Page 65 of The Rat King
Avery’s throat bobbed. “Does that mean you used force?”
“In some cases.” I was silent for long moments, giving her a moment to process the information.
“Did you kill anyone?” she asked.
“Not this time,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “But I will again. I have killed many. It’s not like you have no blood on your hands.” I shouldn’t have said it, but I did. And I didn’t regret it. If she wanted to put me as the bad guy, that was fine. Her love had renewed my confidence, brightened my dark soul, and I knew I would win her back. It was only a matter of time. I just hoped I still had a heart to give her when it happened.
She didn’t even flinch at my accusation, however, as if she’d made peace with what had transpired between her and Xavier. She only said, “Tell me where you’re going today. Another lord to threaten?”
“I’m going to meet with my mother. I told her I would come when the curse was broken. It was a part of the deal. I expect she wants to see me suffer. I think the only reason she gave me the pill was because she could see I had feelings for you.”
“Oh,” she said, and her brow furrowed in concern. “I’ll go with you.”
“No,” I said, and worked the spell to slow the carriage with my hands.
“But—”
“I’ve already told you more than I wish to. You’re not going. The last thing we need is for you to fall under her scrutiny and become a part of her machinations. You’re safer here, so please, just stay in the carriage until I get back, okay?” I gave her a pleading look as I stepped down from the carriage.
When she begrudgingly nodded, I looked at the forest’s canopy, hoping to get a gauge of the time. From what I saw, the sun was nearly overhead. I motioned for a female guard to approach. “Her Majesty needs a moment of privacy in the woods. I will give her a half hour. Stretch your legs and take care of your needs. Then the carriage will move, see that she is on it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the guard said. “I will see that she is back in the carriage by then. You have my oath.”
I nodded and then turned to see Avery struggling to retrieve her pack as Eclipse approached. The hard set of her jaw told me she wasn’t happy that I would be leaving her behind.
“Here,” I said, lifting the pack from the back of the carriage, assuming she needed some fresh undergarments. “I’ll be back by nightfall, and I’ll tell you what transpired. Sufficient?”
A deadpan stare was all I received in response. It was foolish of me, but I leaned forward, needing to kiss her one last time before facing my mother. My lips were met with a cool cheek, and a wife who turned away.
As I mounted Eclipse, she eyed me and said so only I could hear, “That won’t happen again.”
I barked out a laugh. “I’ll enjoy proving you wrong once again, my queen.” Then I nudged Eclipse, and we rode away toward my mother’s wards.
Chapter 47
Avery
Whatanarrogantbastard.What had I been thinking? There was something about that man that made me stupid crazy with lust. My thoughts continued to swirl as I trudged through the dense forest in search of somewhere to change that would give me a little privacy from the guard who shadowed me.
After walking about five minutes in the direction Nighval had ridden off, I scanned the area, noting the guard was within view. “Would you mind giving me some privacy?”
I thrust an angry finger in the direction of the carriage and the woman gave me a knowing smile and turned to give me space. “I won’t be far. If you need anything, just shout,” she called over her shoulder.
“Thanks,” I yelled back. As if I’d need anything from these people. His people. I plopped my backdown in a little clear area between two massive pines and knelt in the bed of soft needles, opening the zipper to fish out a change of clothes.
How dare he not let me go with him to see his mother? The curse affected me, too, so I deserved to go. I had a whole litany of things to say to that witch and my husband had no intention of ever giving me that closure.
A breeze picked up, blowing in the direction Nighval had gone and it almost felt like a beckoning. Did Samara sense I was here, in the Wildwood? I knew she made her home somewhere in this dense forest, but I didn’t know where. From what I recalled from when I’d tried to run from Xavier, there was a town shown on the map about ten miles off the road which ran through the center of the Wildwood which must be where she lived. Now, because of Nighval, I knew the direction.
I slipped out of my dress and soiled panties, pulled on a fresh pair and opted for leggings and a sweater. I was about to slip on my flats when a bulge in the pack reminded me that I had packed my boots in it. An idea struck. I glanced in the direction of the carriage. The guard was still out of sight.
Just because Nighval didn’t take me, didn’t mean I couldn’t go. And maybe she’d send me home. My heart pinched at the thought of leaving my husband, but it wasn’t real. None of it had been. Sure, he enjoyed my body, but who did what he’d done? When he’d given me that pill, the anger, and bitterness on his face was undeniable. I wasn’t sure who it had been directed at, me or the people about to execute me, but now I no longer cared.
My heart thundered as I laced up my boots. I threw my cloak over my shoulders and hoisted up my pack. I needed to slip away quickly. The guards would be after me soon.
My boots nimbly hit the forest floor as I took off in a dead sprint. I could probably run full out for about ten minutes, maybe more, before I’d have to slow to a jog. Back in Miami, I’d done some fun runs and my record time was sub eight minutes for a mile, and I could do a five-kilometer race at that pace. But now I was in heavy leather boots and carrying a large pack. Still, in about twenty minutes, I’d be nearly three miles from the carriage. How far could the witch’s home be?
Hearing my name called from a distance drew my attention away from the seconds I focused on counting as I ran. They’d given me longer than I expected before they started searching for me. I felt a little guilty, as I heard the female call out, “The king will kill us if we’ve lost you. Please, Your Majesty…”
