“Mr. James,” he calls out, dipping his chin toward Colt.
Either he doesn’t see me sitting behind him, or he is ignoring me. I don’t mind. I am here just to watch and listen. It’s very obvious to me that this is very much a man’s world, no matter what part of the country.
“You’ve a message for me?”
The man clears his throat, then lifts his head and looks straight ahead.
“King Elias of Bunafi sent me to inform you that a woman could come here from a strange land. She is possibly sent by the gods and his wife’s sister from another world. If she has not come, can you send a missive to him when she has arrived, and if she has already shown herself, can you please let him know?”
Colt’s gaze shifts behind the man’s shoulder and toward me. His lips slowly curve into a grin. “Turn around and tell me if this woman is indeed the one you seek?”
The man slowly turns around, as I rise to my feet, his eyes move up and down my body then he turns to Colt. “She looks nothing like Queen Sybilla,” he states.
Colt chuckles. “She isn’t supposed to, but this is indeed her sister. I will pen a letter to him, and send you on your way, after…”
“After?”
“After our nuptials tomorrow. Please, stay and enjoy the food and dance before you go back to Bunafi.”
The man dips his chin, then turns and bows to me slightly. “Thank you very much, Mr. James. I would enjoy that,” he rasps.
He excuses himself before Colt can and slips from the room, leaving me, Ernest, and Colt alone in silence. It’s true, then. Sybilla is here, and if she is, then the rumors of Liv must be true as well. She’s here somewhere. My sisters.
“What happens now?” I ask when neither of the men says anything.
Colt’s gaze flicks up to me, his eyes search my own, and I wait for what he’s going to say next. It isn’t what I expect. I don’t know what I thought he would say, but it isn’t exactly this.
“We’re to be married, go and relax the rest of the day. I’ll come to you this evening.”
I open my mouth to reply, but he doesn’t allow me. Instead, he jerks his chin, then stands and turns his back to me to look out the window. Ernest and his never wavering glower watches me. Standing, I brush my hands down my skirt and without a word I walk away.
I’m not going to show weakness, not to this man who gives me an inch, then takes a mile. He shows me just enough to keep me complacent. He’s really pissing me off and I’m honestly not sure if I’ll be there tomorrow.
Walking up to my room, I close the door and lock myself inside, then walk over to the window. I glance out at the huddles of men that are all talking and probably discussing the fact that a gigantic flying horse, that they didn’t even know was a thing, appeared then carried us on his back.
Then a thought pops into my head. I shouldn’t even think it. I’m sure that Colt would be super angry, maybe it would even affect the prophecy, but Arion is just a few feet away in the barn. He could get me out of here, away from it all, and take me to Sybilla.
Colt doesn’t really want me here, even if he’s falling for me, he’s fighting it. I don’t know that I want to be married to a man who I know loves me, but refuses to allow himself to show it or even truly feel it.
I want more for my life.
I want more for myself and I want more for my future children in a father.
I just plain want more.
Licking my lips, I look around the room to see if there’s something I can use to lower myself from the second story of the house to the ground.
Frowning, I realize that there isn’t anything but the sheets and as many times as I’ve seen that stunt on television, I’m assuming it isn’t as easy in real life.
When I lift my eyes to the men all around, I decide that there is no way these guys will let me run to the barn, climb on Arion, and fly away without alerting Colt.
I have to be smarter than my rush to flight instincts. I have to think this through. I have to be able to figure out when I can slip away undetected. I continue to watch out the window, even as I hear Martha come in with a bathtub.
“Would you like a bath tomorrow morning as well?” she asks.
I’m tempted to tell her no, but I decide that one last bath here would be pretty nice. Then, I smile to myself. Maybe Sybilla has running water? Wouldn’t that be out of this world amazing? But then, I remember the guy that came from her land, he looks medieval, so I highly doubt they have modern conveniences at all.
“Sure,” I call out, just loud enough for her to hear.
I don’t bother turning around. I already know the process of the tub and it’s going to be a few minutes before I need to strip and sink down in the lukewarm water.
Sadness rushes through me at the thought of leaving Martha and my room here. I really like Martha, and the house is comfortable, so comfortable in fact, that it was starting to feel like a home, even if Colt is a dickhead.
Shaking off my sadness, I plaster on a fake smile and turn toward Martha. She eyes me suspiciously, as she should, but doesn’t say anything as she helps me ready for my bath. I thank her and ask if I can be alone for a
