Page 77 of Trust In Love (Love Mark 2)

The glance we shared lingered a moment longer. Then, we both returned our attention to our plates and finished our breakfast.

Mydera approached just as I was biting into the last slice of hot bread I had left.

“Good news. You’re all set and ready to depart, my little lovers,” she announced with a proud smile, holding up the sack I’d brought to her earlier. When the golden wrist guards inside clinked together, I shot Nicolette a worried look, hoping she didn’t figure out what contents it held. But she merely tipped her head curiously, her gaze telling me she couldn’t suss out the mystery.

I nodded to Mydera and took the bag.

“We have your horses packed and waiting in the clearing just over there,” she told me.

“Thank you,” I said. “No matter your motives, we appreciate your help and generosity.”

Her eyes glittered with amusement, but she inclined her head graciously before she turned to address Nicolette who was handing her empty breakfast tray over to a waiting servant and pushing to her feet.

“I echo Farrow’s sentiment,” Nicolette said. “Thank you for taking us under your care. It was a recuperation I greatly needed.”

She opened her arms to the tall woman, and Mydera obligingly leaned down to hug her.

“It was our pleasure, princess. You’re the first royalty we’ve ever had in our ranks. It was an enlightening experience, one we’d like to repeat. And I hope my assistance in your endeavor to win over your true love goes accordingly.”

“Your…?” Nicolette’s brow knit in confusion. “Your assistance?” she echoed slowly. “But I didn’t get any—”

Mydera had already turned away, facing me, however. “Enjoy your apple juice, boy.”

My eyes met hers over the tipped bottom of the cup I still held to my mouth as I swallowed the last drop.

With a wink, the giant mage strolled away.

But what—?

I didn’t even get a full moment to wonder what any of that had meant before Nicolette was gasping, “Oh my God,” and lunging toward me to smack the cup from my hand.

My fingers were still raised in shock as the empty container went flying off, only to land somewhere in a pile of damp, molding leaves. I blinked slowly at the fallen mug, then turned to gape up at the woman gawking back at me.

“What the hell?” I said.

She merely reached for my arm and hauled me upright, causing the plate on my lap to upend and topple toward the ground. “I think that bitch put something in your drink. Do you feel okay?”

“Of course. I—whoa.” I clutched her arm as dizziness swamped me. My vision blurred and the world seemed to tilt one way before spilling the other.

“Farrow?” Nicolette shrieked in my ear. It sounded very loud and very shrill.

I winced at the volume and lifted a hand. Why was everything so fucking loud? “I’m fine,” I assured her, still trying to squint my surroundings back into focus. “Just stood up too fast. Though…” I swung out my arm slowly, like a blind man feeling out his way. “Everything’s still awfully blurry.” With unspeakably amplified sound.

“Mydera had something put in your drink,” Nicolette told me, sounding certain this time. “Here.” She gripped my arm hard. “Follow my lead. We’re leaving. Now.”

I couldn’t think up a single reason to disobey, so I clutched her arm and walked wherever she directed, surprisingly not too concerned about the fact that my vision had suddenly failed me.

Hmm. Curious that.

Next to me, Nicolette growled savage curses, all of them aimed at Mydera. “I’d hunt her down right now and demand an anecdote. But the foul woman would probably only give us something worse. Dammit, I can’t believe she betrayed us like this. Here are the horses, my love. How’re you feeling?”

“I feel fine,” I answered, completely unconcerned. Honestly, I couldn’t remember feeling better. Energy flowed through my veins, making me want to move and experience every drop life had to offer. But even as I spoke, my hand went to my constricting collar, only to find the top two buttons already undone. “Say, isn’t it remarkably warm this morning?”

“No,” Nicolette snapped. “It’s decidedly chillier than it’s been during our entire trip. Take hold of Mint. Do you think you can put your foot in the stirrup, grab hold of the horn, and hoist yourself up without assistance?”

Straightening with indignation, I cast an offended scowl in her general direction. “Of course,” I said, only to pause and remember— “Hey, where’s my sack?”

I began to search my surroundings, even though all I could make out was blurry colors of light and dark.

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