Page 47 of Facade

I planned to be gone before then.

With the guard cut in half, there had to be a chance for me to get away. It would be easier if I could evade Malachai’s watchful gaze. I sensed his eyes on me more than ever, now that I was riding with Aiden.

“You know the plan,” Aiden announced as we came to the junction. His horse, Shadow, impatiently pranced in circles. “If you come into trouble, one of you will ride ahead. Same for our group.”

Everyone nodded, and just like that, they were off. Nervous anticipation settled in me like a bag of stones, as I watched the bob of Lyra’s head grow distant. She cast a glance back at me before they turned a corner on the tree-lined path, her expression mirroring my own—concern with underlying excitement.

We kept the Empyrean with us—our path would be more dangerous, so we’d need the extra supplies she could carry.

“Can we please stop for a minute?” I finally asked Aiden.

“We need to make it to Brixton. The sun’s going down earlier and earlier each day, and I don’t want us getting caught on the road.”

“I only need five minutes to stretch my legs and—”

“It’s not safe out here, and while I’m very confident in our odds against skur’s or people disgruntled with the crown, I cannot risk—”

“My ass hurts!” I bit out angrily. Dimitri snickered beside us, and Aiden shot him a disapproving look as he pulled on the reins.

“That’s not queenly language,” he warned, his tone taking on that dark edge.

“Considering I’m not actually a Queen and I went from pretending to be one, to now pretending I’m not pretending; I think I can speak how I want,” I spat, hauling my leg over to slide off Shadow before he could stop me. As my feet hit the ground, it took every bit of willpower not to fall flat on my ass. Muscles spasmed and shook as I stretched, stiffly walking around to get the blood flowing.

“Uh huh…”

I kept him in my peripheral as my legs prickled back to life. He hauled himself off, eyes instantly scanning our surroundings.

Malachai and Dimitri followed suit, the latter stretching his arms above his head, rolling his neck, then jogging in place, as if his wolf itched to stretch its legs too. The former, the ever-stoic knight, dismounted without emotion, copying Aiden in his survey of the area.

Aiden’s eyes were already locked on me when I turned toward him. “We need to be quick. There’s—”

“Yes, I knowwwww,” I said, drawing out the word dramatically. “Monsters and perilous danger everywhere. You’re kind of a worrywart.” I noted, rolling my eyes at him. Dimitri hid his laughter beneath a dramatic coughing fit.

Aiden shot him another reproachful look before shifting his gaze to me, his eyebrows raised, and his hand pressed to his heart, a mock expression of hurt. “You wound me. This is all for your safety, my Queen.”

“I hate when you call me that,” I seethed. “And you shouldn’t call me that here if there’s potential danger,” I added.

“What bothers you about it?” He laughed, grabbing some snacks for Shadow and the Empyrean. “I would think the temporary title, even if it’s just for show, would be preferred.”

“Not when I’m bait for rebels. And it makes me uncomfortable.”

His smile was ornery, but it faltered as the orange glow of the sunset settled over us.

“We need to go,” he cautioned.

Dimitri had been tightening the straps around his mare when his head shot up, twitching this way and that as his gaze darted around, nose flaring.

“Boss,” Dimitri barked, tone serious. “We’ve got company.”

My skin became clammy. Could it be him? The white-haired male?

“How many?” Aiden responded, pulling out his broadsword and a small dagger with sapphire jewels laid in the hilt. He scanned the trees, and my heart beat at a frantic pace.

Dimitri sniffed the air again. I wrung my hands as I eagerly awaited his answer.

“Four. All men.”

A breath escaped me as disappointment spread.