He sighed, took my hand, and led me to his black horse. “Get on Lady Sora with me. I’m afraid you’ll fall off if you ride by yourself.”
“I certainly wouldn’t. I’m an excellent rider.”
He took hold of my hips and lifted me onto her back with ease.
“Woah, muscles.”
He chuckled, and a moment later he settled in behind me and caged me in his arms to take up Lady Sora’s reins. He leaned over and took Stormbreaker’s reins and tied them to the saddle horn. The horses’ hooves clopped loudly on the quiet street. The busyness from earlier had faded. It was cold enough everyone was probably inside.
Well, I liked this, and I wouldn’t complain about it as I leaned back against his firm chest.
“Next time we go out, maybe you should stay by me so you can avoid enchanted drinks.”
I scoffed. “How was I supposed to know it was enchanted? And you’re the one who told me to go dance.”
“With yourfriends. Eldwulf isn’t your friend.” He sounded annoyed.
“He’s nice. He invited me to his house to swim in the hot spring. I was going to ask if you wanted to go too, before you cut in to dance.”
His chuckle vibrated my back, and he wrapped one arm around my waist. “He’s not nice, he’s a serial womanizer, and I very much doubt he would have liked me to tag along.”
“So, you wouldn’t let me go with him? You could take me back in?—”
“No.”
I couldn’t stop my smile. “What if I want to go with him and swim? He said clothes were optional. I’ve never swum naked with a man before.”
Vander tensed, and I swore I felt jealousy seep into me. “Theonlyman you’re going home with is me.” This man. So protective, almost possessive, and yet he would do nothing but tease.
I could tease too. “Well, I suppose you’ll just have to take me for a nude midnight swim sometime.”
“Mmm, tempting. I like this little game we’re playing lately.”
Smiling, I pressed my lips together. His grip on my waist tightened, and he breathed heavier. A thick ache flooded me. Just like the day he sewed my hand, and I sensed his hunger and desire for me. The air shifted around us. I leaned back into him and closed my eyes, reveling in his closeness.
His lips brushed my ear. “But you don’t know what you’re asking for with me.”
“Then tell me.” What was it he was hiding?
“One day I will.”
I didn’t know what he meant by that, but I knew he wouldn’t elaborate. He had his secrets, and I had mine...
Chapter 22
The winter cold had finally gone, and spring was in full bloom. Vander had been edgy and frustrated all week. It showed during our sparring matches and training. We’d been waiting for the mission to take down the vampire Dravyn to be announced since our victory during the game weeks ago. After Vander talked to Commander Ace about the rumors of winged horses, it seemed she wanted to wait. I didn’t know why, and if Vander knew the reason, he hadn’t told me.
So tonight, I moved silently through the halls of Drakthar following Vander’s quiet footsteps. He’d been sneaking out since I’d arrived, but tonight felt different. The dark cloud cover made the night inky, and he’d been particularly quiet today, like he was silently planning something.
I’d stood outside the door while he argued with Commander Locke a few days ago.
I feared he was going to go after Dravyn Knox on his own and would get himself killed. I kept my pulse calm and breathing slow and soft. I couldn’t risk him hearing me.
At this hour, most everyone was asleep except those who were assigned to guard duty, and it was surprisingly easy toavoid them. He might have trained me too well—he hadn’t even detected me himself yet.
I peered around the corner of a stone wall and watched him disappear into the library. The doors closed without a sound. I couldn’t imagine what he was doing in the library at this hour. Looking for a book? Doubtful. If he wanted to escape to go after Dravyn, he would have taken the corridor closer to our room and exited that way. A gnawing guilt started in the pit of my stomach. I shouldn’t be spying on him. I should turn around and go back to sleep. If he was going to go after Dravyn, it didn’t look like it was tonight... and yet, what if he was meeting others here? What if a group of them decided to go rogue?
I took a step into the hall and froze. The hair on the back of my neck stood.
