AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He has a point, but that’s not what I was doing, and I’m still hung up on the way he used my meaningless title as an insult. The sheer fact of it being meaningless is insulting enough already. I don’t need him throwing it around like a bad word.
“I was trying to reach the tree.” My nostrils flare and I instantly regret it. He smells like amber and linen with a hint of something sweet—the berries he was eating when I woke up. Even the cedar from the fire clings to his skin, along with hints of forest dew. It’s refreshing, and so much better than the dungeonair I’m used to. Drawing in a deep breath, I have to fight to keep my eyelids open.
“Did you just smell me?”
My eyes pop wide as I meet his sterling gaze. “No… Why would you think that?”Take shallow breaths… SHALLOW BREATHS.
He shakes his head, blinking hard, before he leans a touch closer. “What’s so important about the tree?”
When I hesitate to answer, he searches the forest, as if I have a secret army waiting for my signal hiding in the woods. If I could smell him before, with him this close, I can nearly taste him, and oddly enough, my mouth is salivating.What is wrong with me?
“I know where we are now—” I start, but Loric releases one of my wrists and covers my mouth with the palm of his hand.
“If this is a trap, so help me, I won’t hesitate to send you back to your castle in fucking pieces. Do you understand?”
I blink at him, since the pressure of his hand is keeping me from nodding.
Seemingly satisfied with the fact we’re truly alone, he glares at me again. “Where were you going?”
“I told you. I just wanted to touch the tree. You wouldn’t tell me where we are, so I figured it out on my own. Now if you could move, I’d appreciate it. What I’m assuming is your dick is rubbing me in all thewrongplaces.”
Grinding his jaw at the hinge, the muscles in his face flex, and finally he moves. He sits back on his heels, still positioned between my legs. I try rocking up from the ground, inching my elbows underneath me to sit up, but clearly that’s as far as he’ll let me go.
“We’re in the valley between the mountains and likely not too far from the river. The tree has moisture build up on the bark, so it must be close.” A warm sense of pride flutters through me, giving my backbone strength.
“Came to the conclusion all on your own, did you?” He arches a brow.
“Am I right?” For the life of me, I can’t shake the feeling that being wrong might cost me my life.
“Look for yourself.” He nods to our right and I hold my breath. Through squinted eyelids I dare a glance. The land dips a few feet away from us and at the bottom of the ravine is the reflective surface of the water.
“Would you believe it if I said I don’t get out much?” I shoot Loric a weary glance. At least I was right about where the river was. It might not look great for me, considering he probably thinks I’m lying through my teeth, but it’s reassuring to know that I retained most of Asmo’s survival training. “In my defense, it’s areally quietriver.” My books never described rivers as being silent but deadly. The stories had terms likeroaring rapids.
How was I supposed to know?
“I don’t trust you.” His voice is low and sends a shiver down my spine. “Just as I’m not blind enough to believe you have some fucking tree fetish.”
Does he think… Why? Who would risk their hide to… Nevermind.
“If anyone should have trust issues, it’s me. Youdrugged mewith your magic chloroform breath—or whatever that was.” I lean a bit closer, pushing up until I can rest on my palms.
“I did what was asked of me. It’s been decades since I spoke to Asmodeus. We went our separate ways a long time ago when he decided to serve your monster of a father. And it’s rather convenient that he shows up, blackmailing me into coming to the mainland, mere weeks after your father’s ships were seen rigging dragon harnesses to their decks. The dragons are supposed to be gone. What use would he have for those, unlesshe knew some still existed in the outer realm. And now, the moment you’re left in my charge, you bolt into the forest.”
My lips part as I soak in what he’s just admitted. “There are dragons in the outer realm?”
Loric stares at me for a long moment, then releases a deep exhale. “You didn’t know.”
“How would I know? I’ve been locked away in the dungeon since birth.”
Loric seems to chew the information over, like he assumed I was in the castle with my other siblings instead of imprisoned like a common murderer. I cock my head to the side. “Did Asmo not tell you about me?”
“No. All he told me was that you were a princess and then demanded I get you out of the realm or he’d tell the king where to find my people.”
My eyebrows pinch as I watch him get to his feet. “Your people? You mean the rebels? I thought it was common knowledge that they’re in the outer realm. There was a treaty that banished them from the mainland.”
Loric gives me a hand and helps me up, but he doesn’t let go. He pulls me closer and at his full height, it’s impossible for me to look him in the eye without craning my neck backward.
“I still don’t trust you. The only reason I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt is because this will go a hell of a lot quicker if I don’t have to haul your ass around in chains.” He gestures toward the fire, silently telling me to go first.
