Time passed in a blur but soon enough the sound of rushing water reached my ears and I assumed we were coming up to the river. And the border. Pain filled my heart at the realization I would soon be so much further from home than I had ever been and crossing into enemy territory.But I had no tears left.Moonlight broke through the trees in a shinning stream of silvery light bringing my attention to the small river with black water sparkling with the reflection of stars. In any other situation I might have been in awe of the natural beauty.The shadow horse stopped under one of the last trees near the riverbank and Caliban dismounted with fluid motion. Looking over the side of the horse had my stomach lurch and my ankle nearly throbbed at the thought of landing on it.However, before I could begin to lift my leg to slide down, I felt the hard metal gauntlets of the king grabbing my waist as he lifted me down as though I weighed no more than a feather. He set me gently on the ground an
Those words haunted my dreams along with the images of blood and monsters with gnashing teeth. My world had flipped upside down and as I awoke while the sun was rising my mind was spinning in a sickening manner.My mouth was as dry as cotton and I felt as stiff as a log after sleeping outside in the cold for a handful of hours. But the streams of light filtering in through the gaps in the trees and over my face were bringing me back to myself.Several deep breaths in my waking moments aided in slowing my racing heart and scattered thoughts. Though when my arm bumped against one that was warm and solid it reminded me that my enemy was ling at my side.Ever so slowly I turned my head and noted that Caliban was still dead asleep, his head turned in the opposite direction, but his breathing was slow and heavy. Bumping him didn't seem to rouse him from his sleep at all and I briefly wondered just how tired he had been.I'm sure he was more used to sleeping out under the stars if he was run
"Your betrothed? The silly lordling in the fortress in this region, is that him?" My face paled at his question. Even if he didn't speak Ayden's name it sounded to me as though he was somewhat familiar with him. "Judging the direction your carriage was headed I would assume that's the one. He hides in his castle just like his father did.""He was going to send his men to join the war for my hand," I whispered more to myself than for Caliban."Doubtful," he sneered. "That boy was going to be perfectly happy to sit in his palace with his new pretty little bride delivered to him on a golden platter and perhaps get away with sending a small show of force for your father." I only gaped at him like a fish out of water."You know nothing!""I know enough about the regions along the border. How else have I been able to conquer land in Laernear if not for your lordling's cowardice? Just like his father," his paused. "And just like your father who spends his days in a palace while his people fi
We moved at a steady pace on the smooth ground between the trees and the riverbank. Birds chirped and smaller animals could be heard shuffling through the underbrush nearby. As the precious sunlight became overrun with grey clouds, I could smell the crisp scent of an incoming storm on the wind.Caliban held the reins with one hand at my right side and I got the sense he was leaning away from me as much as we could. The colder it got the more I wished he against my back completely if only to steal some of his warmth. With the silence between us it became increasingly difficult to think of anything except for him.And food.After an hour of riding in silence the growling of my stomach began to sound like I was smuggling a pack of wild animals. The ache of hunger was an unusual feeling for me especially when it was this strong.The privilege of growing up in a palace as a king's youngest daughter ensured I had food and drink at every whim. My mind went back to picnics in the gardens with
"The rain doesn't seem as though it'll stop anytime soon. I'm going to go look for anything dry enough for firewood. You should rest." He nodded at the bedroll before slowly turning his eyes back to me. His eyes were glowing nearly golden in the dimly lit space and it made me tremble with a strange warmth.All I did was nod and that was enough of a response for him. Caliban strode past me on his long legs and was out of the small cave in an instant. Alone, I looked around the space again noting every nook and cranny along the earthen walls.In the silence I could hear that trickle of water leading back into the dark pit of the cave and the sounds I heard drew my attention. Resting was the last thing on my mind. After hanging up the wet blanket on an outcrop of stone in an attempt to dry it out I began to follow that trickle of water.With my hand along the wall I followed a bend in the cave that went deeper underground. The air was cool but not as oppressively cold as it had been outs
Hours had passed in silence between us. The rain continued to thunder outside of the cave and the rushing waterfall dulled out most other sounds from outside.A small fire had been roasting a few small fish that Caliban caught in the pool outside of waterfall for about an hour now and I was desperately hungry. I tried to focus on the ache in my stomach more than the awkward tension within the cave.Caliban and I sat on opposite sides of the fire. Every so often I could feel his eyes burning holes into me and I refused to acknowledge him. I didn't want to see the look in his eyes or try to surmise what he was thinking.After our indecent encounter by the hot spring I didn't even want to occupy the same space as the king. If I didn't focus on the negatives of my situation, I would think of what had happened. I knew what that hunger in his eyes was.It was unmistakable.Now there was a heavy, carnal energy permeating the air. It was nearly unbearable. And I knew I hated him for it. Somet
"Will I have to, little flower?" His rumbling voice and sensuous tone had my eyes darting back up to stare at him again. If I didn't see the fire in his eyes, I might have believed his expression to be unreadable.A black dagger appeared once more as my thoughts wondered with his question. Compared to him I was no threat. Growing up I had never been trained to fight and that was possibly a weakness. It certainly seemed like one in my current situation."The game of war is one I'm not familiar with," I admitted. In the silence that followed I stood up from my spot near the fire. "As the youngest princess I did not suffer the same pressures as my sisters. When you get to your fifth heir, they're a bit redundant." I laughed but the sound was empty while I slowly moved towards the saddlebags.Back at the capital it was well known that Helios had enough children to carry on his line with plenty of daughters giving even more grandchildren. Caliban's earlier jest at my father having a brood
Our lips were hot and the feeling of his fingers digging into my hips and moving closer to my ass were driving me as wild as a cat in heat, ready to burst with my needs. My heart was beating wildly in my chest and the dizzying excitement was rushing to my head.Kissing my enemy wasn't supposed to feel like this. As though I was melting with whatever alluring drug his touch was full of. As though my body moved on its own, my hips rocked against him and I nearly purred at the feeling of his impressive erection through his leather pants. He growled low in response and my body reacted with a violent shiver of pleasure.But when Caliban broke away from me and grunted with pain I gasped as I realized that my hand had left his throat in our heated moments. The dagger was still in my hand but in my carelessness, I realized that I had let my hand slip and there was now a deep gash on Caliban's arm. The black material of his shirt has pated like butter under a hot knife and blood was seeping in