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“Thatwasyour plan,” he agreed, giving me a piercing look. “Is it still?” When I didn’t answer, he nodded once with pursed lips and left. Part of me wanted to follow him and see what he was up to, and I cursed the magic that made me want to be near him. Forcing myself to stay behind, I slipped into his bed and spent most of the night trying to decide what to do now that I knew we were mates.
Was leaving still my plan? Should I confront Carnon with the truth that I knew we were mates? Or should I hide it and pretend I didn’t know? Did I even want to accept this cursed mating bond? Was it something I could refuse?
For now, hiding it meant I could deny it, so I resolved to be as aloof and distant as I could on our way to the Court of Beasts, a resolution made far more difficult by the fact that we were once again sharing a horse. I had complained about this at length, but Carnon had insisted, arguing that my expertise at riding, restricted to slow walks on a borrowed horse back home, wouldn’t be enough to escape danger if we were attacked.
“I suppose I should add teaching you to ride to the long list of tasks to accomplish,” he said, climbing up behind me like a male born to ride. “Remind me to buy you a horse as a wedding present.”
Akela, who had been absent during the ball, trotted at our side like a giant guard dog. I wondered if he missed his feathery companion from our previous travels together.
“Have you heard from Artemis?” I asked, trying to make it seem like I had been deep in thought about my mother, rather than our bond.
“No,” Carnon said. “But that’s not unexpected. She knows to go to the Hag if she needs to reach me faster than she can fly.”
“The Hag?” I asked. “How can she reach you?” I turned in the saddle, trying to see Carnon’s face.
He raised a sardonic brow at me. “Blood magic, Red,” he said, flicking the hood of the red cloak he had bought for me back in Mithloria when we first left the Bloodwood. That seemed like years ago, rather than mere weeks.
My stomach gave a happy little leap, and I fell silent again, contemplating the bond between us that made my organs misbehave. No wonder I was hopeless around him if all that magic was forcing us together.
“What’s wrong, Elara?” Carnon asked after I was silent for more than a few minutes. “You’ve been off all morning.”
“Because I’m not arguing with you?” I asked, bristling at his accusation. He couldn’t know that I knew, or he would turn all the force of that magic bond and his charm on me.
“Yes,” he said, sounding wary. “It’s unsettling.”
“Well I would never wish to unsettle you,my love,” I said, trying to sneer the false endearment. It came out sounding more genuine than I liked.
“Is it the trial?” he asked. “We will find a way to fulfill it without you risking your life.”
I shook my head, but didn’t clarify. He sighed heavily behind me and his arm, which I had given him permission to put around my waist while we rode, tightened. I tried not to enjoy the feeling and to ignore the warmth suffusing me at his nearness. Good Goddess above, this bond was a nightmare already.
We rode in somewhat uncomfortable silence for a full day beyond the eastern gate of Oneiros. We hadn’t been required to pay the toll with blood like we had when we had entered the city, and Carnon explained that the magic didn’t care about who left the city, only those who wished to enter.
We didn’t stop until we reached a small village, and the smell of forests had begun to replace the mountains and crisp snow. We stopped at what must be a small inn, and I swung my leg over the saddle to slide ungracefully down the side of the horse. Carnon caught me around the waist, steadying me as I found my balance.
“What will happen to that man?” I asked, remembering the prisoner that Carnon had sent to the dungeons the night before. “The one from last night. Will he be killed?”
Carnon looked down at me, a faint smile curving his lips. “I already released him. I questioned him after you went to bed.”
“Scathanna lied?” I asked. “Why would she do that?”
“As I’ve said, she likes to test me,” he replied a little bitterly.
I thought about this, contemplating the female who would send an innocent man to his death. “If you and Herne are both in the Court of Beasts, who will pass judgment in Oneiros?”
“Lucifer will keep everything in line until I return,” he replied, giving me a quizzical look, narrowing his eyes a little. “Why do you care, Red?” he asked. “I thought you wanted nothing to do with me or my kingdom?”
I shrugged uncomfortably, pushing his hands from my waist. “I care about your kingdom,” I said, biting my lower lip. He raised a brow at me, and I remembered how I was supposed to be acting toward him. “It’s you I don’t really like.”
He laughed. “No more lies, Red. You like me just fine.” He smirked down at me, looking so much like he had as Hunt that my mouth went a little dry. I looked away, and he sighed. “I don’t know what’s wrong, Elara, but I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.”
“I’m fine,” I lied, “just tired.” Akela huffed, as if to remind us that he was there, and I scratched his furry ears.
“Truth for a truth, Red,” Carnon suggested, also laying a hand on Akela. He leaned down until I was forced to meet his gaze, unable to escape his penetrating green eyes. “I likeyoujust fine when you’re angry and rude and argumentative. I actually think I may like you best that way.”
My stupid, naive heart wrenched at this, thumping wildly as if it wanted to spill the truth out of me that I was determined to keep hidden.I know. I want you. I don’t want to want you. But Goddess, I want you so much.
“Fine, I suppose you’re not theabsoluteworst,” I confessed.
