16. Chapter Fifteen #2
Lily didn’t waste a moment coming to my side and taking my arm gently in hers. “Ladies must stick together,” she murmured. “Besides, I’m eager to hear all the details about how you’ve successfully wooed the male who has spent his life charming every female within the kingdom.”
Archer cast a look over his shoulder, his emerald eyes cold and sharp with warning. He didn’t need to say a word for me to know he was reminding me to be cautious with my words and let him pick up portions of the story where I couldn’t twist the truth.
“Everyone ready?”
“You’re asking the captain of the guard and the general’s daughter if we’re armed?” Lily laughed lightly.
Archer was uncharacteristically somber. “Just wanted to make sure we didn’t need to waste more time on anything.”
Owen looked away, reprimanded.
The prince approached one of the shelves against the far wall and shifted a book. There was a clicking sound and the shelf swung inward with a creak, revealing a tunnel descending into darkness.
After making our way through the tunnels, we filed out into a courtyard near the stables. Through the open doors of one barn, I glimpsed stable hands tending to horses, but Archer guided us past it, rounding a corner until we came upon another building with barred windows.
Considering part of Archer’s and my lie was that I had lived in Rainsong before moving into the castle with him, I didn’t want to give away my ignorance. But it was difficult to school my features. What is housed there? I asked Archer in my mind.
Cliff’s jaguars.
Excuse me?
Archer knocked on the door, waiting for a sandy-haired male with warm brown eyes and a crooked grin to open it. “We need a carriage, Cliff.”
The smile on Cliff’s face faded when he saw the solemnity of Archer’s expression. “Your Highness. Not a pleasure ride, I take it?”
“We need to ride to Blackshore as fast as you can get us there,” the prince confirmed.
Cliff stepped back to let us inside, where the building was mostly open, a veritable enclosed jungle.
Steam curled from the stream running the length of the space beneath palms and climbing vines.
Insects, owls, and other nocturnal birds provided a musical backdrop, making me feel almost like I was at home.
Until my gaze fell on the giant cat climbing a nearby tree, the muscles of its back rippling beneath its spotted, tawny skin.
Another prowled nearby, its eyes fastened on Cliff as he turned, reaching out his hand to lure it nearer and patting it on its head as he smiled indulgently. “Ready for another run, Gorgeous?”
I swallowed thickly, caught between awe and fear. They pull carriages? I asked Archer disbelievingly.
Specially crafted carriages. Clifton Fireshade is especially talented with earth magic, in tune with the wood and metal used in building the carriages. But mostly, he is connected to the animals around him. These jaguars are his—he tames and leads them.
I watched in amazement as Cliff called a pair of jaguars to him. “Here, Gorgeous! Fluffy! Time for a run.” My jaw unhinged in disbelief.
“Those are the jaguars’ names?” I blurted out.
Cliff tossed me one of his crooked grins. “They’re my sweet pets. As docile and adoring as any cat.”
Archer’s mouth twitched, and for once, I felt a kinship with him as I imagined Onyx cuddled up in his library.
“By the way, I know we don’t have much time for introductions, but this is Isoria Gildmere, my betrothed.
Isoria, this is Clifton Fireshade, my personal driver.
As I’m sure you’ve guessed, his carriages are faster than any others in Emberglade.
He’s also wearing a charm to keep our secrets, and his earth magic has proven useful when he fights alongside us. ”
“Wonderful to meet you, my lady.” Cliff offered me a swift yet respectful bow before returning to his work. Gorgeous and Fluffy sat as obediently as dogs for him, leaning into his gentle pats and permitting him to set collars around their necks and fasten the reins he’d used to drive the carriage.
“We’re ready, Your Highness.”
I glanced at the massive cats, who’d stood up, pawing at the earth and watching the door eagerly. I wondered how unnerved the other stable hands were in the neighboring barn, and if the jaguars had ever grown greedy and disobeyed Cliff to prey on the horses.
Owen helped Lily into the carriage, leaving Archer to turn to me, his hand outstretched and his expression carefully neutral.
Perhaps it was petty, but when I set my hand in his, I moved quickly, pinching his arm—enough to see his expression darken before he forced a smile onto his face.
Then I was sliding into the seat beside Lily, resting my hands in my lap and smiling innocently.
Archer followed, sitting across from me beside Owen.
You’ll regret that, he shot into my mind. And though it was a mere thought, he still managed to inject his voice with all the weight of a threat, rich and low and spine-tingling.
I refused to give him the satisfaction of meeting his eyes or acting like I was unsettled, instead continuing to keep my smile fastened on my lips.
“I know we need to talk about what’s happening in Blackshore and all around Emberglade,” Lily began, “but—”
Owen huffed out a long-suffering sigh. “But nothing, Lily. You know that’s all that’s important right now.
If Archer has had a secret lover he’s decided to marry, he’ll share all about it when he’s ready.
” He shifted his gaze to me. “And I’m sure Isoria is adjusting to life in the castle and isn’t ready to be interrogated yet. ”
“You’re a bore.” Lily pretended to pout, prompting me to nudge her gently.
“You can ask me anything,” I volunteered, even though I felt Archer’s gaze burning into me at the proclamation.
“I’ll tell you how we met,” Archer interrupted. I turned a sickly-sweet smile on him, one that I hoped looked like I was in love, not about to be ill all over the coach.
Lily sighed and squeezed my arm, as if overcome by what she thought was romantic.