For a few minutes, Avalon nibbled on her bottom lip, debating how to ask the question that was on her mind. Sable had grown impatient with her deliberation; she was currently humming a tune to drown out Avalon’s persistent worrying. But Avalon could barely hear her, and it wasn’t just because she was distracted; the mask was perched on top of her head, well enough away that they could hear each other only in whispers. And good riddance, because Avalon’s ridiculously girly thoughts were too much for Sable to handle right about now.
Finally, she opened her mouth. “Hadrian,” she began, her voice barely a squeak. “Can I ask you something?” Hadrian glanced up from the flames, and Avalon’s heart skipped a beat at the sudden attention. She kept her eyes on her hands as she spoke. “I’m curious as to why you’re helping me. You’re the Captain of the Guard. When you chose to help me, you basically threw all of that away—everything you’ve worked for. I was wondering why you would do that for… Well, for me.” She peeked up at him from under her eyelashes, and her heart stumbled in her chest.
Oh, for the gods’ sake,Sable grumbled, retreating farther into the mask. If she could bang her head hard enough to knock herself out to escape this pain, she would.
Hadrian’s lips twitched into a smile. “It’s pretty hard not to say yes to helping someone you love.”
It took Avalon a moment to process his words, and then she swore her heart stopped. Had she heard him correctly? Sable held very still, at full attention now, her need to knock herself out forgotten, at least for the time being.
Hadrian looked up from the fire, his eyes finding Avalon’s. “I’ve always loved you, Avalon,” he said. “And when we became old enough, I fell in love with you. I’mstillin love with you. So, when you asked me to go on this crazy adventure, and do something we had no right to do, I couldn’t say no. It’s why I chose to go to the House of Ice instead of staying behind and looking after the capital. It’s why I’m here right now.” The corner of his mouth twitched into a shy smile. “Because I love you, and I have to be with you.”
It took a very long minute before Avalon could speak again. “Am I dreaming right now?”
Hadrian cracked a grin. “No. I’m not good enough to be a dream.”
Avalon shook her head. “No,” she whispered. “No—you’re better.” And then she crawled across the grass and threw herself at Hadrian, who caught her in his strong arms and kissed her with such passion that Avalon’s body felt like it was glowing.
She’d never kissed anyone before. But as Hadrian’s arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him, it felt like she’d returned to someplace magical, somewhere that could only be found in a dream.
Everywhere the captain’s lips touched left a trail of fire that grew, threatening to explode inside her with the desire to have him closer, and closer still. She couldn’t get enough of him—of his taste, of the feeling of his rough stubble against her smooth cheek, of the enticing scent of his damp skin that filled her lungs and left her aching inside.
The mask slipped off her head, landing softly in the grass beside her. Avalon had a feeling Sable wouldn’t mind at all. And Avalon didn’t mind either; they needed some privacy.
And despite that the wind was cold and the fire was barely managing to stay lit, the night had never felt so warm.
~
The following day, they made their way over boulder-flecked hills that sloped into thick forest.
Although their pace was unhurried, Avalon’s heart seemed to jog in her chest, creating heat that spread through every part of her, like sunlight melting ice. She tried to tell herself the sun was to blame, and that she’d spent too much time in the cold lately, but she knew it was really because her hand was wrapped in Hadrian’s, their fingers entwined. They’d spent the night tangled up in each other, and every time Avalon had stirred, Hadrian had kissed her brow, her hair, her lips. She hadn’t known it was possible to want someone so much.
Avalon shielded her eyes against the sun and peered at the trees in the distance that grew closer—and impossibly larger—with every step. “What forest is this?” she asked.
“The Iron Forest,” said Hadrian, his face now lined with stress.
The princess studied his expression, a sudden case of nerves running amuck in her stomach. “You mean—the forest that devours people?”
He nodded once. Bile rose in Avalon’s throat. Without realizing it, their pace began to slow. It seemed neither of them was eager to enter the ancient forest, and even Sable said nothing. The warrior tried to remain as passive as possible, though Avalon swore she was nervous.
As they made their way down the last of the hills that would take them into the Iron Forest, a sound came from behind. Hadrian slowed to a stop and looked over his shoulder.
“What was that?” Avalon whispered, but both Sable and Hadrian shushed her.
They all heard it then. Sharp barks echoed through the valley, followed by the sound of heavy paws digging into the earth. And something else…Elven speech, Avalon realized. Not just Elven…
Shadow Speech. The language that belonged to those molded by darkness.
“We’ve been tracked,” Hadrian gritted out, his fingers tightening around Avalon’s hard enough to cause pain. “Into the forest.Now.”
They ran as fast as they could, but a series of Elven shouts informed them that they’d been spotted.
The king’s Dark Elves, mounted on Barghests—massive, hairless monsters, their appearance akin to hyenas—pursued them at full speed, heavy clubs and serrated blades in hand. The earth rumbled beneath their feet with every step the creatures took; Avalon could feel each shudder reverberate in her soul.
They ran faster and faster. Avalon’s legs nearly gave out from the effort to keep going. They had gone too long without proper meals, and she was beginning to feel the effects. Just as they reached the trees, she threw a glance over her shoulder.
Among the band of Dark Elves were two horses—theirhorses, Avalon realized. Butterscotch and Graymist. But there was something extremelyoffabout them. They were foaming at the mouth, and where the sun’s rays reflected in their eyes, Avalon saw red. As if blood swam in the irises.
“Come on!”Hadrian shouted.
