The coat settled over her shoulders before she could move back. Thick fabric, fur-lined at the collar. His hands slid down her arms as he adjusted it.
“I said—”
“We're leaving.”
He buttoned it halfway himself, close enough that she felt his breath against her temple and smelled cool mint and leather.
Her pulse misbehaved.
Before she could argue again, his hand closed around hers. He led her through the side corridor and out into the sharp mountain morning before she could argue further.
The cold hit immediately.
A shiny, brown horse waited near the tree line, breath clouding the air. It snorted when it saw them.
“I haven't ridden in six years,” she said.
He didn't answer. He walked them toward the horse. The stallion's ears went back watching her, until Bharat commanded something low against its neck. The animal stilled immediately.
“I'm not—”
He lifted her onto the saddle, one hand at her waist and the other steadying her knee. The movement was so effortless that it took her breath away slightly.
Before she could settle or protest, he mounted behind her in one smooth motion.
His muscled chest settled against her spine. One arm circled her waist. The other gathered the reins.
“Hold on,” he commanded.
Her fingers immediately closed around the saddle horn.
The horse moved forward.
They rode past the palace gardens and the frost-covered hedges, past low stone walls and the edge of the grounds, and out into the open meadow. Wind cut across her cheeks. The rhythm of hooves was steady against the frozen earth.
Every shift of the horse pressed her back against him. His arm was steady around her, and his thigh firm against hers. Heat came through the layers between them.
She should have demanded answers, and she should have pulled away.
Instead, when the horse jumped a narrow ridge, she leaned back into him slightly.
She hated that she felt safe in his arms.
The meadow opened into a frozen lake.
She hadn't expected it.
The lake stretched wide and pale, reflecting the snow-heavy mountains in broken silver. Chinar trees ringed the edges, bare branches dark against white. It was stunningly beautiful and quiet, as there was no one else around.
He dismounted first and lifted her down. His hands stayed at her waist a moment longer than necessary before he stepped back.
She steadied her breathing.
The silence was immense.
She forced a short laugh. “Is this where you take your revenge? Drown me under the ice lake with no witnesses?”
He didn't smile. He walked straight out toward the center of the lake.
