“This is my job,” she replied.
“I meant for sharing your story,” I corrected her.
She smiled softly. “Thank you for listening. You are the only one who knows.”
I wanted to return the show of trust and tell her about my situation. But she hadn’t asked. And I knew Kane would be furious and even more afraid for me if others knew. So, I simply nodded and closed my eyes as she went back to her bench seat and started working on the herbal mixtures.
~~~
The sound of cobblestone beneath the carriage wheels alerted me that we had left the long, dirt paths of the woods. Half asleep, I had been dreaming of some of the luxuries I missed from back home. Electricity, my phone, the internet, modern medicine. I missed my dogs, my car, my bookstores.
I would have said that I missed living without the fear of being attacked, but that would have not been true. It wasn’t that I was enjoying it. But I’d lived most of my life with that fear because of my mother’s family.
A portal and many hours into the journey, we pulled to a stop. I could hear a man speaking with Kane as they made arrangements for our caravan to stay for the night. Dorian had instruced him with his title which apparently caused the man’s voice to shake for a moment.
He made haste, calling over a woman who promptly joined in, taking orders to prepare rooms for us all and to fetch the stable keeper to board our horses. I peered out the window and saw her smile up at Kane as she bowed and rushed off.
“They will always do that.” Indrell sounded almost bored from her seat in the sitting area of the luxurious carriage.
Bringing my legs of the side of the bed, I slid into the velvet coverd chair near the door, peering out again. “Drool over him?”
“Yes.” She laughed. “People love station and power… on top of them being handsome. Aeden has station, which gives him power. I endure the flirting and blushing over him from others all the time when I see him. Kane is handsome, and he exudes power. His station only makes it more enticing.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “His servants have been accustomed to servicing his every whim. I’ve seen glimpses into their longing already.” Part of me wanted to rage on about how much it bothered me, but I wasn’t terribly fond that I felt like the jealous new girlfriend. I was less keen on looking like one, too.
She leaned forward and patted my knee. “Aeden ignores them. He says that he will not indulge when he is focused on staying true to prove we deserve our blessing.” Her hand still on my knee, she moved to try to get my full attention, which she achieved. “Kanedraven has the same fortitude I feel. His focus is on you and the love he has for you. You have less to worry in his actions than you do in some of those that seek his attentions turning on you.”
Her words sent chills down my spine. “Turning on me?”
“Yes.” She moved the collar of her top, revealing a long scar that trailed from the side of her neck to the top of her chest. “Some do not handle their jealousy well.”
My mouth fell open. “She…”
But before I could ask anything, the door jerked open, causing us both to jump. “Ladies?” Kane stood, peering in at us, turning to look me over. “Are you feeling well? The Inn is not far, and we intend to walk so they can take the horses and carriage to fix them up.”
“Walk?” I sat forward.
“I can carry you if needed.” Kane held his hand out.
Indrell giggled, and I shooshed her. Taking his hand, I smiled. “No. I’m fine to walk. It would be nice after being curled up for so long. But is it safe?”
He guided me out, moving us aside to let Aeden move into his place, reaching for Indrell’s hand. I looked back to see her smile softly, taking his hand and exiting, pulling away from him quickly.
As Lochlin and another soldier gathered our things, I walked with Kane as he replied, “It is very safe here. This is a trading depot that I had set up many, many years ago. It is one of several around the planet to help aid in open trade between the races. There is a low population, and unlike the villages and cities that belong to each race, the depots know that it was I who created and continue to run them. They may not know my face, but they know their station.”
I looked around and watched as people of varying sized, colors, shapes all looked our way. Whenever we looked at someone that was looking back, they would bow and scurry off. “They fear you?”
“Most people fear a king.” Kane’s reply was full of sadness. “It is partly why I do not like others to know what I look like. I prefer when they can just go about their business.”
The next person to look our way, I waved and smiled. They bowed, but when they looked back up and saw that I was still smiling and waved again, they returned the gesture.
She looked young, but her size might have been a factor. Her bright eyes of amber was complimented by her deep crimson skin tone and rich, black hair. She was strikingly beautiful. And as she lowered her hand, I nodded my head to her which caused her to tug on the sleeve of the man next to her of her same race. But her eyes never left Kane and I.
He instantly bowed, pulling on her to follow suit. When he came back up, he looked around as if looking for a means
