Chapter 19
Who did he think he was kidding?
Liv knew, without a doubt, that Rise talked a big game, but the whole reason he had truly agreed to rescue Esvie was to help Liv get the curse breaker they needed to defeat Grawl.
He didn’t need to ask Esvie questions any more.
He’d gotten all the answers he’d needed from Decelia.
So, despite what he said, he was on this journey for Liv.
Even if Rise still thought about using Liv to exact his revenge, he was far from the cold, heartless person he wanted her to believe he was.
He could have simply taken her right to Grawl.
He clearly opened portals without even trying.
What was stopping him from opening one near the palace and handing her over to Grawl?
As she followed him through the portal, she half expected just that scenario, but instead, the smell of decaying grass and water-logged terrain filled her nose.
They were in the swamplands. He’d followed the plan, which meant he believed that they needed the curse breaker first before they could take on Grawl… together.
She wanted to shout with joy. Her instincts about him had been right.
Yet, she had to remind herself not to let her guard down.
Her guard remained up, not because she feared him any longer, but because she feared her ability to resist falling deeper in love with the one man who could break her heart into a million pieces.
That she couldn’t allow.
Lying next to him last night, curled in his arms as he slept, she’d realized how far she’d allowed herself to fall already. She’d wanted nothing more than to snuggle closer to him and stay that way forever.
It had scared her enough to drag herself away and curl up on the uncomfortable bench in the front room of the tent instead.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to sleep next to Rise.
The truth was that she knew that if she allowed herself to experience even one night imagining what it would be like to be loved by this man, she’d never be the same.
Yet, when he’d awakened her, he’d seemed distant, even a little angry.
It had been obvious to her that he’d regretted what they’d done.
She thought it best to move forward as if it had never happened, and he seemed to be thinking the same.
Though she could sense his arousal while they traversed toward the portal, she reminded herself that men could get aroused just by the contact.
It didn’t necessarily mean it was specifically Liv who was turning him on.
He’d made that clear by his brusque manner toward her today.
“Well, which direction do we go now, princess?”
Stop calling me princess!
“You weren’t complaining about my calling you that last night.”
And there it was. The fiery heliskrat in the room.
“So, you do remember last night.”
“How could I forget it? I mean, I guess some people would like to.”
That hurt. “Are you saying you wish you could forget what we did?”
He stared at her, a puzzled look on his face. “Pretty sure, you’re the one who wishes to forget.”
“You think I want to forget last night?”
“Well, you sure ran away the first chance you could. Why wouldn’t I think that? Clearly, you regretted it.”
Liv couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t angry. His feelings were hurt. She’d been protecting herself, but he read it as regret. Her heart clenched at the thought of hurting him.
She slowly stepped toward him. He clenched his jaw tightly but held his ground.
“Rise, I don’t regret last night at all. I wanted it. I wanted you.”
His voice was low and husky as he asked, “But now, in the light of day, you realize it was a mistake?”
She shook her head back and forth slowly. “Not a mistake in the sense you’re thinking. I just…I mean…”
“I’m not good enough for you?” His lips curled and his eyes blazed. “The princess wants nothing to do with the lowly slave-boy.”
She threw her arms around his waist. “You were never lowly. It was always clear to everyone around you that you were a born leader. Grawl couldn’t ever let you discover the truth. You were…you are the true ruler of Umbraland.”
“Then, why did you leave the bed last night?”
“I was afraid.”
“Of me?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then, why were you afraid?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Well, I do. I need to know what made you afraid.”
“It’s not important. We need to stay on mission.”
Liv began to pull away, but he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in tighter.
“I want to know what scares you about us.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me. Tell me.”
He loosened his hold and met her gaze. To her horror, Liv felt tears fill her eyes. She fought them, not wanting him to see her cry.
“Tell me, Livvy.”
She couldn’t resist him when he softened like this.
She would just tell him the truth. She was afraid of falling in love with him.
No, the truth was that she was afraid she’d already fallen in love with him.
No, the real truth was that she was fully in love with him.
She loved this man, probably always had.
It was scary, but she felt helpless to resist it any longer.
“Rise, I…you see, the reason I’m afraid of this…” She gestured with one hand, pointing at Rise and then back at herself. “…I don’t know when I first realized it, but…”
Liv! I need you! Livvy, are you close?”
In an instant, all thoughts of the current conversation evaporated as the sound of Val’s pleas filled Liv’s head.
“But, what, princess?”
Livvy! Come! Now!
“We have to go!”
Without resistance, Liv pulled free of Rise’s embrace and began walking toward the horse. “We have to go!”
“I don’t understand. We were in the middle of a conversation. Is this another ploy to avoid outright rejection? Are you just trying to distract me until you get what you want?”
Liv stopped and faced Rise once more. “I think I love you, you big dolt, but right now, Val needs us to help her. Now, help me get on this horse, and let’s go.”