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Some of it was satisfaction with her work, but there was also dread freezing her feet in the ever-deepening snow. She didn’t want to turn. To face him.
To see what he really thought. Now that they were alone. Now that he really knew for sure. He said nothing in the long moment that followed, but his eyes bored into her back.
Numbness was setting in. And pain. In her feet and in her soul. The run had been hard, and they were not out of trouble yet. And the horse was right here.
She swallowed and forced herself to turn to him.
There was nothing evil about easing the suffering of a couple of hounds that had been mistreated by a tyrant like Alekur. But tears still pricked hot in the corners of her eyes, making his image waver as she forced her chin up.
He rose. She braced herself—for a blow, for words, for him to take the horse and abandon her here. He stepped closer, his gait uneven, pained.
She tensed as he stopped just before her, gazing into those eyes.
Gentle hands caught the edges of her grimy cloak that had blown past her shoulders in her lunge toward the hounds. He gathered it closer around her, then checked the clasp.
Her throat tightened. He was close enough that she could feel his breath whisper warm across her face and her neck, raising goosebumps everywhere. She couldn’t speak.
The silence yawned on, eating up seconds they didn’t have.
“Did you do that?” he whispered.
She forced a nod, pulling her eyes away, casting a shameful gaze at the ground.
“What did you do?”
“They’re starving,” she croaked. “I told them to go find a rabbit.”
He snorted. Then after a second of silence and nothing but the moaning of the wind, he laughed.
She frowned, almost hurt. “Why are you laughing?”
“I will admit I was a bit hurt that you never revealed your vast and poisonous corruption to me, Princess. Seems like everyone knew but me. But now that I see it in action, I must say you’re far less evil and diabolical than I was encouraged to believe.”
Even she smiled now. Weakly, though, because it was still true. Corruption still coursed through her, a blight on the world, even if it didn’t seem so in this moment. But it was nice to have someone notice—to have him notice—just how benign her powers could be. “I… I think I hid it from you most of all.”
“I understand.”
“I am sorry I let you down.”
“Do try to be more diabolical, won’t you? You have the reputation of all mages to consider.”
She flinched. If he noticed her reaction, he didn’t show it. He was still smiling.
“The hounds’ masters won’t be far behind,” he said. “They’ll want to see what’s stopped the dogs from barking. And the snow marks our path.”
“And the blood,” she whispered.
“And that. We’ve got to keep moving.”
She heaved a shaky breath. “You’re right. But I’ve got to walk.”
“You’re in no shape to walk on those feet. And it’s too slow.”
“Well, I definitely can’t ride that horse.”
“You must.”
“Come with me. Please.” Maybe if he was there behind her, she could shut out the memories of that first frightening experience on the stallion… the fall… the fear…
