Tower of Tempest: A Steamy Fantasy Romance (Stolen Crowns Book 3)

Chapter 43

“Is that a handprint on the carriage?” Driscoll squinted at the small vessel as it rode away after dropping us off at the entrance to the forest bordering the tower, all of us carrying satchels with extra clothes and provisions. “Yeah, that’s definitely a handprint on the back window of the carriage. How did a handprint get there?”

I shot Poppy a grin, and her cheeks flushed scarlet. Memories of her naked body underneath mine, over mine, in front of mine, filled my mind. I had an urge to yank her deeper into the woods, away from prying eyes, and take her up against a tree, on the forest floor, hell, I didn’t care—I’d worship her body in every damn corner of this continent.

“Let’s move,” I said as Driscoll frowned at the carriage.

While he and Leoni watched it rolling away in the distance, I pinched Poppy’s ass, and she jumped and let out a squeak.

Driscoll whirled. “Is there a mouse? Because I can’t handle mice.”

We all entered the forest, tall pine trees spreading out around us, needles and pinecones littering the forest floor.

Leoni’s bun bobbed as she ducked under a branch. “You’ve endured pirate ships, the shadow court, almost falling to your death from the sky castle, and mice is what you’re afraid of? How am I just now learning this about you?”

Poppy smirked from next to me while Driscoll gave Leoni a pointed stare. “They have those tiny beady eyes and twitching noses, and they slink around, all quiet, then bam, they jump out at you and your life flashes before your eyes.”

“You know, you could just ignore them?” I offered.

“Except they’re lurking, and you know they’re there, just waiting for you to let down your guard.”

“What kind of mice have you had encounters with?” Leoni asked.

“No, I didn’t see a mouse,” Poppy said over her shoulder as we both stepped over a muddy pool of standing water. “Something just surprised me.”

“Why don’t we practice some of your fighting stances and go over a few skills while we walk?” Leoni suggested to Poppy. “You never know what’s going to happen once we find your gran.”

Poppy grabbed a branch overhead and swung herself under it. “Well, I highly doubt I’m going to have to fight her, but a little refresher couldn’t hurt.”

Leoni and Poppy had continued to work together on our journey from Winded but hadn’t had as much time since we’d been riding in the carriage. They fell behind, Leoni rattling off instructions while I scouted ahead.

Driscoll strode up next to me, and a squirrel scampered in front of us.

I pointed at it. “That doesn’t freak you out?”

Driscoll studied it. “No, I’m actually okay with squirrels.”

“I don’t understand you.” I lifted a branch overhead. “And, you know, I’m not sure I want to.”

Driscoll walked under the branch that I held up. “Well, that’s your loss. I’m a riot. Devilishly handsome. Brutally honest but in a charming sort of way.”

“Shockingly humble,” I added.

“Speaking of brutally honest,” he continued like I hadn’t spoken, “did you get a chance to tell Poppy the truth yet?”

I looked behind me, but thankfully she and Leoni were practicing hand movements with a sword, which seemed a little dangerous to do while walking, but at this point, I trusted the captain of the guard. “Uh.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Well...”

Driscoll wrinkled his nose. “I saw you two sneaking off to the carriage last night and assumed that you were talking...” He trailed off, like something clicked in his brain, and he turned his wide brown eyes on me. “Blood and earth. You weren’t talking. Did you two have sex?” He gasped. “The handprint on the carriage.” He looked back at Poppy, then at me. “That’s scandalous!”

I groaned. Poppy and I had agreed we’d keep it a secret until after we completed this mission, not wanting any distractions.

“I knew it,” Driscoll said, not waiting for my confirmation. “I have a sense about these things. You know the six senses? I have a seventh. I can sense when two people have finally had sex.”

“Well, that’s weird,” I said, “and I don’t know if you should be bragging about it.”

“I can’t believe you two finally did it. Leoni’s going to owe me money. She didn’t think you guys would be able to figure your shit out, but I’ve seen two unlikely couples get together now, so I had a feeling you’d make it happen one way or another.” He frowned. “I wish it hadn’t been on the cushion I sat on this morning.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “But good for you. Someone should be having sex around here since I’m clearly not getting any. Wanna tell me the details?”

I removed his hand from my shoulder. “No, I don’t.”

“Fine, but at least tell me how she reacted to the other news? About your... condition?”

My jaw locked as we picked our way over pinecones that cracked beneath our boots. The trees protected us from the bulk of the wind, but a chilly blast swept through the forest, and I pulled my wool jacket tighter around me.

“Well?” Driscoll asked. “I mean she must’ve taken it well enough if you managed to get her naked afterward.”

“I didn’t tell her,” I admitted.

Driscoll’s mouth dropped open. “What? You didn’t tell her that your death is imminent if you don’t find your shadow?”

“When was I supposed to tell her?” I asked. “When she was stripping in front of me, when she was naked and straddling me, when I had her pinned up against the carriage door?”

That had happened much later in the night, the fourth—no, the third—time I’d taken her.

Driscoll fanned himself. “Keep going.” He shook his head. “No, focus, Driscoll.” He glared at me. “You should have told her. She deserves to know.”

I scrubbed a hand down my face. “I know. I know that. But how can I tell her something like that? She’ll worry for no reason.”

“No reason?” Driscoll echoed. “She should definitely be worried. You’re dying, Prince Lochlan!”

I shushed him and clapped a hand over his mouth, looking behind me to see Poppy slashing the sword across her body as Leoni talked her through the movement.

“Will you be quiet?” I hissed and slowly removed my hand from Driscoll’s mouth.

“I kind of liked that,” he said. “Could you do it again?” He groaned. “No, I’m focusing. How are your blue lines?” He arched his neck to peek at my chest, and I shoved him away.

“Just drop it. I will tell Poppy when this mission is over. When we’ve found her gran and gotten the answers we seek.”

When I knew she was safe, and she couldn’t be distracted, not by me, not by anyone. She needed to be at her best. I wouldn’t risk that by dropping huge news on her, especially not after everything she’d been through in the last few days. Guilt hammered at me, part of me wondering if withholding this was a betrayal of sorts—but no. I was keeping this from her for her own good. And I would tell her just as soon as we found her gran.

“Excuse me, did you just use a tone with me?” Driscoll asked.

My instinct was to apologize, but when it came to this, to keeping Poppy safe, I wouldn’t back down.

Driscoll looked at me with something like admiration in his eyes. “Thank the fuck. You’re finally willing to fight.” He paused. “The sex must’ve been really good.”

“We’re staying quiet the rest of this walk,” I warned. “Not another word from you until we reach that tower.”

Driscoll rolled his eyes. “I’ll just go talk to Leoni and Poppy. I’ve got some good gossip I realized I never told Poppy about. It involves a stablehand and a horse... let your imagination run wild with that one.”

I didn’t want to. Driscoll fell behind, chattering away as Leoni huffed and Poppy laughed. We would be at the tower in less than an hour, and I only hoped Poppy’s gran was there. I opened my shirt to see the blue lines that stretched all the way down my chest, so close to my heart. Otherwise, we might be too late.