Chapter 23 The Maze of Want
~ brEN ~
I worried for Grace, but she clearly didn’t want to continue the conversation that had made her sad. So, I stayed at the benches and waited for Donavyn to arrive.
Here and there in the night a sudden scream or ring of shrieking laughter would tell us women had been discovered in the maze by hungry eyes and hands. At times my heart pounded, my mind wanting to conjure shrieks of fear.
But through it all, I could sense Donavyn moving closer. It made me smile, and fed my heart. And made me laugh when he sent curses on clever Kings who created complicated mazes and sent us all into it with no warning.
‘I will finally be with you soon. I think,’ he sent.
‘It seems you and the king have something in common,’ I sent with jab of amusement.
‘What’s that?’
‘You both cheat—he with his secret routes, and you with your bond.’
‘The use of any God-given gift is an asset, not a cheat,’ he shot back, with mock offense.
I grinned as Grace was beckoned by a woman who’d just arrived in the little clearing, to join them for their gossip.
‘You aren’t far,’ I sent, eyeing the group of women near the entrance of the hedge, and wishing when Donavyn arrived he’d find me alone.
I must have accidentally shared the feeling with him because he grunted in my head. ‘I would wish to find you in solitude, as well, my Love.’
I knew my smile was too wide, too warm, so I turned my head away so Grace wouldn’t notice it in the moonlight—but that reminded me of the shade-tree to my right… and the much deeper shadows behind it.
Donavyn would come, of that I had no doubt. But it might be fun to make him work a little to find me.
Glancing over my shoulder to make certain Grace was still safely in the clearing, I slipped behind the tree and turned my back to it, pulling my shoulders in to make certain I wasn’t visible behind the trunk.
‘There is some solitude here… does one of the king’s routes include a shadow or two?’ I sent him an image of myself in the dark, though I was careful not to include the tree.
We teased back and forth, and by the time I felt Donavyn drawing close, my cheeks were warm, and my belly fizzing.
Which was precisely when I heard a deep voice greet the women—and a chorus of squeals and laughter, screams and shouts, some of them tearing away, presumably with men in chase.
I squeezed myself tighter behind the tree, praying Donavyn would be confused for a moment and perhaps have to look for me—until it occurred to me that the other women might try to take advantage if he was unattended.
I leaned around the tree to see where he was, and whether the women were touching him…
only to find the clearing virtually empty, a few skirts disappearing around the end of the hedgerow along with more shouts, and one, shadowy, dark figure standing alone.
His brows shot up when he caught sight of me.
Hanson.
Fuck.
“My Lady Brennan,” he purred, starting towards me. “I never imagined my desire for solitude might lead me to such pleasant company. Why didn’t you disappear with the other ladies?”
“I, too, was looking for solitude,” I said flatly, slipping out from behind the tree so he didn’t get any ideas about the shadows.
‘Hanson’s here. You must be close?’ I sent to Donavyn, who immediately replied with an image of the king and queen.
‘I’ll be moments. Don’t let that bastard lay a hand on you. ’
I sent the image of the distance between us and just urged him to come as quickly as he could, then took a seat on the bench, spreading out my skirts, so Hanson wouldn’t think he could join me there.
He took the hint and settled himself on the bench facing mine, his eyes dark, only tiny pinpoints of light fixed on me.
I took a breath to steady my nerves. “How did you find me?” I asked, with a tone that distinctly implied I’d rather he hadn’t.
“I’ve always been good at uncovering treasure.”
I sighed and turned my head to watch the gap in the hedge where Donavyn would appear soon. “I told you, Lord Hanson, we have nothing further of which to speak.”
“And yet, I learned that you do, in fact, work with men who associate with Ruin Galdec, so I found myself left wondering… does she not want me? Or is she playing games after all?”
His tone was less of the self-satisfied purr he normally used, and more… edged in a cool chill.
All my senses lit up with alarm. I made myself turn slowly to look at him and meet that intent gaze.
Even in the dark, I caught him tugging his eyes up from my breasts, and that trickle of fear began in my chest, conjuring memories of training, reminders of ways to fight a man off—but then remembered I was in a skirt and a jolt of panic sang through me.
Without a word, I shot to my feet to head for the gap in the hedge, calling to Donavyn in my mind—but Hanson’s hand shot out and he caught my wrist.
Without thought, I whipped the hand up and around, snapping his grip and whirling to face him, dropping into a defensive stance instinctively.
Hanson raised his hands as if in surrender, brows high in surprise, but smiling.
“If you touch me again without my permission, I will break more than your grip,” I said through my teeth.
He nodded once, bowing elegantly. “I apologize—I meant no harm.” When he straightened, I didn’t relax, but he put his hands in his pockets and offered an apologetic look, then smiled as if we were merely there for casual conversation.
“You know, Lady Brennan, each time I believe I have unpeeled the final layer of you… I discover another. Please, sit. I will not touch you. You have my word. I only want to talk.”
“I don’t believe you,” I said flatly. “I do not trust you.”
His jaw tightened. “Because of Ruin?”
“Because you said you didn’t take what wasn’t offered, and yet, here we are.”
“I’m still unclear precisely what you are offering.”
“Then you aren’t listening, because my answer was nothing further.”
‘Donavyn, hurry. I don’t want to make a scene. But we’re alone now.’
‘I’m coming. Don’t move.’ A clench of agitation reached me from the bond, but he was close, I could feel it.
So, I cautiously settled myself on the opposite bench, but only on its edge, ready to move the moment Hanson so much as shifted his weight.
I fixed the Lord with a sharp look and spoke without any warmth.
“Tell me why you even continue to pursue me? What have I ever shown you that would entice a man of your… stature?”
Hanson seemed to think about that for a moment. Then he smiled. “I’m always drawn to people who do remarkable things.”
“I’m very unremarkable.”
“Oh, I beg to differ, my Lady. Shall I list the reasons why?”
‘Come quietly. He’s talking and keeping his distance now. Just stay close.’
‘Stay safe, Love.’
‘How do I entice him without promising anything?’
‘Keep it to business. Talk to him as if he were a trader for your farm harvest. He has something you want, you have something he wants.’
I took a deep breath and met Hanson’s glittering gaze flatly. “There won’t be any need for that. This is a negotiation, not a dance.”
He liked that a great deal, bowing his head and gesturing as if to invite me to speak. “Please… what would it take to convince you to come with me?”
“To what purpose?”
His gaze sharpened. “To the purpose of taking a dragon as your own, teaching me how to ride, sharing my bed, and my life for a time until I can establish a better grip on the herd. At which point we could… renegotiate if you wish.”
“A better grip? Apparently they won’t move from their valley without your instruction. What greater grip do you need?”
His face tightened. “Without orders, that is true. But I still require a middle man—or a middle dragon. I want to remove that layer of… interference.”
“With dragons? I wish you luck.”
His lips thinned. “So, teach me.”
“I don’t know how to do what you’re asking—and besides, what would you do with them? Even if you could become a Furymaster yourself, even if you did have the capability, what would you have them do?”
Hanson’s eyes shuttered and he hesitated. Donavyn spoke in my head suddenly. ‘I’m close.’
‘Can you get around the side—near the tree? Or listen from the hedge? I want to keep him talking. Stay close, but don’t interfere. I think he’s considering telling me his plan.’
‘I’m here. I’ll stay out of sight. Be careful.’
The last words were wrapped in agitated caution. I send him a rush of reassurance and pretended to smooth my skirts as I watched Hanson chew on my question.
Then he tipped forward as if he’d come for me and I shot back to my feet, backing away and reaching for Donavyn instinctively, until Hanson hissed a curse and shook his head.
“I will not touch you,” he muttered. “But I cannot risk this being overheard.”
When I didn’t move, he came to stand at my toes and leaned down to whisper in my ear, his breath fluttering against my cheek.
“You have, by now, learned that our kingdom is… eroding. Fyrehold is my home. I have no desire to become a citizen of Ashthorn—or even Vosgaarde. I would see our strength returned and allied with other kingdoms. Not conquered by them.”
I frowned when he straightened and met my eyes, but I kept my voice low. “Healthy dragons would align with the king and protect the kingdom. Why isn’t that happening?”
“I have no idea, but I am no fool. I see the writing on the wall, and if my king will not protect me and mine, then I will protect us.”
I drew back half a step. “A coup?” I breathed.
But Hanson shook his head. “Mutually assured survival. I have no desire to be king. Yet, I also find myself weary of bowing to a man who cares more for his hunting birds than his people.”
I narrowed my gaze. “You would hold leverage over the king?”
Hanson smiled and huffed as if he were amused. “Oh dear, you are very young, aren’t you? If you believe any crown survives without the influence of its wealthiest nobles, then you are sadly na?ve.”
I didn’t respond. But he only waited.