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So I stopped worrying about it and let myself revel in the wonderful, novel feeling of total freedom. Out here, away from the city, we weren’t royals. He wasn’t a king and I wasn’t a captive princess unsure of my standing. There was no protocol. No burdens or expectations.

We rode like that for about a half hour before slowing to a trot. We traveled for another hour or so, stopping only to water the horses and stretch our legs. My stomach started to rumble with hunger, and I’d just turned to Laurent to ask about food when I saw it.

The Thicket.

The wall of trees stretched across the horizon, blocking out the balmy blue sky.

I tugged on my reins as foreboding fell over me like a dark cloud. If we were near the Thicket, the Rift had to be close. Why would Laurent bring me here? My heart thumped as I looked around, searching for the edge of the chasm.

Laurent brought his horse next to mine, and his thigh brushed my skirts. His tone was soothing. “The Rift is about a mile off. We won’t even see it.”

That was a relief, but the Thicket still rose dark and angry above us. Without warning, a flock of birds burst from the tops of the trees and screeched into the sky.

I tensed, inadvertently tugging on my horse’s reins. The beast tossed its head, ready to bolt.

Laurent moved quickly. “Whoa,” he said, placing his palm on the beast’s neck. He murmured something foreign under his breath. At once, the horse stilled, its big head drooping.

“What did you do?” He’d spoken in the same sibilant tongue he and the priests used at the feast.

“Lowered his heart rate.”

I blinked. “You can do that?”

He studied me, as if trying to decide how to answer. “I can. The gift runs in my bloodline. It’s what made my ancestors kings.”

Surprise jolted me, although maybe it shouldn’t have. Even Sithistran schoolchildren knew the ruler of Nor Doru possessed some kind of pull over blood—or at least pretended to. But now I knew it wasn’t pretense at all. I’d seen Laurent bring the thralls’ ribbons to life. And he’d controlled my spooked horse with nothing more than a touch and a few whispered words. The tiniest drop of his blood had set me on fire.

“It’s easy to see why,” I said. “It’s a powerful ability.”

The briefest smile touched his lips. “In ancient times, we were worshipped as gods, but my forebears discouraged the practice. When the lowpeople can’t find an explanation for a drought or a plague, the gods are the first ones they blame.” He stared into the distance, his expression more somber than I’d ever seen it. “But the crown and the faith are still intertwined.”

“It must help that your mother was a priestess.”

He met my gaze. “Sometimes, yes. Other times, I’m afraid the gods are indifferent to my heritage. Come, Princess. We’ve reached our destination.”

The change of subject was so abrupt, it took a second for the second part of his statement to sink in. I looked around, confusion assailing me. “What do you mean?”

“Take a closer look.” Gently, he took my reins and looped them with his. He led our horses at a walk, taking us closer to the Thicket. As we neared the trees, an old tower house came into view. It was a blunt, square design built for defense rather than style. Its stone was stained so dark that, from a distance, it blended into the forest behind it.

But now that we were close, I could see glass in the windows. The tower was old, but someone had taken pains to repair it. The work was recent.

My skin prickled with awareness.

“It’s Lar Satha,” Laurent said. “Welcome home, Given.”

Chapter Fourteen

LAURENT

Given was quiet as we entered the tower house. She looked around with wide eyes, taking in the great hall with its raised dais and wooden chandeliers. The Lar Satha coat of arms—a crescent moon tipped horizontally over a tree set aflame—was carved into the stone high on the wall. Traces of gold paint remained on the moon

She stopped and looked up at it, her platinum hair flowing down her back. She was exquisite in a tight-fitting riding dress the same color as her eyes. It was one of just a handful of gowns I’d ordered for her that weren’t the black or crimson of Nor Doru. I preferred her in my colors.

Although, I’d prefer her in nothing at all.

“Your mother inherited this in her own right,” I said, strolling forward until I stood beside her. “That means you hold her lands and title.”

She turned to me with startled eyes. “Really?”