Page 15

I pause looking up at him. Once again, he’s weaving flowers together with his fingers.

“He was, he’d heal the powerful and powerless alike.

He’d never deny anyone. He evaded the king for a long time until he was caught.

Sandor implored him to join his ranks but my father spit at his feet.

He believed that if one was gifted a power it belonged to them alone and should not be wielded by another. ” I stand brushing myself off.

“Sounds like he was a wise man.” Ledger’s eyes linger on me thoughtfully before he crouches placing the loop of flowers into the stream and watching as they float away.

“He was.”

It starts to rain as the sun is snuffed out. Ledger uses his powers to thicken the tree branches above us to create somewhat of a barrier. We huddle beneath the tree as it continues to pour.

I lay on my side on the spongy moss-coated ground. I allow my mind to wander, conjuring Maddox’s familiar face, his crooked, self-assured smile. I rub at the center of my chest, missing him fiercely.

I can’t help but feel like I am betraying him the closer we get to Westray. I know he is worrying about me, thinking the worst.

I think of how he fought for me twice now .

My mind snags on how he’d kissed me and the confession of his feelings that followed. What would have happened if I had given in and ignored the report? Would I be wrapped safely in his arms tonight instead of shivering in the cold?

I worry about what had become of my mother in my absence.

Would the King allow her to stay in the castle until my return?

Would he dump her in the slums to fend for herself?

Or worse. Would he allow Tamish to inflict his power upon her?

Would he inflict his own pain as he did to Archie? The thoughts make me sick.

I could not go back to Bellehaven now; I made a deal, and I would follow through.

I toss and turn, finally landing on my side, peering over at Ledger, who is lying on his back a foot from me.

The moonlight highlights his sharp jawline, straight nose, and long black lashes as he blinks. My stomach flips as he turns to his side, letting his eyes roam my face.

They burn a path over my skin, and it is an effort to not squirm as they continue their perusal. His deep green eyes find mine, and we stare at each other as raindrops cascade off our skin from the leaves above.

I shiver, and Ledger moves closer to me. My skin pebbles in the cool night air. I can tell he wants to reach for me but stays perfectly still .

As the night drags on, I long for my cozy bed. Would sell my soul for warm fur. My clothes cling to my skin as the rain persists, making my teeth chatter.

I beg for sleep to take me but even Ledger’s tepid body so close provides little reprieve.

I jolt as a sharp howl cuts through the thick air of the night. Tensing, my ears strain as another piercing howl follows. I plaster myself against Ledger, my hands fumbling for the dagger in his belt.

His large hand finds mine, stopping my exploration. “I don’t think now is the place or time, blondie.”

I elbow him roughly in the ribs, freeing my hands. “Something is howling out there!” My whisper is somewhat hysterical. “Give me a weapon,” I demand.

“Not a chance.” Another howl penetrates the night, and Ledger’s hand moves steadily over my stomach until it lands on my hip. He pulls me closer to him while he sits up, searching the woods.

“What in the hell is that?” I whisper again, clawing at Ledger’s hand. Archie wakes, looking to Ledger for direction.

“We are in the woods; there are creatures everywhere. That’s a dire wolf; they are looking for something larger than a human to eat. Typically, if you leave them alone, they will leave you alone.”

“Larger than a human? How big are these things?!” My heart is a wild chorus in my chest .

“Layla.” He forces my face away from the woods. “I will not allow anything to happen to you. You are far too valuable. You will make it to my kingdom unharmed, I swear it.” He nods over to Archie and they both lay back down.

I sit up, my ears straining to hear any further howls or footfalls. “As reassuring as that is, I’d still like a weapon.”

“Not going to happen,” Ledger grunts as his hand shoots up and pushes me back down to the springy moss. “Sleep,” he demands.

“Fine, but I am staying as close to that dagger as possible,” I mumble as I roll onto my side, my back to Ledger, and scoot myself closer to him.

I stare into the shadowed misty forest fisting the moss beneath me in an attempt to quell my pounding heart. I picture a horrific beast bounding from the trees and tearing my flesh apart as I flail around in its mouth, unarmed.

Ledger sighs from beside me. I flinch when his fingers skate along the back of my neck. “What are you doing?”

“Easy.” He moves my hair to the side and the sleeve of the tunic down to expose my shoulder. “Relax.”

My breath shudders out as he strokes soothing circles into the skin there. His fingers breeze down the curve of my neck and sail over the freckles of my shoulder.

I loosen into his touch, the tension in my body easing. My power slithers through my veins to meet his fingers, warming my bones .

I’d never let a man touch me like this and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why I was allowing him to continue.

A surprising wave of desire washes over me at the stroke of his fingertips. I squeeze my thighs together as his rough calluses drag over my damp skin.

I should pull away, but I’m so lost in the foreign feeling that I hardly notice when I press myself closer to him. Before I make contact, he pushes himself back. He blows out a rough breath that skates across my skin making me squirm.

His fingers tighten on my neck briefly before he yanks them away. I mourn the sudden loss of them. When he scoots away from me my mind sobers and shame floods me.

What would Maddox think of me right now and what I’m doing? I need to get a grip.

“Sleep, Layla.” Ledger’s voice is gravelly and grates against my pebbled skin. My cheeks flame at my unexpected reaction to his simple touch. Fear creeps back into my consciousness, but it’s directed now at myself, and the feelings Ledger was able to elicit from me.

Chasing after the touch of a man was something that I did not do.

He turns roughly to the side so his back is to me. I yank up my sleeve, staying as still as possible, no longer trusting myself.

I sleep in fitful bursts begging for the sun to rise each time I wake. I am not sure what terrifies me more, the dire wolf or the way my body reacted to the Prince of Westray .

Ledger and I don’t even brush each other the rest of the night. The miserable cold sets deep into my bones, making me question if I will ever be warm again.

My fingers and toes are stiff and numb when the golden rays of the sun finally settle over the land.

I rise, taking care of my needs before finding the small stream and gulping down a few long handfuls of water.

“Ah, good morning, sunshine.” Archie approaches, squatting down before doing the same.

“Morning.”

“You look…” He pauses, taking in my haggard appearance. “Uh, well rested.” I roll my eyes at him, practically feeling the dark bags underneath my eyes.

“If we cover enough ground today, we could end up at The Lazy Archer, the only inn in Grimwood. A hot meal and a warm bed sound pretty good right now, am I right?” He wiggles his eyebrows.

“Heavenly,” I grunt as we make our way over to the horses.

Mia hands me a few pieces of what looks like dried meat and a stale piece of bread. “Sorry, it’s all we have; our rations are running low.”

“This is fine, thank you.” My stomach grumbles as I take a bite of the salty meat, grateful for any sustenance.

Ledger is quiet, avoiding me as he saddles the horses.

Cam smiles over at me from where he is tending to his own horse. “Morning, Layla,” he says, smiling shyly .

“Morning, Cam.” I smile back at him.

“What do you think about riding with me today?” Archie questions, throwing his arm around my shoulder.

I open my mouth to gladly accept his offer when Ledger cuts me off, “Not happening.” He pointedly looks at Archie’s arm until he removes it.

“I get lonely, Ledger. I can’t keep her warm at night, can’t ride with her on my horse. What can I do?” Archie grins and winks at me and I smother a smile.

“You can focus on yourself. I’m in no mood for you two today. Blondie, get your ass up here.”

“What did I do?” I accept his hand as he yanks me up into the saddle.

“You exist.”