Page 14

“Seriously, stop following me,” I barked, chucking the core of my apple at the back of his head.

It missed its mark and flew past his cheek. I didn’t even have to look at him to know the satisfied look that was plastered onto his face.

“From the looks of it, you seem to be the one following me.”

I rolled my eyes, shoving past him as our boots hit the landing and pushed open the doors to the kitchens.

I would not be stuck in another enclosed space with him.

The doors swung open, revealing the large circular room with a vaulted ceiling that pitched upward into a chimney.

Clay baking ovens lined the back walls, all filled with bread as a pig spun on a spit in the far right corner of the room.

A large cauldron hung over an open flame beside it, filled with broth boiling for soups and stews.

Long, rectangular windows sat high on the stone walls, letting in natural light.

They were all cracked open to filter out the excess smoke and heat.

Herbs and pans hung from the ceiling that I knew I wouldn’t be able to reach without some kind of stepping stool.

Barrels and baskets of fruits and vegetables were pushed into the corner to the left of us, furthest away from the heat.

Large tables were situated into a square in the center of the room where the meals were prepared and one small table was pushed to the side where coffee and other hot drinks sat warming on a hot plate.

The kitchen staff froze as their eyes landed on us, confusion furrowing between their brows. Dukovich’s head dipped down in a slight bow as he reached for the pastries stacked on a platter at the edge of the workers table.

“Do not mind us,” he said, plucking two from the tray, “we are just passing through.”

He bowed his head again, winking at the baker on the other side of the room and I watched as a devious smile spread across her lips.

Her cheeks flushed under the flour speckled across her face as her gaze connected with mine.

She cleared her throat focusing back on her work as I rolled my eyes at him.

He was definitely bedding her.

“You’re a fucking pig,” I murmured, striding across the room to the door in the far left corner that led to the castle grounds.

“I prefer to call myself a savant of women’s bodies,” he responded with a sly smile.

“Gross,” I spat, the corners of my lips turning down at the thought.

He pushed the door open with his back and we stepped out into the morning air.

I turned away from him, taking quick strides in the direction of Pri’s cottage as I lifted the hood of my jacket over my head to shield myself from the cold and shivered against the biting wind.

I hadn’t expected winter to come so suddenly.

“Seems we are heading to the same place,” Dukovich said, appearing back at my side with complete disregard for my personal space. “Also, you have a rodent following you.”

“Two, if you count yourself,” I mumbled, glancing at my feet to see the familiar weaving in and out of each one of my steps.

My head snapped toward him, stopping dead in my tracks as his statement sunk in.

“What do you mean we are going to the same place?”

“Are you not heading to Prianaan’s home?” he asked, a corner of his lips tilting upward.

This was not my fucking day.

“Landers requested I meet him there this morning, so, like the good little prisoner I am, I’m following orders,” Dukovich said as he continued walking down the hill toward her home.

I clenched my teeth, trapping the scream I wanted to let rip through the frigid air.

All I wanted was a nice fucking walk all on my own to clear my head. To have one moment of silence before this day began. Was that too much to ask for?

“In that case, the sooner this meeting is over, the better,” I hissed at his back then tethered from the hillside.

I landed in the trees surrounding the clearing where Pri’s cottage sat and let out a deep sigh, trying to ground myself.

Trying to push away the anger that had already begun to rise inside of me before I let it seep out onto anyone who didn’t deserve it.

Landers, however, did deserve it for not telling me about whatever plans he had for this meeting.

It was supposed to be just me and Pri like it always had been. It was my time with her.

“Hey,” Wren said, materializing beside me as I jolted from my thoughts.

A string of curses fell from my mouth as I jumped, taking a step away from him and grabbing a tree branch to keep my balance.

“What is with you people today, showing up out of nowhere,” I snapped as he grinned and took a step toward me, throwing an arm around my neck. His grip tightened as I tried to shrug out of his hold.

“You know, little sister,” he started, dragging me out of the tree line, “no matter how hard you try to push us away, no matter how much you aggravate us, which frankly, seems to be every day”—he smiled to himself—“we will still love you.” His voice softened as he said the last words and looked down at me. “You’re my family, Ata.”

I let the words linger between us for a long moment, trying to let go of whatever anger clamped around my heart every time I was reminded that I was loved.

I finally looked up at him and smiled softly before slipping out of his grasp.

“So, was it Cin or Pri?” I asked with a knowing smile and he grinned back at me.

“Pri may have brought to my attention that I have been a bit of an ass.” I chuckled as we took our final steps to the door of their cottage.

“I mean it though, Ata,” Wren said, placing a hand on my shoulder, stopping me before I pushed open the door.

“I may not understand what it is you are feeling, but I am here for you, should you ever need me.”

I met his eyes, and saw the sincerity of his words flicker in the blue swirling behind them. I nodded, wrapping my fingers around his forearm and squeezing.

“I know you are.”