Chapter 21
N o one spoke a word as an additional call sounded.
Ian raised his voice. “We’re clear.”
The three of us followed his lead, racing toward the drop point, ducking under the branches, and jumping over the thicker brush, which crept into our path. As we cleared Eomer Forest, the lakeside sparkled in the sun before us. The sky reflected onto the water, a vision of the sunset lay upon its turquoise surface. The carriage of goods Leif and Corbin packed came into view.
We waited approximately an hour by the side of Logan Lake for the Fae in need. While we were focused on remaining safe as we waited, the raw magnificence of nature filled me with awe. I had never traveled this far out of Ellevail before, and it took my breath away. I knew I would never be able to memorize every color of the blazing sunset before me.
Without any interruptions or ambushes, the Fae retrieved their request and left. Unharmed. It was a simple drop. Simple like it used to be. My shoulders sagged with relief. I lifted my head toward the sky, whispering my thanks to nature for its protection on this day.
With the first part of our mission complete, we set up camp for the night. While we could likely make it to Starhaven before morning, traveling at night could lead to disaster, especially with everything that had happened recently, and the creatures who liked to lurk in the dark.
“Perhaps, it’s a sign—the luck we’ve had thus far,” Ian said as he began gathering wood to make a fire. We’d left Storm and Kade at the campsite to set up our bedrolls and prepare the area.
I found a blueberry bush nearby and collected a plethora of berries in an extra bag for us to eat, popping a few in my mouth for good measure along the way. The sweet juice slicked my tongue.
“I’m not sure, but I am grateful it went as smoothly as it did.”
Ian’s hands were filled, ready to return. I hadn’t had as much success as I wanted to yet, so when he turned to head back to the campsite, I waved him on. “I think that’s a raspberry bush just around the corner. I’m going to pick those and be right back.”
Ian hesitated a moment, an internal struggle within to give me space in this unknown area and to fulfill his duty as my personal guard. But a moment later, he relinquished the reins and allowed me to continue down the path to the raspberry bush alone.
One day, I’d return Brookmere to safety. Enjoying various trips, and the lushness of the land outside Ellevail wouldn’t be a rarity anymore. I’d make sure of it. Somehow.
Exactly as I thought, near the edge of the woods, bloomed a raspberry bush. Its plump ripe red berries were bursting to be picked. I followed the trail of bushes, grabbing the reddest of the bunch.
Once my bag couldn’t hold any more berries, I followed the windy path to exit the woods. The trail led to a small, secluded part of the lake to my left. A runoff perhaps, since I hadn’t noticed any additional water source earlier while we waited to complete the drop.
I savored the silence and the moment alone. The trickling water hummed, resembling a gentle lullaby in the night air. I turned to head back to camp when I noticed a pile of clothes on the ground next to the edge of the lake.
I frowned, reaching down to pick up the garments when Kade’s head surfaced to the top of the lake, his black hair slicked back as he stared out into the calm waters beyond.
Slowly he emerged, and the thick muscles, upon muscles, rippling along his back stole all my focus—and my rationality.
Fates above. The man was utterly intoxicating. Water beaded on his skin as he stood higher, eventually stopping when the water hit his hips.
He ran his hands over his hair, his muscles tightening as he did. The swirling black marks I’d only seen peeking from his shirt before, continued up his arm and around his right shoulder. Gorgeous. A deadly-looking twining of inky shadows crawled over his skin.
I wanted to run my fingers over them, tracing the lines slowly.
Get it together.
I clenched my teeth, somehow believing the move could subdue the need coursing through my body.
I am a grown woman. I've seen plenty of shirtless men .
Even if I couldn’t put my finger on it, something about this shirtless man put all others to shame.
My heart quickened at the sight, palms sweating as I couldn’t take my eyes off his incredible physique. I refused to even breathe, too afraid of being caught.
He twisted slightly, and I froze. He moved, only to dunk back under the water. I took the opportunity while he remained submerged to run back toward camp, losing a few raspberries along the way. Better to lose a few berries than be caught staring at a shirtless Kade.
Less than an hour later, I’d reined in my uncontrollable lust from seeing Kade’s body in the water. It helped that he took his time returning. I remained quieter than usual, observing, instead of interacting, in hopes I didn't do or say something idiotic.
Working to control my thoughts allowed me to instead think about where I stood. Away from the palace. Away from the gilded cage, which locked me up for so long. The thought of spending the night beneath the stars was more than I could ever wish for. Like so many times before, peace settled over my body when I lay beneath them. A feeling of home, like the night sky called to my soul.
As a child, I would sneak into my gardens at night and fall asleep next to the statue of my father. Ruppert would begrudgingly bring me back to my room once the hourly guard went by for his normal rounds and found me. He never asked me to stop, though, likely a request from my father.
Storm easily ignited the fire for us with his magic as Kade brought out the venison stew and crusty bread Leif had so kindly left with us before he and Corbin returned to Ellevail.
We were all quiet as we completed our respective tasks. Despite the fact we hadn’t known Storm and Kade for very long, and had decided to trust them for even less, we worked together as if we had been companions for years.
I glanced at Kade while I finished organizing the berries I’d gathered, and he appeared strained, his body tense, as though he fought an internal battle of some sort. I tried to not be so obvious, but I couldn’t look away. The normally composed Fae tried to hide his pain under the surface. However, if anyone bothered to look closely enough, it would be clear.
The dark expression on his face disappeared, and he returned to his normal demeanor before I had a chance to check on him. He wasn’t the only one who tried to hide from his demons, because I did the same thing. I’d been doing it my whole life. Hiding truths one couldn’t outwardly share, pushing down those lingering emotions into a sacred box of untold truths.
Storm whispered in his ear. Kade nodded once, but Storm remained by his side. Something was wrong with him, or perhaps memories haunted him like they did me. Either way, the exchange served as a stark reminder that I didn’t know him very well. He had secrets. Just like I did.
The fire blazed, warming the small campsite by the time we finally sat around it. Despite it being summer, the nights were cool. A three-stick crane held our stew over the fire, and it gave off a hearty aroma. Stirring the meal, Ian said, “A few more minutes and this should be ready.”
My stomach grumbled, betraying my hunger. The grumbling of my companions' bellies also seemed to reverberate in our small camp.
Ian served the portions of venison stew to the three of us before taking a bowl for himself. We eagerly inhaled the hearty dinner. Chunks of meat, carrots, and potatoes filled our empty bellies.
“How do you two know each other so well?” Storm asked, finally speaking. “You seem to have a relationship much closer than just being the princess’s personal guard.”
Kade barely moved, except for a wisp of his hair fluttering in the breeze, but I noticed his gaze flick between Ian and me.
Ian and I stared at each other for a moment, and I waved at Ian to answer the question. How much of his story he wished to share was up to him.
“My father was the king’s personal guard,” Ian answered. “We grew up together.”
I smiled softly at him, but his face remained tight. Ian didn’t speak of his past often, so his response remained vague, whether it be from the question itself or our company. Perhaps even both. Ian couldn’t relax and likely wouldn’t until we returned to the palace, even if he attempted to appear settled beside the fire.
“It’s hard to not be close when we have spent almost every day together since we were so little. A friendship I truly cherish,” I replied, hoping Ian understood I appreciated him and everything he had done for me.
“That friendship is not enough to earn the princess’s hand without the show of a trial?” Kade asked bluntly, his eyebrow cocked.
Storm rolled his eyes dramatically and barely contained his sigh of indignation.
A flash of irritation hit me as I stared at him. “Ian has nothing to prove to my father, or anyone in this kingdom, and especially not to me. He’s one of the best captains Brookmere has ever seen.”
I didn’t take my eyes off Kade, waiting for the next snarky comment he planned to offer.
“My job is to protect Lana in all things. Even the marriage trials.” Ian stared at the flames, not bothering to glance up, clearly troubled by the direction of this conversation. If I had to be honest with myself, I didn’t quite know how to respond, either.
Kade raised his hands up defensively. “I don’t mean to pry.”
“Yes, you do,” I said.
He rubbed his hands together, lowering the tone of his voice to be as seductive as possible. “I’m merely curious if I’m the only one the princess is kissing in palace corridors. One can never be too sure of the competition.”
I let out a dry laugh. “If you think for one moment you can act like a mongrel, pissing on your territory to claim it, think again, Kade Blackthorn.”
“Why the trials at all if your childhood friend is willing to be King beside you?”
My jaw clenched. No one knew of the prophecy, and it wasn’t as if I’d tell him, of all people. “There’s much you don’t understand, which makes sense, given you can hardly comprehend palace life and the duties we have. You have no real home, just traipsing across Brookmere, right?”
“Right. Traipsing across Brookmere.” Kade chuckled dryly. “Well, with all my travels, I have seen what is threatening your kingdom and the suffering of your people. Knowledge is power, and I choose to barter with a currency that is priceless.”
I stared at Kade, refusing to speak, the heat of the fire stoking the flame of anger within me. This man had some nerve.
“I wonder why you possess such loyalty to a father who wouldn’t allow you the courtesy of choosing your King, or preparing you for what lies ahead. If Storm and I can see what’s happening, be sure he knows as well.” He shifted his gaze to Ian. “How does the same King retain the loyalty and devotion of a Captain of the Guard, who he keeps leashed and uninformed?”
The crackle of the fire served as the only sound interrupting the awkward silence between us. My right eye twitched. I had to compose myself before responding. I needed Kade and Storm on this journey right now, and leaping across this campfire and beating the hell out of him would be an unacceptable response.
“My father is a good and just ruler. I don’t need to defend him to you. If you’d prefer to spend your time in the dungeons for your treasonous tongue, it can be arranged.” I curled my hands into fists on my lap as tears rose to my eyes.
I hated that my body’s response to anger was crying. I had never been able to overcome this reaction. How dare this man speak such words against my father.
Yet, I hated myself even more in the moment. I hated how I had thoughts similar to Kade’s. Hated the way they made sense because I, too, questioned so much as of late. However, I refused to let it be known to others.
“Enough,” Ian whispered threateningly. “We offered you an opportunity to find information with us, but do not mistake our kindness for weakness.”
Kade stared at Ian and eventually inclined his head. “How do you feel about the other contenders?”
Storm cleared his throat, likely to silence Kade from another series of questions, which were certain to get him in trouble.
“It’s not for me to have an opinion about them,” Ian said curtly.
I rose from my seat, grabbing my blanket from the pile as I turned to my bedroll, located just behind me. “I think I’ve had all the fun I can handle for one evening. Goodnight, gentlemen.”
I couldn’t hide or find a place to collect my thoughts without being watched. Straying from the fire would only cause me to be cold. I shuffled into the bedroll, my back toward the fire, and closed my eyes tightly.
The men didn’t chatter, but they moved around me. Ian leaned down and squeezed my hand, keeping the silence between us, but providing his comfort. Storm grumbled he would take the first watch as we all finally settled.
Ian laid his own roll out farther than mine, and I didn’t bother rolling over to note where Storm and Kade set themselves up for the evening.
The warmth of the fire had not yet reached my toes, but a gift from the Fates, or more likely one of the men across the way, cascaded along my body. A gentle heat enveloped each part of me as I snuggled further into my bedroll.
The sky above me sparkled, clearer than I’d ever seen. There were so many stars to behold in the void of blackness above.
I wanted nothing more than to stare at them all night and imagine what life could be outside the confines of the palace walls. A life with no prophecies or marriage trials. No incurable illnesses for my father, and definitely no crazed Fae trying to attack my people. I didn’t want there to be secrets my father kept from me, and I didn’t want to hold on to the dark secrets of my past, which I had yet to share with him, either.
Then, despite the thousand more important things to focus on, my mind wandered to the man sitting a few feet away from me at the campfire.
Why did he rile me up so much?
I feared the answer was clear. The stirring in my gut had been enough to realize my attraction to Kade couldn’t be ignored.
And then the damned kiss had to happen.
I curled even further into my bedroll, determined to stop thinking of Kade, his treasonous thoughts, his lips, and everything else I had yet to experience with the egotistical man.