Page 63 of Façade

Ryland suddenly yanked on the reins, his attention riveted to the undergrowth growing alongside the trail, reminiscent of the scene that had unfolded two days ago. The curse was easier to discern from my elevated perch now that I knew what to look for. It still required great concentration to see it, but after much squinting, I noticed that much of the undergrowth had vanished in sporadic splotches extending from where the disappearing curse had tainted.

I slid off my horse and closed the distance until we stood side by side, remaining quiet as our last experience had taught me Ryland preferred while he concentrated. Even though I made no motion to lean closer as my ignorance had compelled me to do the first time, he still flung his arm out.

“Please stay back.”

This fierce command was different than the one he’d give me the first time we’d discovered the disappearing curse on our journey—while that had felt like an order, this felt more like a warning, softened by the same concern that filled his eyes as he glanced back at me.

“I don’t want you to catch it. Please, Evie.”

Nor did I want him to. My fingers itched to pull him back; I clasped them together in an effort to resist the impulse and watched helplessly as he searched for other infected areas. He quickly discovered another several meters away. From there, his worried gaze followed the curse until it was too far away to see.

Ryland motioned towards a guard, who stepped forward with a map. His brow furrowed as he consulted it. “There’s a small mountain village in that direction.”

Without another word, he stepped off the path and headed towards it. I didn’t even hesitate to follow. He glanced over his shoulder with a wary expression.

“Evelyn…”

“You’re not following a cursed trail alone. For as long as our marriage lasts, I’m your wife and will support you.”

He seemed too tense to put up much of a fight. He heaved an unsurprised sigh before taking my hand in a protective grip to keep me close. The contact of his hand, skin upon skin, made my cheeks flare with heat, and I found far too much comfort in the gesture than was wise.

“What are you doing?” I stammered midst my fluster.

“Preventing you from wandering off. If you accompany me, you must promise not to get close enough so as to be at risk, no matter how much your curiosity might tempt you otherwise.”

The man had come to know me well, but more than that, the fact he still worried despite our recent confrontation only inclined my heart closer to his.

“You’re being so sweet, especially after I…” I couldn’t finish, still ashamed I’d made the dire accusation that he’d tried to harm me without solid proof.

With a heavy sigh he faced me, lifting the hand he held to hold it snugly between both of his. “You were justified in your suspicions, especially as I’m not entirely certain…” A haunted look filled his eye. “No matter what might happen between us, I care for you and don’t want any harm to befall you. Do you understand, Evie?”

The gentle timbre of his voice enfolding my nickname was nearly my undoing, robbing me of speech so that I could only nod and numbly follow as he led me along the trail. We left our entourage with the horses and took only a guard for each of us.

Silence muffled our steps as we walked deeper into the forest, searching for lingering signs of the disappearing curse. Each infected bush, tree, or log guided us like signposts, leading us along the path that felt never-ending to pull us farther from the main road.

Ryland spared me a sideways glance. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d wonder if you’d planned this detour.” His teasing quip was a welcome reprieve from the tension choking the piney air before his brow furrowed. “The village didn’t appear so far from the main trail on the map.” He gnawed his lip worriedly.

While his attention remained riveted to the cursed trail, I searched the woods for any additional infected areas we might have missed…and suddenly spotted the edge of a dark cloak whisking behind a far-off tree as someone hastily ducked out of sight, but not before I glimpsed the hooded figure I’d seen once before: the night someone had tried to strangle me in my bedroom.

My breath caught and fear cinched my heart. I immediately tugged on Ryland’s arm, my voice wavering around his name immediately capturing his attention. He started to turn. “What’s wrong, Evie?”

“Don’t turn around!” I pleaded in a frightened whisper. “He mustn’t realize we’ve noticed him.”

Though it was likely too late for that. I ached to glance back in order to search for any sign of him amongst the surrounding trees but didn’t dare…though I could sense the intruder’s presence, an ominous feeling that reached across the space dividing us to dig tendrils of fear into my heart.

Ryland’s breath caught. “He?Who are you talking about?”

“The man who attacked me in my bedroom the eve of our journey.” And the one I was beginning to suspect had been the one to truly attempt to poison me. I hadn’t wanted to consider the possibility before, as that meant we’d been followed this entire journey. I suddenly remembered the arrow in the tree as well—I’d initially pushed the incident aside, telling myself it was nothing…but maybe it wasn’t. If the assassin had been responsible for both incidents, then he’d likely remained close enough to see whether his efforts had succeeded…and now lurked within the shadows for the opportune moment to finish the job.

Ryland’s fragile hold on his composure vanished the moment I imparted this news. He spun to face me, his eyes wild. “What?”

Too late I remembered I’d never told him about any of the assassination attempts against me. I guiltily bit my lip. “I forgot I haven’t told you.”

“You most certainly haven’t.” Anger filled his voice, along with a fierce note of protectiveness, the same vehemence that had fueled his wild worry after discovering I’d almost eaten the poisoned berries. I could tell he yearned to interrogate me further, but other priorities were far more pressing.

In an instant, he’d drawn his sword and seized hold of me—not merely gripping my hand but wrapping his arm tightly around me to plaster me against his side.

One of the guards stepped forward. “What is it, Your Highnesses?”

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