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Lorian just pressed a kiss to the tip of my nose, linked his fingers through mine, and guided me back toward the others. I stepped onto the trail and frowned. Conreth’s guards were gone.

“Where are they?” Lorian asked.

Galon scratched his cheek. “It seems they decided to leave without a fuss.”

Lorian nodded. “Good.”

“This means they’re going straight back to Conreth,” Asinia pointed out. “Isn’t that a bad thing?”

“He already knew where we were going,” Rythos said. “This won’t surprise him.”

Marth leveled me with a long look. “You cost me a hot bath with a beautiful woman.”

I rolled my eyes. “My apologies.”

He just shook his head and ducked off the path to go find his horse.

Asinia grinned. Meanwhile, my aunt was staying very quiet. She had the hint of a smile on her face, and something told me everything had worked out just the way she was hoping. I surveyed her, and she waved her hand.

“What are we waiting for, children? We’re losing the light.”

Lorian spared Telean a glance and then nodded back toward the way we’d come. “We need to turn around.”

I frowned. “We’ll lose time.”

“Trust me, wildcat. We’re heading back toward the lake.”

I didn’t understand how that would get us closer to the hybrid kingdom, and Rythos grinned at me as Marth returned with his horse.

“You’re going to see where I was born, Prisca.”

* * *

Just weeks ago, I’d wondered what it would be like to be one of Prisca’s inner circle. To be someone she cared enough for that she would do anything for them.

Now I knew. It was incredibly inconvenient, and yet it made me want to grin with pride.

Her natural urge to protect clashed with my own plans. And even as she’d fought to protect me from my brother, she refused to admit that she’d done such a thing because she had feelings for me.

Oh, she knew. Deep down, Prisca knew she wanted me. But my wildcat was nothing if not stubborn.

I studied her as she rode, laughing at something Marth said. She’d been pleased to see me. She’d admitted it herself. But I’d caught the wariness in her eyes. That wariness remained each time she looked at me. Obviously, she was furious I’d ignored Conreth’s orders—just as I was furious she’d left without me. But…

I scanned the group. Asinia’s eyes met mine, and I gestured for her to join me.

She arched one eyebrow and waved her hand imperiously, gesturing for me to joinher.

I was beginning to see exactly why Asinia and Prisca were so close.

Glancing meaningfully at the others—who were riding closer to her than to me—I pointed at the spot next to mine. She rolled her eyes but slowed her horse.

“What did Conreth say to Prisca when she met with him while I was gone?” I asked.

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Why?”

“Because Prisca is acting strangely.”

Not just strangely. Something in the way she looked at me told me I’d hurt her, and she was preparing for me to do it again. I ground my teeth.