"Carriages make me sick," I lie, and even Boris isn't buying it. Rune pulls off his stained jacket and hands it to the nearest guard, whose face is scrunched up in disgust as he grabs it. "You're lying, and I can't tell why."He undoes the first few buttons of his shirt and my gaze is drawn to the bare skin peeking out from beneath. I take a step forward without thinking, and I don't even realize what I'm doing until Rune's fingers tighten on my upper arm. "Astrid," he whispers, voice strained, and I find that my hands are on his shoulders, and I'm standing on my toes, lips a few inches away from his neck."Oh, shit! Sorry!" I exclaim, stumbling backward and nearly losing my balance. Rune's arms instinctively wrap around my waist, steadying me.I push back, weirded out, and my gaze goes everywhere. Everyone seems to have more interest in the forest and plains around us, and I have a faint sense that they just want to avoid watching us."Sorry--about your shirt... jacket," I stammer,
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