Page 95 of The Traitor Queen (The Bridge Kingdom 2)

“I need to take a turn on patrol.”

It was an excuse. She reached for his hand, needing him to stay. Needing to extend this moment that in her heart she’d known was too good to be true. “Let someone else do it.”

But he was already across the room, pulling on his clothes, his back to her.

“Aren.” She fell out of bed, her legs tangling in a sheet, dizziness forcing her to pause as she stood. “Don’t go.”

His hands stilled on his belt, then he finished buckling it and reached for his boots, dragging them on. “This was a mistake.”

“It wasn’t. Don’t say that.”

“It was. I promised my people we were done. What we did tonight is no better than me spitting in their faces.”

It was like a vice clamped around her chest, tightening until it hurt to breathe.

“I can’t be around you, Lara. I can’t risk this happening again.”

She knew he was right, but still she said, “I love you.”

Aren only walked toward the door. He paused with his hand on the latch, before turning to look at her. “I’m sorry.”

Then he disappeared into the night.

51

Aren

Aren stumbled halfa dozen times walking down the path to the village; it was a small miracle that he didn’t step on a snake or twist an ankle, his mind everywhere but on the ground in front of him.

Her sob as he’d left had been worse than a knife to the gut, the anguish in it a thousand times greater than when he’d stitched up her leg. All he wanted was to go back. To scoop her up and lose himself in her. To keep her safe until she was strong. To never be away from her again.

Except every time he closed his eyes, he saw the expressions that would cross his people’s faces if they discovered what he’d done. If they discovered that he, their king, had taken the woman who’d betrayed them back into his bed.

Back into his heart.

He barely noticed the nods of his soldiers on watch as he made his way toward the center of the village, to the faint glow of the fire and the lone shadow sitting next to it.

“Took an awfully long time to stitch up that leg, even for you,” Jor drawled, then stretched until his back cracked. “She all right?”

Lara wasn’t anywhere close to all right, but Jor didn’t need to know that. “Will be fine as long as it doesn’t foul. As long as she keeps off of it.”

“Not much chance of that.” Jor held out a bottle. “Youall right?”

Not even close.“I’m fine. Where’s Taryn?”

“Lia’s with her. Lass had a rough year, but she’s strong. Put a weapon in her hand and she’ll fight.”

The last thing Taryn needed was more violence, but Aren only nodded, trusting Jor’s judgment on the matter.

Sitting across the fire, he took a long mouthful from the bottle, staring at the flames. Trying to regain control of his emotions, but the wild twist of hurt and anger and guilt refused to let him be.

“You have to choose, you know.” Jor took the bottle back, drinking deeply. “Between her and Ithicana. You can’t have both.”

“I don’t want her.” As if saying it could make it true.

“Could’ve fooled me with the sounds coming out of Nana’s house.”

Aren stiffened, then glared at the other man, but Jor only shrugged. “You don’t honestly believe we aren’t all keeping a close watch on you, do you, boy? We only just got you back, and we aren’t keen to lose you again. Especially not to her.”

---