Page 9 of Their Fated Magic

I laugh, because I doubt it. I think she’ll be too busy to worry about me.

“Oh.” Her eyes get wide. “Did I tell you I sent a letter to the witches?”

My entire body tenses. “No, I don’t think you mentioned it.”

She doesn’t seem to notice that I suddenly feel like the air’s been knocked out of me. “Well, I sent word to your Baldemar.”

Now I’m just confused. “Why?”

“To introduce myself and tell him all about the shifters and our town, of course.”

Are we not speaking the same language? I feel like I’m missing something.

“Why?”

She leans in. “To invite him here, of course. He sounds like he’s at an age where he might benefit from retiring to a lush place, like the shifter lands, and we could certainly benefit from his expertise.”

My heart aches a little. “That would be wonderful, but–”

Her eyes twinkle. “Have a little faith, Tara. Some things really do work out.”

I’m about to say more when a giant shifter calls for Scarlet.

Turning back to me, she smiles. “I have to go… but did you remember to bring as much rainwater as you could?”

I nod. “And the princes have encouraged all the shifters to drink rainwater whenever possible.”

“Good. Stay safe out there, and try not to let those four big husbands of yours drive you crazy.”

She hugs me again, wishes me good luck on my journey, and races off to answer the man. I’m left staring after her, wondering if there is anything she could’ve written in that letter to get Baldemar to leave the witch lands and come to the “savage” world of the shifters.

I doubt it.

Still, I appreciate her trying. I suspect the coming days will be difficult. It’ll be nice to have a little bright spot of hope to keep me warm.

SIX

Tara

Everything hurts. I always thought horses looked comfortable to ride... I was wrong. I’ve been on this horse all day, and my thighs are burning. My hands are cramping. Even my ass hurts.

I’m not built for this.

Maybe I am the princess the wolves have made me out to be.

I shake the thoughts from my mind and look toward the horizon. My eyes have been glued to it like a magnet as the sun dips lower hour by hour. It’s almost evening, which means it’s almost time to rest. Thank the gods! I didn’t want to be the first to ask if we could stop again, and now I won’t have to be.

“Do you want a snack?” Garrick asks at my side.

“I’m fine,” I lie. I’ll eat when it’s time to rest. When my focus isn’t on my aching ass.

“You look uncomfortable. Are you an experienced rider?”

Garrick has been trying pretty damn hard to connect with me again after he’d hurt my feelings. Rinan and Arlys have too, in their own way, while Drogo has been… well, Drogo. Their attempts should be making me feel better. They are, a little, but not completely. It’s hard to explain why what they’re saying isn’t making me feel completely better. It’s like they broke something that needs time to fix.

“I’m not very experienced,” I confess carefully.

“No?” He’s studying me.

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