24. Ride Hard
Ride Hard
Torren was absolutely sure he shouldn’t be having this much fun with his father’s sworn Knight. Caelith’s hold over Cypress would prove to be problematic before long.
Torren knew it with all his heart, and yet.
He was having the time of his life gallivanting across the Wyld lands with Cypress.
Despite trying to forget their night at A'aravos Paravale, Torren couldn’t banish the memory of her touch or the sounds she made. Even now, when Cypress was upset with him for how he’d gotten them out of the tomb, Torren could only think of the feel of her thighs wrapped around him.
As much fun as he was having, Cypress’s proximity now was like the most alluring tease.
To force himself to concentrate on the road ahead, to keep the path unfurling before them as his blood commanded, Torren allowed himself to ponder her heritage instead.
If Cypress was found within the Keep as a babe, Torren had little hope that whoever her Fair Folk blood came from was still amongst the living.
She was about the same age as he, perhaps a few years younger, but even by the time Cade came along, there were already startlingly few Fair Folk amongst the citizens in the Keep. Torren could remember his mother and her guard often making comments amongst themselves.
The Diviner likely wouldn’t be able to discern Cypress’s relatives.
Still, Torren would take her to Havanj, who could at least tell Cypress what type of Fair Folk blood she possessed.
Havanj would be able to determine where in Faerie Cypress belonged, if she ever chose to return once this was all over.
But, with what Torren had planned once they had the Scepter, he doubted Cypress would ever want to set foot between the Wyld trees again.
“We’re about half a day’s ride from Jinemelle, if we can ride hard,” Torren commented, if only to hear her sharp tongue once more.
“Why are you going so slow then?” Cypress countered, the rope between their horses going slack.
Torren smiled wide. “I wasn’t sure how hard the Lady Cypress knew how to ride.”
She sent him a scathing look, cheeks tinged bright red, the flush spreading down her neck and over her collar bones. “Must you make everything so…vulgar?”
“Fuck yes,” Torren said with a smile, waggling his eyebrows.
Cypress shook her head, then quickly checked the straps on her saddle bags. “Fine, let's go, Thief. Make me ride hard.”
Torren groaned with delight and urged his horse to a steady canter. They'd need several breaks for the pack horse, but he would ensure Cypress reached Jinemelle by nightfall.