Page 123 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

The tension inside me needed an outlet. I changed as quickly as I could, cursing the laces on the dress that made it nearly impossible to get out of without help. Finally, I pulled itloose and yanked on my pants and tunic then shoved my feet into my boots.

Marching across the room, I let out a sharp breath and flung the door open.

Rydian eyed me, arms crossed like he’d been waiting for me all along.

“I need to get out of here,” I blurted, my voice sharper than I’d meant it to be.

He didn’t hesitate. “Come on.”

I grabbed my cloak and hurried to keep up.

Rydian led the way through the quiet halls of the castle, moving swiftly. We barely passed anyone at all, and the people we did see were servants who kept their eyes averted. Rydian greeted them all with murmurs of hello, but whether fearful of him or caught unaware, none of them dared say a word to me.

Finally, we slipped outside, the cold afternoon air hitting my face like a slap. But I welcomed it.

At the stables, the scent of hay and leather filled the air. In the third stall, Shadow whinnied at the sight of me. My spirits lifted as I spotted the familiar horse.

Rydian spoke to a stable hand, who immediately began to saddle Shadow for me.

When he’d readied his own horse, Rydian led them both out and handed me Shadow’s reins, his fingers brushing mine. My breath caught, but I swung myself into the saddle before he could see my reaction.

“Where to?” he asked as he mounted.

“Anywhere but here,” I said, my heart pounding with the thrill of it.

I kicked the horse into a gallop, Rydian following close behind. We tore through the fields under the cloud-heavy sky, and for the first time in days and days, I felt free.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Aurelia

It didn’t dawn on me until too late that it might’ve been incredibly reckless to end up in the middle of nowhere alone with the prince I wasn’t engaged to marry. When I finally slowed to a walk, I was hyper-aware of how isolated we were. Thick, autumn woods bordered us on both sides. Far behind us, Grey Oak castle loomed, shrouded in fog. Above us, clouds muted all but the most determined of the sun’s rays, leaving the landscape in a gray gloom.

Ahead, the path narrowed as it wound down the craggy hillside. Rather than fall back into single file, Rydian pulled his horse in closer beside me. So close that our boots brushed in their stirrups.

Glancing over, I found him staring into the distance with a thoughtful slant to his brow. My gaze lingered, admiring the strong curve of his jaw and the fullness of his mouth—even if it was set in a hard line.

He looked over at me suddenly, and heat rose to my cheeks.

Busted.

He didn’t comment on my staring, though I wasn’t surethe subject of his question was much better. “A strange coincidence about that donation center.”

I shrugged, secretly bracing myself for his reaction. “I wouldn’t know.”

He snorted. “Right.”

When he didn’t answer, I peeked at his face. But the wry humor was gone. He looked like he had earlier when I’d come out of my meeting with the king. A deadly sort of concern was etched in his brow as he asked, “What will you do about Duron?”

I wanted to tell him it was none of his damn business, but instead, the truth tumbled out. “I will refuse him.”

He said nothing as we rode on.

I didn’t bother with conversation, relieved to embrace silence for once. I’d lived with it for seven years, to the point of near-madness some days, but I couldn’t help feeling that, since coming here with Callan, every word uttered had been a waste.

Lies.

Betrayal.

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