Vivi huffs, closing her eyes as she touches her forehead to the horse’s dark snout after he settles. “Oh, I’d trust my judgement over yours any day, my lost brother. Besides, one doesn’t have to have ridden a horse to be able trust it. I can assure you that.” Vivi’s opens her eyes, seeking me out to where I stand frozen by the stable’s wooden side. Her green eyes spark with a new kind of fire, challenging me to arise to her words. It’s not until her eyes carefully shift to the horse and back again that I realize what she needs.
“It’s true,” I call, causing Aras’ chin to whip in my direction. “This magic of mine has to be good for something, now doesn’t it?” Aras’ eyes narrow. Without my consent, I find my boots walking forcefully to his side. “Someone once told me I can communicate with animals. Perhaps we should see if he was right.”
His confidence fades at the weight of my words, both at the secrets shared and those that weren’t. Aras may not remember our time together, but word by word, second by second, I will bring him back to me. And though I’ve only ever tried to communicate with Papa, there’s no time like the present to see what else this blasted magic entails.
“Fire and ice and animals,” he croons, his face morphing back into that indecipherable mask. “Aren’t you something special?”
“No,” I say, pushing past him, “I’m cursed.”
Vivi greets me with a gentle nod, whether from agreeing to my words or encouraging me to communicate with an animal, I’m not sure. Either way, it feels like I’m destined to come up the fool in this situation. Choosing to close my eyes and block my two eager guests out with it, I place a careful hand on the horse’s black side, rubbing my fingers through his short, bristled fur. This time, when the whispers come, I’m not met with words as I was with Papa, but a feeling. An ever-present desire.
Protection. Safety. Help.
When I open my eyes, Vivi’s wide smile reflects my own. “You see,” she says, kissing the horse’s nose once more and tossing a cutting look Aras’ way. “He’s perfect.” Slipping her boot into the stirrup, she pulls on the reins, kicking her leg up and over as if she hasn’t just scaled a mountain of a horse. White teeth shining as bright as the sun, she winks at me from above.
“I thought you said you’d never ridden a horse.” Aras comes to a stop particularly close to my side, making my neck prickle with his proximity.
“I haven’t,” she admits, running her fingers through the horse’s dark mane, “but that doesn’t mean I haven’t dreamed about it. Turns out I’m a natural.”
“What a delightful coincidence,” Aras mutters, tossing me a careful look as he marches off to the stables to retrieve what I assume will be the rest of our horses.
It isn’t until his back is engulfed by the entryway’s shadows that I notice Sireen standing quietly by the doors. Though she tries to look unperturbed, I notice the slight tremble of her fingers as she grips her small pack. “Sireen, have you ever ridden a horse?” I ask, wishing I had questioned her sooner.
And here I thought I was the only one afraid of the giant mounts.
“No, Princess. I can’t say it’s come up in my duties until now,” she allows, ducking her head as if her words could bruise my heart.
“There’s no need to worry,” Vivi says, beating my reply. “I’m sure you’ll be a natural. Who knows, you may be running off at a gallop, leading the way to Theron’s gates.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of, Princess,” she replies with another twist of her fingers.
“Oh, Sireen.” Vivi tilts her head to the side, peering down at us as if we’ve become frightened, scattered mice. “Don’t doubt yourself so. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about women, it’s that we’re full of surprises.”
“Surprises, indeed.” Aras whistles, returning from the stables with two large horses in tow. Stopping by Sireen’s sullen frame, he places his hands on his hips, looking down on her as if she’s ruined this awful affair. “You’ll be fine, Sireen. I’ll have your mount attached to mine at all times. Don’t let Viviana’s foolish words alarm you.” He pauses, surveying her long, blue dress as if it’s only now caught his attention. “I forgot we have an actual proper woman within our party. You’ll have to sit sideways on the saddle, Sireen. Just hold on tight.”
Sireen’s fearful eyes flash to mine, as if she actually feels responsible for the sharp words that leave Aras’ mouth. I send her as cheery of a look as I can manage, hoping his causal taunts haven’t set her on edge. It took me all morning to convince her that I didn’t need to wear a dress, based on the fact it would ruin on the trip alone. Besides, dresses don’t do well in small, beat-up packs like my own, and there was no way we were going to pull a cart full of dresses through the forest. Theron will have plenty of dresses, I assured her. And though I didn’t say it, plenty of dresses that I’ll never wear.
“We’ll be there in no time, Sireen. You’ll see.” I tip my head, beckoning her toward the dappled horse that stands ready by our side. Casting one last cautious look in my direction, she accepts the awaiting hand of Aras as he lifts her up onto the saddle. Gripping the reins as if her very life depends on it, she squares her shoulders, determined to master her fear and master it well.
“Let’s go, Brave,” Vivi calls, as if she can’t wait to get out of these walls and set her spirit free. “Theron awaits.”
I start to turn her way when a hand catches me by the arm. “I don’t think so, Penelope Brave. Knox’s orders are for you to ride with me. I won’t take a chance with the future heir of Orien, not even for the comforts of her little sister.”
“And you think I’ll ride with you?” I ask, dreading being so close to him, yet far from him all the same.
“Oh, I know you will,” he says, pulling me toward the grey mount waiting patiently by our side. “We wouldn’t want your sister to be harmed, if you know what I mean.”
“You wouldn’t,” I say, whipping my face to his own. But he doesn’t have to answer for his thoughts to be heard. I see it in his eyes, the clear blue now clouded and dark. He doesn’t know if he would or not, but he also doesn’t follow his own will.
He follows the will of Knox.
“Fine,” I snap, yanking my arm free from his hands. “I’ll ride with you, but don’t you for one second think about harming her. If you even felt an ounce of guilt over Bates, it’s nothing compared to what you’ll feel if you hurt her.”
Grabbing for the saddle, I throw my leg over the top of the horse and glare down at him from above. Aras’ lips twitch with rebuttal, but he only shakes his head in response. Launching himself up behind me, he pulls my back tightly against his chest and grips the reins in front of us.
“Don’t you get too handsy with my sister!” Vivi calls, guiding her horse to our side. Her sharp eyes linger on the rigid lines of my back against his chest, and I send her a wink, hoping she knows I can take care of myself. And also hoping she can’t see the slight shades of pink blooming across my cheeks, or the way my pulse races so fast I’m afraid I might faint. The last time I rode a horse with Aras, we were balancing on a delicate line of care. Of love. It’s hard to know that now everything has changed. That my handsome prince has turned to my father, swallowed up in his rage of darkness. Alone, and though I know he would never admit it, afraid.
And it’s also hard to admit that a very deep, wounded part of me, wishes he would do what she has warned him against.
Vivi must mistake the sudden warming of my cheeks for anger, because she reaches out, running a comforting hand down my arm. “Come, Little Bird, it’s time to soar.” Then she turns on her mount, galloping toward the gate.
Behind me, Aras’ chest tenses, and his arms clamp down harder on my sides. My head turns up in time to catch the haunted look across his face, before it molds into one of callous disregard. “Sometimes, I can’t stand her,” he mutters, urging us forward.
Choosing not to respond, I hold tight to my thoughts, knowing without a doubt that her words have conjured up
a vision from his past. Then I lean into his chest, settling in for the uncomfortable ride, made a little more manageable with a fresh dash of hope.
Fifteen
The first day is what I hope will be the worst.
Nothing but trees and silence and more silence still. Not a single soul has forgotten that we are but four companions forced together, with only three out of the four remotely comfortable being in each other’s midst. Poor Sireen sags across her saddle, eyes closed and lips moving in what I imagine to be a frantic prayer to the stars above. The only time I’ve seen the worried glint in her dark eyes has been during our short breaks, in which Aras graciously allows us a few minutes of rest. I feel for her, my sweet handmaiden, but I also fear there’s nothing I can do.
Vivi, on the other hand, is all but a wild buck set loose in the never-ending Orien trees. Her black stallion rode in front of us for most of the day, when Aras wasn’t grunting about and pushing us ahead to lead the way. Though she’s the only one of us who has never set foot outside of her own cage, she seems the most at home here. Now, as we press on into the waning light, her braided hair flaps along her back, and wild wisps fall across her face as she turns back to flash us a smile. It’s the happiest I’ve seen her, and more than anything, I hope her joy never fades.
At the sight of her glee, Aras stiffens at my back. He hasn’t said a word since we left Orien, if the annoyed growls and huffs he throws Vivi’s way aren’t counted. And every time his lips accidently graze close to my ear, I jump out of habit.
If only he would tease me now.
“We’re going to be stopping a short way up that hill,” Aras calls out to Vivi, making me flinch with the sound of his voice. The hill he speaks of bakes in the last rays of the falling sun, one of the few places in the forest where the trees are thinned and the light shines through. “If you’d slow down for a minute, I might be able to lead you in the right direction.”
Vivi pulls slightly on her reins, making her perfect mount come to a stop. She turns in her saddle, a playful spark flashing in her eyes. “Oh, is that what you’re here for? Guiding us in the right direction? And here I thought you were simply following us around to make everyone miserable.”
Aras doesn’t respond to her cutting words, but the tightening of his arms around my waist is enough to tell me he doesn’t particularly appreciate her candor. As he prods us forward, we race past Vivi and up the small hill with enough force to send us both careening off the horse. When I start to slip, Aras’ strong arms lock around me, pulling me back against his chest and stealing my breath with it. “Did you forget to hold on?” he asks, sarcasm dripping from his tone.
“That depends. Did you forget how to steer a horse? I’m amazed we both didn’t fall off and roll down the other side of this hill.” My words are tinged with a strong bite. Though this time, it’s mainly fear and not anger that makes them so.
“I’ll have you know I’m an excellent horseman,” he cuts back, sliding off the horse and flooding my space with breathable air once more. He holds his hand out in the off chance I might need it to get down, but like the first four times we stopped, I jump to the ground as if his offer were never really there to begin with.
“I’ll have you know I’m excellent at determining when people are telling the truth,” I spout, turning to untie my bag from the saddle.
My hands fumble with the straps, slipping on the knots, and it takes me a second to realize it’s because I’m shaking. A rough hand lashes out, stilling my own in place, and its heat alone is enough to make me look to his face. “And what if I told you I’m excellent at determining when people are telling the truth as well?” he warns, the warmth of our skins battling for the win.
Though I try to keep my expression blank, I hear the true meaning of his words as clear as if he’d whispered them in my ear. The warning that he thinks I’m lying, and I won’t follow through on my promise to Knox. More importantly, he wants me to remember what’s at stake if I don’t. Who’s at stake, to be exact. But me? I want him to remember that he has to get through her big sister first.
Rising onto my tiptoes, I move my lips dangerously close to his ear. “Then I’d say you’re a liar.”
“Hey!” Vivi’s voice cuts through the air, causing Aras to turn so quickly that I almost miss the soft hue of pink forming on his cheeks. “What did I tell you about getting handsy with my sister? Skies above, Aras! You couldn’t steer clear of her when you had a brain either.”
“Viviana,” Aras rumbles, and I peek around his shoulder, hoping to catch Vivi’s attention and convince her to cut her lecture short. “What did I tell you about speaking of the past? I have no memory of it, and I have every intention of keeping it that way.”
Vivi meets his words with a loud huff of her own, reaching around Aras’ fuming frame and slipping her hand into mine. “Have it your way, Aras, so long as you’re content to continue living the life of an imbecile,” she says, pulling me down the hill toward the open woods. “Now, if my ears don’t deceive me, I think I hear some running water up ahead. Excuse us while we take our much-deserved break.”
“I don’t think so, Princess,” he calls, stopping us in our tracks.
We turn to look over our shoulders, risking a glance in his direction. True to his arrogant self, his arms are crossed over his chest, and he looks down on us as if we are the imbeciles and not the other way around. Thankfully, Vivi is the first to speak, as anything I would have to say at this point would be regrettably nasty, indeed. “Do you think we don’t deserve a break or that there isn’t running water up ahead? Forgive me, Aras, but sometimes your rudeness needs clarifying.”
Even at a distance, I still catch the distinct roll of his eyes. “What I meant is there is no way the heir to Orien’s throne and her little sister are walking off into the woods unattended. There’s no telling who you might run into.”
His words send a funny tingle down my spine, and my eyes dart around to the darkening trees. It’s odd that Aras’ words could spark such a reaction in me, considering we haven’t seen a single soul in these woods all day. I suppose I could also be having flashbacks from my run-in with Reeve. We are still in Orien territory though, and Ashen knows Knox has it under control. After all, who would want to purposely wander into a madman’s kingdom?
A fool, that’s who.
“Oh, come on, Aras.” Vivi moans. “We aren’t unattended. We have Sireen.”
For the first time, Sireen opens her eyes from where she still sits upon the giant horse with her white-knuckled fingers clenched around the saddle’s horn. Her gaze is as dreamy-eyed as Vivi’s when she has awoken from a nightmare, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say Sireen is getting pretty good at pretending she’s not actually with us on this horrid adventure.
I envy her, truly I do.
“An unarmed handmaiden?” Aras scoffs, waving his hands so widely he causes Sireen to wince. “Oh, yes. She’s precisely who we need.”
If anything, Vivi’s persistence is only goaded. “I didn’t say we’d be completely unarmed. Brave has her dagger tucked safely in her boot, and I have this,” she says, pulling her own shiny dagger from hers.
Everyone gasps, including Aras.
“Vivi,” I rush, my hands dancing about in the air between us as if I could save her from her own demise. If her handling of a vase is any indication of her ability to take care of a sharp object, then we are all in trouble. “Where did you get such a thing?”
“This?” she asks, flipping the blue-hilted dagger between her hands and making Sireen nearly fall off the horse. “I found it on my nightstand the same morning Bates took us to see the stars. I only guessed it was from him.”
“And you thought you’d tuck it in your boot?” Aras’ gaze flicks to me, lips twisting as if he’s been forced to eat rotten fruit. “What if it’s… poisoned?”
“It’s not poisoned,” we both shout, though I have a feeling we may be talking about two very different daggers.
&nbs
p; “Besides,” she continues, tucking the sharp weapon back into her boot as if she’s wrapping a furry kitten into her cloak. “While you were all convened in Father’s throne room torturing Bates, I slipped out to the stables and found a young lad to help me out. You’d never even know he was cut, the way things all turned out.”
“Vivi!” I breathe, clasping onto her shoulder and pulling her gaze toward my own. “You cut a boy in the stables?”
“Yes… but I did ask him beforehand. He promised he didn’t mind. And I have to say,” she pulls in close, dropping her voice to a whisper, “he was also quite the looker.”
Skies above. This keeps getting better and better.
“Shiny new dagger or not, it still doesn’t mean I’m about to let you wander around these woods unattended.” Aras marches down the small hill, invading our space once more. “There is no telling who you could run into out there, and all it takes is a mere second for things to turn out of our favor.”
“Who do you think is crazy enough to wander around in Orien’s territory?” I ask, surprising myself by entertaining the argument. Personally, I couldn’t care less about whether or not Aras comes along. The only thing I want to do right now is wash some of his honeyed scent off my back.
Aras’ eyes narrow as he takes me in, the predator sizing up his prey. “You should remember that not all of Orien is aware that their dead princess breathes again. Although most Oriens would leave you be, it’s not them who I’m worried about. It’s the rogue members of Theron. The ones who cross our boarders merely to prove it to themselves that they can. Tell me,” he says, tilting his head for good measure. “What would you do if one of them whisked you away, never to be heard from again?”
“Why, we’d thank them, of course!” Vivi sings, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward her mystery stream.
The Darkest Night Page 10
