Page 26 of Their Witch Bride

Time continues to pass. I don’t know how long. The smell and feel of metal fills the air around me. It’s a sensation I’ve never felt before, but I sense it so strongly that it’s hard to catch my breath. Visions of daggers and spears and swords swim in my mind like ghostly presences.

A sword of strength.

A blade of boldness.

A spear of sacrifice.

The weapons call out to me, begging to be mined, bent, and forged.

Make me. Forge me.

My magic tingles, wanting to be released. Wanting to see what it can do. I almost allow it. Almost test it. The mountains hold metal like nothing I’ve felt before, but this isn’t the time, no matter how much I might wish it was

The carriage jolts to a stop, and I nearly fall off my seat. I look out the window again and realize there are massive mountains standing on either side of the road we’re on. How is that possible? Where the hell are we? Just a short time before the mountains were only on one side…

I stick my head out of the window and look up. The mountains are huge. All my life I’d seen them from a distance, but it was nothing like this. Right now, I can’t even see the top of them. I’ve never felt so small in my life.

Sitting back down, I wonder if I have to wait for someone to let me out. That’s been the process so far for all our little breaks, but I’m itching to get out of this damn carriage. So if someone doesn’t let me out soon, I’m running for it.

Before I have time to think about the wisdom of my plan, the carriage door opens, and I eagerly spring to my feet, catching the hand that’s offered. Only, my skirts tangle around me as I try to run out, and I come flying out the carriage door.

Before I can hit the ground, strong arms are around me. I pull my face out of the chest I’m buried in and find Prince Rinan staring at me. His light blue eyes are filled with surprise, but also an edge of embarrassment.

“Uh, sorry,” I murmur.

To my surprise, his mouth lifts into an almost-smile. “It’s okay. I’m used to pretty women throwing themselves at me.”

His banter is unexpected, but I’m glad for something other than grumpily muttered comments. “I believe it with those pretty-boy looks. You’d be popular back at the castle.”

He pulls me forward enough so my feet leave the carriage floor, but then doesn’t put me down. He just keeps me a foot from the ground in his arms. Butterflies float through my stomach, and I like his show of strength more than I care to admit.

“Pretty boy? You think I’m a pretty boy?” His gaze is searching my face for something, but I’m not sure what.

“I can’t be the first one to tell you that, right? Unless… are most shifters blind? Or do they like their men big and hairy with fangs and one pus-filled eye?”

He stares.

I stare back.

“You don’t know much about shifters, do you?”

I’d shrug my shoulders if I could in such an awkward position. “I know you’re all big and kind of grumpy.” My gaze moves around the area to the other shifters moving about. “I mean, is everything about you guys big?”

Their houses. Their horses. Their castles. It’s all got to be big, right?

A little growl slips past his lips.

My gaze jerks back to him.

“Don’t look at them,” he says almost under his breath.

I lift a brow. He’s upset, but I have no idea why. “You don’t like me wondering how big they are?”

His eyes narrow. “No. Keep your focus on how big I am.”

Weird. But this is no time to rock the boat. “Okay, well, you are a big fella. I mean, you don’t even seem tired carrying me like this.”

Some of his anger fades away. “You’re not heavy. At all. I could carry you all day.”

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