13. Evanee
Evanee
We slowed, and my tired eyes blinked open.
The stubble on Aiden’s cheek grated against mine, the smell of pine and smoke surrounding me as I inhaled deeply. Heat stirred low in my belly—I shot up.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, as I subtly wiped drool on my sleeve. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“It’s been a rough few days,” he grunted.
The weather had turned downright cold. Icy winds bit at our faces, even when the sun was bright above on a cloudless day.
Rain came without warning, leaving us drenched and shivering on more than one occasion.
Aiden deemed the towns too unsafe to stop, so we spent our nights on the hard, frozen mud.
The fire didn’t help much—we had to keep it small to avoid drawing attention.
Lyra and I would cuddle, seeking warmth, but it wasn’t enough to keep either of our teeth from chattering as the chill crept through every layer. Pretty sure I cracked a tooth.
Our group would split at the junction, just past the border. Brax, Lyra, Slade, and Alaric would travel east toward Lamora, while Aiden, Dimitri, Malachai, and I would go west toward Brixton. If nothing delayed either group, we'd meet back up just before Castle Lawryn.
I planned to be gone before then.
With the guard cut in half, there had to be a chance for me to get away. It would be easier if I could evade Malachai’s watchful gaze. I sensed his eyes on me more than ever, now that I was riding with Aiden.
“You know the plan,” Aiden announced as we came to the junction. His horse, Shadow, impatiently pranced in circles. “If you come into trouble, one of you will ride ahead. Same for our group.”
Everyone nodded, and just like that, they were off.
Nervous anticipation settled in me like a bag of stones, as I watched the bob of Lyra’s head grow distant.
She cast a glance back at me before they turned a corner on the tree-lined path, her expression mirroring my own—concern with underlying excitement.
We kept the Empyrean with us—our path would be more dangerous, so we’d need the extra supplies she could carry.
“Can we please stop for a minute?” I finally asked Aiden.
“We need to make it to Brixton. The sun’s going down earlier and earlier each day, and I don’t want us getting caught on the road.”
“I only need five minutes to stretch my legs and—”
“It’s not safe out here, and while I’m very confident in our odds against skur’s or people disgruntled with the crown, I cannot risk—”
“My ass hurts!” I bit out angrily. Dimitri snickered beside us, and Aiden shot him a disapproving look as he pulled on the reins.
“That’s not queenly language,” he warned, his tone taking on that dark edge.
“Considering I’m not actually a Queen and I went from pretending to be one, to now pretending I’m not pretending; I think I can speak how I want,” I spat, hauling my leg over to slide off Shadow before he could stop me.
As my feet hit the ground, it took every bit of willpower not to fall flat on my ass.
Muscles spasmed and shook as I stretched, stiffly walking around to get the blood flowing.
“Uh huh…”
I kept him in my peripheral as my legs prickled back to life. He hauled himself off, eyes instantly scanning our surroundings.
Malachai and Dimitri followed suit, the latter stretching his arms above his head, rolling his neck, then jogging in place, as if his wolf itched to stretch its legs too. The former, the ever-stoic knight, dismounted without emotion, copying Aiden in his survey of the area.
Aiden’s eyes were already locked on me when I turned toward him. “We need to be quick. There’s—”
“Yes, I knowwwww,” I said, drawing out the word dramatically. “Monsters and perilous danger everywhere. You’re kind of a worrywart.” I noted, rolling my eyes at him. Dimitri hid his laughter beneath a dramatic coughing fit.
Aiden shot him another reproachful look before shifting his gaze to me, his eyebrows raised, and his hand pressed to his heart, a mock expression of hurt. “You wound me. This is all for your safety, my Queen.”
“I hate when you call me that,” I seethed. “And you shouldn’t call me that here if there’s potential danger,” I added.
“What bothers you about it?” He laughed, grabbing some snacks for Shadow and the Empyrean. “I would think the temporary title, even if it’s just for show, would be preferred.”
“Not when I’m bait for rebels. And it makes me uncomfortable.”
His smile was ornery, but it faltered as the orange glow of the sunset settled over us.
“We need to go,” he cautioned.
Dimitri had been tightening the straps around his mare when his head shot up, twitching this way and that as his gaze darted around, nose flaring.
“Boss,” Dimitri barked, tone serious. “We’ve got company.”
My skin became clammy. Could it be him? The white-haired male?
“How many?” Aiden responded, pulling out his broadsword and a small dagger with sapphire jewels laid in the hilt. He scanned the trees, and my heart beat at a frantic pace.
Dimitri sniffed the air again. I wrung my hands as I eagerly awaited his answer.
“Four. All men.”
A breath escaped me as disappointment spread.
The sound of leather rubbing made me jump—Malachai had snuck up on me in a silent approach. He only arched a brow, jaw tight. I bit back the grimace that threatened to expose how nervous he made me.
Aiden gave a curt nod. “Malachai, go scout their camp. Get a number—see if this is one of the rebel groups.”
Dimitri and Aiden pulled cloaks over their fighting leathers.
Malachai slipped into the trees, leading his horse behind him. The ease with which he maneuvered through the forest, utterly silent, was unnerving.
“How far?” Aiden asked, placing his broadsword inside the deerskin that held the dresses from Thaddeus, then sheathed the dagger in his waistband.
“Half a mile.” Dimitri did something similar to his weapons, then took one of the tattered blankets and draped it over his cloak.
“What’s the plan?” I asked Aiden, feeling utterly useless.
Aiden smiled mischievously.
“You are my dear wife, and this is your brother. We’re headed to the kingdom for a funeral. I find that if stories are short and lacking detail, they’re more believable.”
“And why can’t you be the brother?” I countered, crossing my arms over my chest.
“I don’t think Dimitri here could play a convincing husband. Dimitri? Would you like to switch roles?” Aiden asked sarcastically—but the set of his jaw made the question more of a challenge. Dimitri's gaze swept between us before raising his hands in front of him, shaking his head.
“Allow me,” Aiden said as he strode up behind me, carrying the white scarf I’d grabbed from Thaddeus’s.
He placed it over my forehead, then quickly wove it through my hair, looping it around and tucking the ends to the side.
Something about his hands in my hair made my traitorous stomach dance as chills spread from the contact
“There.” He stepped back to admire his work with a smirk.
“How did you…” I trailed off, tracing my hand over the fine material.
“I have many random talents,” he said nonchalantly. “Most of the females wear it like this here.”
Aiden pulled out two more blankets, offering one to me. Adrenaline made my fingers shake as I grabbed the fabric, wrapping the musty thing over my shoulders.
“It’s getting dark, so hopefully they won’t see how fine our clothing actually is. This part of the kingdom is in poverty. And even in a profitable year, tradesmen wouldn’t have clothing like ours,” he remarked.
“Or, maybe they’ll be smart and hurry along before the skurs come out to play,” Dimitri added. I really hoped all of this worry over skurs would be for nothing. The excitement at Thaddeus' had been enough for me.
Hoof beats had our heads snapping up—four figures rode toward us.
We'd set things up to look as if we were taking a break from our journey—not a complete lie.
I was certainly grateful for it, even if I was nervous with the tension brewing between the two beings I stood beside.
Aiden gripped my arm, pulling me to him.
“Don’t speak,” he ordered, his voice deep and edged. The words grated against my nerves—my fists tightened at my sides.
“Evening,” Aiden called out as the riders slowed a distance away.
The men didn’t respond. They didn’t smile.
They merely stared from narrowed eyes, their jaws set.
The largest of them eased his horse ahead of the others and dismounted.
He ran a hand over his thick red beard as his gaze fixed on Aiden, distrust clear on his face and the way his hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
“Where you folks coming from?” His thick, rich accent carried to us on the wind. My whole body stiffened. Aiden only cocked his head to the side, his firm grip on my arm unwavering.
“We’re traveling north. My wife and her brother have a cousin who passed away,” he said, his voice even. Calm.
The man flicked his focus to me. “That true?”
I couldn’t breathe as I met his unwavering scrutiny. This could be my chance—those damn marks though—I wouldn’t get far.
Aiden’s fingers dug into my arm at my silence.
“Mmm-Hmm.” I nodded.
“Is there a reason we’re being questioned?” Dimitri stepped forward, pulling the blanket tighter around him.
“There’s a rumor that the Fae Bitch is traveling north. A female matching her description was seen heading in this direction.” He looked at me pointedly.
One of the other men—younger—dismounted. His hand hovered near his waist and my jaw tightened, my gaze jumping to the remaining riders. They didn’t hide the hatred in their expressions at the mention of the Queen—one held a bow, arrow knocked. The other, a broadsword across his lap.
Aiden laughed low and sharp, managing to hide his fangs. “While I appreciate that you believe my wife compares to the Queen, she is not her.”
Panic surged. What if I didn’t get another chance like this? But my marks—fuck my marks.