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I ignored the growing bulge in his pants. “Oh. We’re close to the castle.”

“Yea. A little too close for me.”

I nodded, unable to speak since I had stuffed a muffin in my mouth.

“I think we should stay off the main roads as much as possible until we get closer to home. The woods will provide more protection from prying eyes.”

“Ok, makes sense.”

We finished eating breakfast, and I put on my clothes from the previous day. I didn’t feel like the shirt and skirt would do well in the woods.

Gage paid our bill at the front desk and we set out, walking to the end of the road where it met the woods.

When we were far enough in the cover of the woods, I turned to Gage. “Why do you think you’re a dangerous man?”

He cut his eyes at me.

“What? I’m just trying to understand you better.”

“You don’t need to understand me.” He was back to his usual gruff self, the Gage from last night was gone.

“I need to understand everyone.”

“Not me.”

“I will, eventually.”

He batted a branch out of the way with such force it snapped and dangled on the tree.

“How long have you been with Barrett?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Just trying to make conversation so the day goes by a little quicker.”

He was quiet for a moment, then answered, “Just over ten years.”

“That’s a long time.”

“Not long enough.”

“Why?”

He sighed with frustration. “Because, it’s not.”

“What would you like to talk about?”

“Nothing. I want silence. I need to be able to listen.”

“What are you listening for? I don’t really think the dark Queen will be roaming through the woods.”

“It’s not the Queen I’m concerned about.”

“Then wh-”

Gage clasped his hand over my mouth and froze. His nose was in the air and he was looking around intently, like he smelled something. I turned my head to look at him and pulled his hand away. My pulse was pounding through my ears with a steady thump, thump, thump.

I wanted to ask him what he was looking for, but he was still searching the woods.