“Safe travels, then,” he says.
With that, he and his partner turn, heading back into the heart of the town. Kyra looks up at me once they’re out of hearing range.
“What do you think?” She eyes the road. “Should we try to find another way?”
A great forest stretches out before us. The deep rich purple and green leaves of the various trees would be a beautiful sight if I weren’t so worried about what may be hidden there now that the knights have warned us of danger.
I think on the map Willow and Talina showed us. This is the only road between this town and the next.
“We don’t have a choice,” I tell her. “We’ll just have to hide anytime we hear someone approach.”
Remembering the knife, I dig through the satchel Willow and her daughter gave us. As soon as I find it, I hold it out to Kyra.
“Here, take this and hide it beneath your cloak.”
She takes it from me. “What about you?”
I smile because her concern is touching. Touching but unnecessary. She is the one who is more important. “Keep it. I’ll be fine.” I decide to lighten the mood. I give her a teasing grin as I flex my biceps exaggeratively. “Fear not, my queen. No one would dare pick a fight with your brave and dashingly handsome guard.”
She laughs. “All right, my ‘brave and dashingly handsome guard.’” She rolls her eyes as a grin quirks her lips. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 17
Kyra
I tuck the knife in the belt beneath my robe and then look up at Cael.
“Aris and I are both in martial arts,” he adds. “I’m actually pretty good if I do say so myself.” He makes another show of flexing his rather impressive biceps, then waggles his eyebrows to tease me.
A soft puff of air escapes me as I laugh. “I hope so.”
His jaw drops as he gives me a mock wounded expression. “You doubt me?”
“Of course not,” I grin.
He arches a brow.
“I just… don’t want anything to happen to you. That’s all.”
His expression softens as he looks at me. “I feel the same about you. I’ll be fine, Kyra. I promise. I just… I’d feel better about you having the knife.”
The way he looks at me, his teal eyes full of intensity, makes my entire body flush with warmth.
“Thanks.”
The cobblestone road gives way to dirt and mud the farther we get from the town. The canopy of trees overhead is so thick, it blocks out most of the light from the sun. The darkness makes it seem much later than it actually is and also makes my heart rate quicken each time I hear a strange noise.
I know this is a forest, and there is bound to be plenty of wildlife, but this is a new world. We have no idea what kinds of animals lurk here, which makes me apprehensive—that and the warning the knights gave us before we left. The last thing we need is to be accosted by bandits and thieves. Aside from taking what little possessions we have, who knows what else they might do to us.
And then I remember the men who were searching for us in the woods when we first arrived in this world. What if they’re somehow following us? Unable to stop myself, I cast a worried glance over my shoulder, half expecting them to be coming down the road behind us.
When I see nothing, I release the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding, glad that we’re still alone here.
I wish Willow and Talina had given me some pants instead of this dress. The hem, heavy with water and mud, slaps against my ankles with each step. But the only pants they had they gave to Cael. He’s such a good guy. I’m pretty sure if I’d asked him to, he would have given me the pants and worn the dress instead just so I’d be more comfortable.
As if reading my thoughts, he looks at me. “As soon as we can, we need to find you some pants.”
“You read my mind. I was just thinking the same thing.”
He looks down at his muddy pants and shoes and then laughs softly. “It’s good Lynx isn’t here. I already know he’d be complaining about walking in the mud.”
“But he’s a fox. Doesn’t he enjoy nature?”
A soft puff of air escapes him as his lips curl up in a wistful smile. “The last time I took him camping, he complained almost the entire time about how much he missed our soft bed and wanted a warm bath.” He shakes his head. “We ended up coming home a few days early and the moment we returned, he made me promise that we would never do that again.”
I laugh. “Oh my gosh. He sounds so dramatic.”
He grins. “You have no idea.”
“What about Aris’s peacock familiar? What is he like?”
Cael rolls his eyes. “Let’s just say he and Lynx could be brothers as far as their personalities go. I’ve never seen two more picky individuals in all my life. Aris definitely has his hands full with Fin.”
“Do you think Aris is going to be worried about you?”
“I’m sure he’s worried about both of us. He knows I took you to my apartment, and he has a key. So, when he comes looking for us and finds the door kicked in, I’m sure he’ll hit the panic button right away.” He looks down at his hands. “I just hope he’s all right.”
“Me, too.” I turn to him. “You said he has the same nightmare you do, the one you and I share.”
“Yeah. His dreams are the same as mine, but I don’t understand why.”
“That’s what doesn’t make sense, unless maybe he was a guard as well,” I offer. “But that does not sound right either because you both dream of holding me… I mean, the queen,” I correct, “When she’s dying.”
He
