Page 102 of Reckless
I’d forgotten. I’d forgotten despite knowing exactly how important her birthday is to him. I’ve never missed a morning under the willow. Until now, that is.
I swallow, feeling emotion begin to sting my eyes. The urge to pour my thoughts onto a page is suddenly overwhelming. I blink at the kitchen, wishing I had never left the comfort of my study—my dungeon. As I back away from Gail, the doors swing open, spilling servants into the room. I don’t hesitate before pushing my way through the chaos, watching bodies leap away from my frantic form.
Let them think I’m mad. Maybe I am. Maybe it’s better that way.
I hear a shout that resembles my name.
I don’t look back.
CHAPTER 38Paedyn
“Look, there’s another one. Wedged between those stones.”
I point to our left, turning slightly in the saddle to see Kai’s gaze following the length of my arm. He nods after finally catching sight of it. “So get us there, Gray.”
I had a feeling he would say that after spending the entirety of the day teaching me how to steer this beast. The reins are slick in my palms, forcing me to tighten my grip as I pull the leather to the left. I smother my smug smile when the horse obeys. We walk over to the nestle of rocks where I pull on the reins, halting the clopping hooves.
“Good work.” Kai pats my thigh firmly before jumping down from the saddle. “I’m a great teacher.”
“Or,” I say, softly stroking the horse’s mane, “I’m just a fast learner.”
“Yeah, a fast learner that steered us into at least a dozen boulders.”
“Just get the damn arrow,” I order before he has the chance to continue.
His shoulders strain as he struggles against the caught arrowhead. When he finally manages to free it, he straightens out the crooked tipbefore adding it to the others sticking out of the pack he now wears.
“That’s five,” I say, feeling the saddle shift when he steps into the stirrup. “At this rate, there has to be a discarded bow out here.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” he says, placing his palms back onto their usual spot on my thighs. “With all the bandits passing through, there are likely weapons scattered all over this place.”
I run my gaze over the wall of rocks on either side of us, creating an uneven tunnel. “And these bandits have yet to make an appearance.”
“And let’s pray they don’t.”
I stuff the reins in his hands, suddenly too curious to steer. “I didn’t peg you as the type to pray, Prince.”
I feel his shoulders shrug against my back. “I didn’t used to believe in a God.”
“And now?”
There is a long pause followed by a softening of his voice. “I found proof of a paradise.”
I glance over my shoulder to find his eyes already on me. “And what was that?”
His gaze glides over my face and down the length of my braid. “You’ll know when you see it.”
Plagues. Pretty boy. Pretty words.
When his eyes trail back to mine, I turn away to look at anything other than him. His hands are resting on my thighs while his chest is brushing my back with each breath, and the feel of it is drowning out every rational thought.
I wish I could douse myself in cold water and shiver until I shake off this feeling. This feeling of falling for something I know I should be fighting.
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to focus on the wall of stonessliding past. We ride in silence—the type that’s far louder than uttering a word. The day crawls by, dragging the sun across the sky until it starts to sink.
My eyes skim over the stones, studying the shapes to pass the time. I squint against the sun, catching something glinting from where it’s wedged between two looming rocks. “Do you see that?” I ask, finally breaking the silence.
“See what?” he sighs against my hair.
