Page 22 of To Desire

“Should we not go?” she asked, prepared to spur her mount forward.

“Liana.”

He said it with enough authority that she froze. For certain, he was the earl’s son, lest she forget the fact.

“Aye?”

“You said the runes do not lie.”

“I am not as trained as my mother,” she explained. “She would be certain, and if she were here⁠—”

“Yet she is not. And you are a skilled seer in your own right, which is why you accompany me now.”

“As I said, interpretation is needed. ’Tis obvious, this is one of those times.”

“Why?” he asked, his expression unreadable. “Why is it so obvious?”

This was precisely the conversation she wished to avoid.

“You are an earl’s son. I am the seer’s daughter. A witch, as many of the villagers believe. We are not meant for anything more than the same relationship as our parents.” It occurred to her that Darien was not as shocked as he should be.

Of course.

He’d never marry a woman such as her, but a man and woman did not need to marry to engage in the sort of relations that, perhaps, the runes had hinted at. Feeling foolish, she no longer wished to remain under Darien’s scrutiny.

This time, when he called to her as Liana spurred her mount forward, she did not heed the call. Instead, she raced down the hill, too fast. Embarrassed and now scared as she picked up speed, Liana attempted to slow down. It was only as the hill began to flatten that Liana successfully came to a stop. Before she could allow relief to flow through her, Darien had dismounted and grabbed her reins.

“You could have killed yourself at such a speed.”

She turned back, surprised to see such a steep incline. “I did not intend⁠—”

Her words were cut off as Darien reached for her arm. She hadn’t realized how hard she’d been gripping the reins until he rested his hand on her wrist.

“I know you did not. But please do not do that again. If you were to be hurt, on account of trying to help me . . .”

He pulled his hand back, and Liana loosened her grip.

“Whatever that bond is, Liana, it will not make me careless with your safety. Nor with your heart.”

She blinked, startled by the honesty in his tone, and his words. And before she could respond, he gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod, and then—just as quickly as the moment had come—it was gone.

He re-mounted, leaving Liana to consider what he meant, precisely. Without a word, she urged her horse forward as they rode toward the village, side by side once again.