“There,” Christian said, indicating a shadowed place behind her.
She studied the guard. “You didn’t use a sword?”
“I didn’t have to. We should leave.”
She looked at the horse. “It looks as if you were already leaving.”
Guilt crushed down on his shoulders. “I was preparing the horse.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly and swung back to him.
He bowed his head, trying to hide the truth. He couldn’t tell her that he had planned to leave but couldn’t. “We should go. My brother will not stop searching for us now that he thinks we have the book.”
The guard behind her groaned.
Christian indicated the horse with a jerk of his head.
Willow brushed by him and mounted the horse.
He took the reins and led the horse from the stables. He glanced at the inn for a moment before mounting behind her. As he settled himself at the rear of the saddle and reached around her to grasp the reins, he smelled the roses from her hair and inhaled deeply.
She turned to look at him.
He quickly spurred the horse, and she fell back against him.
Fury boiled Willow’s blood. She was certain Christian had been leaving when she caught him in the stable. The more she thought of it, the more it broke her heart…
And convinced her that working with his brother was the right thing to do.
When they were far enough away from the inn to rest, they dismounted at a clearing away from the road.
Willow walked around to stretch out her legs. She searched the ground for a comfortable spot to sleep. Twigs and bushes covered the ground. Tingles raced along the nape of her neck as Christian gazed at her. She whirled on him. “You were going to leave me with your brother, weren’t you?”
Agony spread over his face. “Don’t ask me that.”
“I did.”
He bowed his head. “Yes. I was going to leave you, but—”
Willow clenched her teeth and turned away with her arms crossed. Tears rose in her eyes. Her mother had left her, although not willingly. And now, Christian would abandon her too. Everyone eventually left her.
“Let me explain,” Christian insisted.
She shook her head, holding up a hand. “You don’t need to explain anything to me.” She didn’t want to hear his excuses. At least he was telling her the truth. Her throat thickened. She was hurt that he was going to leave her. She was even more upset that she couldn’t depend on him. But she told herself it wasn’t a surprise. “You never told me you had a brother. Why?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” he asked in disbelief. “He’s a snake. He’s dishonorable. He’s…” He inhaled. “He is not the type of person I want to associate myself with. Not the type of person I can trust. I didn’t want to see him again. Ever.”
She couldn’t trust him. Did that make Christian a snake like his brother? He certainly wasn’t the man she remembered. Yet she couldn’t stop wanting to kiss him and feel his touch. She blinked and lifted her chin. She was a strong woman. She wouldn’t crumble. She wouldn’t cry. And she wouldn’t depend on him.
“Not all families can be like yours, Will,” Christian said softly.
Longing hitched his voice. But Willow was too hurt to speak to him further.
The sun was high overhead, shining down on them. Willow frowned, looking into the forest. She could still hear the hiss of the rushing river they rode beside. She examined the path the horse traveled on and then the water’s edge, mentally figuring out if they were far enough away. Unease filled her at the sight of the churning water. She was never far enough away. She had feared rushing water since when she was little.
Willow mentally shook herself and studied the trail. She was here for Sage. There were many horse hoofprints on the path. It was impossible to tell which way a horse went. She scanned the area across the river where fields of gently swaying grass stretched.
“I don’t know, Will,” Christian said doubtfully. “I don’t see any parchment.”
