Page 21 of If The Crown Fits
“Careful,” Jack said. “She may be an assassin sent to kill you.”
I let her go.
“Assassins don’t wear shifts,” Alastor argued.
“I’m not an assassin!” She threw her arms up in the air dramatically.
“That’s exactly what an assassin would say,” Conner said.
“This is ridiculous. Why on earth would I want to kill you? I will not allow you to kidnap me simply because you’re paranoid,” she protested. “You can’t take me hostage.” Her voice was cracking, an indication of her panic.
She tried to fight off Jack as he was attempting to tie her hands behind her back. Her moves were precise, as if she knew exactly where to strike, but Jack’s strength eventually overpowered her own.
“I think we just did,” I replied.
Jack insisted we tie her against the tree trunk, but I assumed this was only because it was his turn to keep watch for the night and he didn’t feel like running after her if she tried to escape. I lay next to the fire and closed my eyes, but sleep would hardly come.
“Who do you think she is?” Jack asked me the next morning as we saddled up. Conner had just woken her and was carefully untying her, but she looked too tired to run anywhere.
“I don’t know.” I admitted. “The fact that I can’t put my finger on it really bothers me. Part of me thinks she looks way too innocent and fragile to be able to cause any real harm.”
“And the other part?” He fastened the girth around his horse, securing his saddle.
“The other part of me thinks she looks like she’ll cut your throat while you’re sleeping and enjoy watching you bleed to death.”
“Those are two very contradictory opinions,” Jack replied.
“Why do you think I’m bothered?” I retorted.
He turned his gaze towards her and we watched as she rubbed her wrists. She tossed away the blanket we’d given her for the night and slowly got up while Conner held her arm.
“How far will we take her?” Alastor’s voice came from behind us and Jack looked back to me for an answer.
“As far as we have to, until we are certain she isn’t a threat.”
“Do you think she’s alone?” Alastor asked.
“I don’t know. But if she is alone and if she isn’t dangerous, then perhaps she needs our help. She’s clearly hiding something. We’ll take her to the next village and see what happens from there.”
They packed up the last few things around the campfire. Conner brought Lara to me and handed her over. She offered no struggle and goosebumps formed on the skin of her upper arms.
“You’re cold,” I said and she shook her head, avoiding my eyes. Her expression indicated that it wasn’t out of fear, but pure fiery anger at me for what I’d done.
“Here.” I took off my jacket and threw it over her shoulders before leading her to my horse. “You’ll have to ride with me.”
“Ride where?” she questioned, but I offered no reply. That was when she pulled away, trying to rip her arm from my grasp. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
I held on to her wrist. “Then tell me who you are and what you want and I’ll let you go.”
It was a dare, though I knew she’d probably stay quiet or lie again.
“I already told you who I am.”
I pulled Lara to the horse. “If you needed help, then why didn’t you just ask? I don’t believe you’re the one who needs protection. Even if you look like a damsel in that nightdress.”
She didn’t respond and I proceeded to lift her by the hips, placing her in the seat of the saddle. I watched in confusion asshe threw her right leg over to the other side of the horse and sat astride. All right then.
I got onto the horse myself and sat in front of her in the saddle before nudging the stallion forwards into a walk. We weren’t in any rush to reach Woodsbrook Manor where my unknown future awaited me. We rode slowly and stopped often to let the horses rest and drink. Lara didn’t say anything, but we all kept a close eye on her.
