignored that, too, approaching the steps. I accepted kisses on my cheeks from the king and the queen.

The queen cupped my face, her fingers gentle on my skin. “The day you were brought to me, I knew you were special. Be well, daughter. Forge your path.”

A lump formed in my throat at her reference to the day I was found abandoned in the palace bailey. The queen chose me when no one else wanted me. She had saved me from an uncertain and precarious fate and served as a mother to me—the only mother I would ever know. I nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Her gaze glided over my shoulder and then returned to my face. Leaning in close, she whispered, “You have more power than you know.”

I glanced to where she had looked over my shoulder. My husband stood there, muscled legs braced apart, his expression impassive, enigmatic eyes hooded beneath slashing dark eyebrows.

Did she mean to imply I held power over him? I grimaced, thinking of the way he had looked and his angry words when he found me with Alise. That was wishful thinking on her part.

The lord regent spoke to me in exasperation, gesturing for me to move away. “Off with you, girl. Be a good wife. Do not make them wait on you.” His gaze flickered beyond me apprehensively, as though he feared they might leave without me or still yet denounce this entire affair.

Turning, I started down the steps, stopping at the sound of my name.

Stig stepped forward from where he stood among stoic-faced members of the guard, his gaze fixed intently on me, his boots tapping softly on the stone steps.

His father glared at him. “Stig, get back in—”

“I will come for you,” he said, addressing me, ignoring his father, ignoring everyone. His soft brown eyes were fastened on mewith a single-minded focus, and I could not help the flutter in my chest at his obvious concern. I would never have another friend like him. I didn’t even know if I would have a friend at all where I was going. I would miss him. “If you ever have need, send word and I will come for you.”

I opened and closed my mouth, uncertain how to reply to that, when I felt a sudden presence beside me. A hand fell upon my shoulder and I felt the weight of it, the radiating warmth traveling bone-deep, a brand penetrating me through my garments.

A quick look at my husband revealed he was not, however, staring at me. All his searing attention was trained on Stig. “And know that if you ever step foot in the Borderlands, you will not take what is mine. If you even try, I will end you.”

I gasped, marveling at the ring of possession in his voice.For me.As though I were some sort of commodity and not a wife he had been saddled with against his will through duplicitous means.

Stig’s lips flattened into a mutinous line, but he said nothing. His eyes clashed with the Beast’s in silent battle before sliding to me, the promise of his words still glowing there despite my husband’s threat, and I knew—he would come if I needed him.

The big hand on my shoulder slid down to clasp my elbow. He guided me to the horses. “We’ve delayed long enough.”

My feet worked to keep up with his long strides. Even as tall as I was, he was taller. Two of my steps matched every one of his.

He stopped beside a docile mare I recognized from the palace stables, and I released a sigh of relief, reaching up to fondly stroke the white star on her forehead. I had feared I would be forced to mount one of the hulking destriers.

“Can you ride?” he asked tersely.

Without waiting for my reply, Lord Dryhten’s hands suddenly seized me by the waist, and I was airborne.

I squeaked, my hands flying to his shoulders as he settled me atop my mount.