Surely, he hadn’t hadthatmuch time...
“It was an unfair race.”
His eyebrow quirked upward. “Unfair how?”
“You’re familiar with the grounds.” She tipped her chin up. “Whereas I’ve never even been here.”
“Two facts you were aware of before you agreed to race me,” he said, taking Poppy’s reins from Roa. “But I’ll take pity on you.” He rubbed Poppy’s velvet nose. “Even though you lost, I’ll still call the Assembly. I’ll do it the moment we return to the palace.”
He stepped in close then. So close, Roa could see the dust on his lips. It made her want to lick her own, to see if they were dusty, too.
She thought of the one and only time she’d ever kissed him. So long ago now.
The memory sliced her with sadness, and she stepped back. Her shoulder blades hit the stable wall. Swallowing, she said, “Let’s get this over with before the others arrive.”
Dax let go of Poppy’s reins. He closed the distance between them, pressing both palms to the stone on either side of Roa’s head.
Caging her in.
Roa was about to growl a warning, but before she could, the tips of their noses brushed, and that snapping, growling creature went silent and soft.
“Silly girl,” he murmured, his breath warm on her lips. “I don’t want to kiss youright here.” Lifting his thumb, he slowly swept the dust from her lower lip. “I’ll come to collect when it suits me.”
The impertinence of it scorched her. Roa lifted her angry gaze to his. If he thought she was anything like his mistresses, if he thought she would happily receive him any time it pleased him, he was...
He was...
It was difficult to think, with Dax looking at her like that, his gaze fixed on her mouth. It made Roa wonder if he might change his mind. Might lean in and devour her right here.
But the sound of clattering hooves broke the quiet. As a dozen horses trotted into the stable, Dax stepped immediately away, linking his hands behind his neck.
Cool air rushed between them, making Roa realize just how warm she was.
Dax reached for Poppy’s reins and, without a word or backward glance, led the horse into the stall next to Oleander’s.
Roa’s eyes lifted to Jas and Lirabel, the first two riders to come through the doors, and then behind them, to Theo.
Their gazes met. Roa looked instantly away. She felt ashamed. Then angry forbeingashamed.
With them came Essie, who was at her shoulder now. Claws digging gently into Roa’s skin. Roa turned her face into her sister’s feathers, taking comfort in their softness.
What happened?
Nothing.
Then why are you trembling?
As the rest of the caravan poured into the stables, filling it with noise and commotion, Roa took her sister and left. They walked past quiet fountains and still pools. Through rows of highland roses buzzing with bees. Stopping at the edge of a hill, Roa hugged herself hard, staring out over the gardens below. Gardens that had once belonged to another outlander queen.
Slowly, Roa raised her fingers to her lower lip, where Dax had touched it.
Silly girl,he’d said.
Perhaps he was right. Perhaps that was why, just for a heartbeat, Roa had wanted him to lean in and take what she owed him.
Before
Roa was nine years old on the day of her earning. She stood with her sister in the middle of the threshing floor. The sky was storm gray and the air was misty. Beside her, Essie’s unruly black curls shone with raindrops and her hands were restless: clenching and unclenching, tapping her thighs.
