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As she eased her grip, the leaves withered, like the few times before, freeing her and her guest from their emerald prison. She sucked in a mouthful of clean, crisp oxygen that lacked Kaysar’s carnal sweetness. Finally, she could think again. Kind of. Mostly. A thrum of desire lingered...
He flittered in front of her, and she yelped.
“At the very least, give a girl a warning first,” she grumbled.
Too beautiful for anyone’s good, he removed a pair of boots from an overstuffed cloth satchel. “For you.”
She accepted without hesitation, clutching the shoes to her chest. “Thank you so much.”
He smiled at her as he removed the bag’s leather strap from his chest and offered it to her. Disconcertingly gleeful, he told her, “Your provisions are inside. You will carry them, of course.”
She frowned, the weight of the bag a little worrying. “Why of course?”
“My provisions aren’t cradled inside. Why would I carry it?”
Uh... “Because you’re a gentleman or whatever?”
Amused, he softly chucked her under the chin. “What a silly thing to say.”
Good point. Okay, trying again. “You should carry it to tick off Jareth.” He delighted in the prince’s misery. Was that why he’d aided Lulundria? To hurt Jareth? “He’d probably be super bummed to know his enemy helped the woman he believes to be his wife.”
He scanned her face, as if he needed to double-check the intent behind her words. “You will carry the bag, Chantel, or we will leave your provisions behind.”
Ugh. His flat tone promised friction if she protested. But so what? “I’m already weak and tired. I’ve been on the run forever because you didn’t find me fast enough.” She couldn’t mask her whine as her fortitude wavered. “And I’m starving.”
His eyelids lowered a tad. “You’re the one who insisted on our current arrangement,” he reminded her. “I’m your paid-for guide through the forest, nothing more. Though you broke your promise within minutes of giving it, didn’t you?”
“No way. I exercised my caveat. What was I supposed to do, anyway?” she huffed. “Stay put and let Jareth nab me?”
He thought for a moment. “I made sure to pack you clean clothes, toiletries and even the weapons you begged for.”
Weapons? “Really?” she squeaked. Finding new strength, she hooked the satchel’s strap across her chest. “Okay, yes, I’ll carry the bag.”
“That’s my princess,” he said, his lips twitching. He reclaimed the boots and knelt before her. He clasped her ankle, his gentleness surprising. “First, let’s prepare your poor feet.”
As she gripped his broad shoulders to steady herself, he secured the boots in place. She expected pain, but her gashes must have healed. A welcome development. Though she would have endured any amount of agony for these boots. They were the most exquisite pair she’d ever seen, studded with sapphires, yellow diamonds, obsidian and pearls to create a Starry Night effect.
None of her footwear at home compared. “To be clear, these boots are mine to keep forever?”
“They are.” The moment he tightened the laces, the boots warmed and shifted, conforming to her feet, as if made specifically for her.
She moved around, testing out the fit as Kaysar straightened. Perfection.
“We are ready.” The gleam in his whiskey eyes did odd things to her insides as he offered his hand to her. “Come then. Our journey begins.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
KAYSAR LED HIS charge through the Forest of Many Names, pretending to be the gentleman she’d hinted about wanting. Being solicitous didn’t come naturally to him, but his mood remained bright.
A novel experience for one who existed in a haze of fury.
He thought he might even hover at the edge of giddy. He had his princess again. The day and night without her had been torture of the worst kind, his mind constantly on the verge of a breakdown.
Now, here she was, alive and well, panting her breaths and mumbling her complaints as she trudged behind him. She struggled under the weight of the bag. Possibly because he’d added a rock every few miles, but who could say?
He hadn’t forgotten Eye’s warning. She is the skin she wears.
He simply didn’t know what it meant or how it affected his plans. Nothing will affect my plans. Every step impelled him closer to Jareth’s endless suffering.
Once the prince and his bride were dealt with, Kaysar would focus on King Hador for a while. Rumors suggested the old king desired a wife of his own.
I can take her, too...
“How far are we going to walk today?” Chantel asked, no longer content to mumble.
Do not grin. “We’re almost there.”
She puffed a breath. “That’s what you said an hour ago.”
“And now we are even closer.” Her misery had only begun. Soon she would realize her complete dependence on him and beg for aid. “Isn’t that wonderful?”
“My feet are sore,” she whined. “These boots are the best, yeah, and I love them dearly, but they are also the worst, and I hate them with the heat of a thousand suns.”
