Page 48 of Facade

The sound of leather rubbing made me jump—Malachai had snuck up on me in a silent approach. He only arched a brow, jaw tight. I bit back the grimace that threatened to expose how nervous he made me.

Aiden gave a curt nod. “Malachai, go scout their camp. Get a number—see if this is one of the rebel groups.”

Dimitri and Aiden pulled cloaks over their fighting leathers.

Malachai slipped into the trees, leading his horse behind him. The ease with which he maneuvered through the forest, utterly silent, was unnerving.

“How far?” Aiden asked, placing his broadsword inside the deerskin that held the dresses from Thaddeus, then sheathed the dagger in his waistband.

“Half a mile.” Dimitri did something similar to his weapons, then took one of the tattered blankets and draped it over his cloak.

“What’s the plan?” I asked Aiden, feeling utterly useless.

Aiden smiled mischievously.

“You are my dear wife, and this is your brother. We’re headed to the kingdom for a funeral. I find that if stories are short and lacking detail, they’re more believable.”

“And why can’t you be the brother?” I countered, crossing my arms over my chest.

“I don’t think Dimitri here could play a convincing husband. Dimitri? Would you like to switch roles?” Aiden asked sarcastically—but the set of his jaw made the question more of a challenge. Dimitri's gaze swept between us before raising his hands in front of him, shaking his head.

“Allow me,” Aiden said as he strode up behind me, carrying the white scarf I’d grabbed from Thaddeus’s. He placed it over my forehead, then quickly wove it through my hair, looping it around and tucking the ends to the side. Something about his hands in my hair made my traitorous stomach dance as chills spread from the contact

“There.” He stepped back to admire his work with a smirk.

“How did you…” I trailed off, tracing my hand over the fine material.

“I have many random talents,” he said nonchalantly. “Most of the females wear it like this here.”

Aiden pulled out two more blankets, offering one to me. Adrenaline made my fingers shake as I grabbed the fabric, wrapping the musty thing over my shoulders.

“It’s getting dark, so hopefully they won’t see how fine our clothing actually is. This part of the kingdom is in poverty. And even in a profitable year, tradesmen wouldn’t have clothing like ours,” he remarked.

“Or, maybe they’ll be smart and hurry along before the skurs come out to play,” Dimitri added. I really hoped all of this worry over skurs would be for nothing. The excitement at Thaddeus' had been enough for me.

Hoof beats had our heads snapping up—four figures rode toward us. We'd set things up to look as if we were taking a break from our journey—not a complete lie. I was certainly grateful for it, even if I was nervous with the tension brewing between the two beings I stood beside. Aiden gripped my arm, pulling me to him.

“Don’t speak,” he ordered, his voice deep and edged. The words grated against my nerves—my fists tightened at my sides.

“Evening,” Aiden called out as the riders slowed a distance away. The men didn’t respond. They didn’t smile. They merely stared from narrowed eyes, their jaws set. The largest of them eased his horse ahead of the others and dismounted. He ran a hand over his thick red beard as his gaze fixed on Aiden, distrust clear on his face and the way his hand rested on the hilt of his sword.

“Where you folks coming from?” His thick, rich accent carried to us on the wind. My whole body stiffened. Aiden only cocked his head to the side, his firm grip on my arm unwavering.

“We’re traveling north. My wife and her brother have a cousin who passed away,” he said, his voice even. Calm.

The man flicked his focus to me. “That true?”

I couldn’t breathe as I met his unwavering scrutiny. This could be my chance—those damn marks though—I wouldn’t get far.

Aiden’s fingers dug into my arm at my silence.

“Mmm-Hmm.” I nodded.

“Is there a reason we’re being questioned?” Dimitri stepped forward, pulling the blanket tighter around him.

“There’s a rumor that the Fae Bitch is traveling north. A female matching her description was seen heading in this direction.” He looked at me pointedly.

One of the other men—younger—dismounted. His hand hovered near his waist and my jaw tightened, my gaze jumping to the remaining riders. They didn’t hide the hatred in their expressions at the mention of the Queen—one held a bow, arrow knocked. The other, a broadsword across his lap.