“Water.” He paused while she drank deeply. “Did you know he gave you an enchanted drink?”
“William offered me water too.”
“Hardly.” The growl was back, and Alora had to grit her teeth to keep from ripping off his mask to feel it against her mouth. “You drank Lust, Miss Pennigrim. It’ll wear off with time. Water helps. Though your memories of what happened will be blurry.”
“My new normal,” said Alora, and licked a droplet from her lips.
“You need to go home.”
“Alone?” She could think of nothing more tragic.
“I’ll take you there, and there you will stay, alone, until you are yourself.”
“I am myself!”
“No, you’re drugged. High on enchantment. What you’re experiencing isn’t your natural—”
Either he choked or cleared his throat, but regardless he didn’t finish his thought.
“You sound like you’re familiar.” She didn’t know what she meant exactly. With the potion or with herself.
But the Urchin said, “More than I care to admit.”
Alora thought she should be bothered that William had offered her Lustwithout informing her of it first, but she couldn’t be bothered right now. How could she think of anything aside from what sort of body, what sort of mouth, she might find beneath those layers of black standing rigid before her now? He looked as if he’d demand everything of her, andgood grief,she’d give it all and thank him for it.
She knew her assets; she was not delusional. And she’d use them all before their journey ended. Let the lying, conniving ‘general’ deny herthen.
Chapter Fourteen
At the gate, the Urchin and Reginald argued.
“You can’t take her through the forest with that cart.”
“Ican’t accompany her on the road.”
Alora lay draped over George's neck, running her fingers through his hair. She wouldn't leave him here. She couldn’t. A long-suffering sigh reached her, a loss of some sort.
“Fine. I’ll come back for the cart.”
A splutter from Reginald. “And how do I explain it in the meantime?”
“Leave that to me.”
When the Urchin turned back toward her, the shadow of his gaze drifting over her form, Alora thought she might catch fire. He shifted his head and clicked, and a horse the color of midnight emerged from the trees. “You’ll ride with me. The donkey can follow.”
Alora couldn’t hide her sly smile as she approached the towering blue-black creature. Nor did she try. She moved slowly,her shoulder shrugging one strap free while her other hand lifted to the horse’s nose. He snorted into her palm.
She thought she heard a hissed curse leave the Urchin’s mouth at her behavior, but she couldn’t be sure. Instead, she moaned as those sinful, gloved hands reached around her waist, gripping her firm. She tried to press back, but he lifted her behind the saddle, leaving her to dig her fingers into the hard leather rather than him. She heard Reginald cough somewhere behind her.
The Urchin swung up in front, and she wasted no time wrapping her arms around his strong torso, burying her face in his coat. She breathed deep. He smelled familiar, she thought. Leather along with a faint woodsy scent, and his tensing didn’t faze her in the slightest. She breathed deep again, her lips parting. Her senses were so very heightened in this state, and she couldn’t get enough.
“If you’ve finished,” he said. “Hold onto the donkey’s reins. Don’t let go or he’ll be lost to the forest.”
She did as she was told, taking the reins from him, though she also used it as an excuse to move her opposite hand, slipping it beneath his coat. There she stayed unmoved, until his tensing eased beneath her fingers, and with a click, urged his horse forward.
She blew a farewell kiss to the guard, who appeared quite mortified to receive it. “What is your horse’s name?” she asked.
“Necros.”
