Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
His fingers were beneath her chin again almost immediately.
Adira looked up.
His questioning stare demanded an explanation.
Her smile only grew. How could she possibly tell him that the reason for it was him?
She went to reach up and touch the deep lines between his eyes where his brow had knitted tightly but recalled it would not be proper and stilled her hand.
Dravic’s gaze dropped to her hand that moved then stopped abruptly, and he knew she meant to touch him. He wished she could—touch him without permission, without question whenever she wanted to. He loved the feel of her hand upon him, though he favored it more upon his naked skin.
Stop, he silently warned himself. Not here. Not now.
For a moment neither moved.
Then his eyes returned to hers.
Maintaining her smile, Adira slowly adjusted the ties on her cloak to make it appear as if it was her intention all along.
Dravic stared at her another moment before releasing her chin, but she caught the faintest change in his expression as he looked ahead again.
He knew she intended to touch him and he wanted her to. And that gave her heart a joyful squeeze and kept her smile strong.
Adira settled back against him, holding her newly discovered treasure carefully in her thoughts.
Dravic.
She liked his name.
She liked even more that he had wanted her to touch him.
They continued on, the encounter with the Wolfin gradually falling behind them, though the talk of it did not. Adira caught no more words, only an occasional sound that slipped unexpectedly into her silence and disappeared before she could make sense of it.
She did not mind. She had heard enough for now.
The forest grew denser as they traveled, the path narrowing enough in places that the men were forced to ride two abreast. Snow clung heavily to the pine branches and covered the ground in an unbroken blanket except where their horses left deep tracks behind them.
Dravic had grown impatient.
Adira could feel it in him. His arm remained secure around her, his hold no different than before, but his attention had turned elsewhere. He looked ahead more often, occasionally toward Ernach, and several times she saw his jaw tighten as if some thought continued to annoy him.
Then his eyes suddenly searched the area around them. “Fiora!”
The fairy popped out from beneath the hood of one of the warriors riding in front of them, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
“What?” she demanded, flying toward the king.
“I have a message for you to deliver.”
Fiora immediately shook her head. “Nay.”
Dravic scowled at her.
Adira watched the exchange with amusement, the expression letting her know that the fairy was having fun tormenting the king. And his arm tightened around her, confirming it.
“Did you not hear me give you an order?”
“My ears may be tiny, but I have no trouble hearing.”
“Good. Then you will do as ordered?”
“Nope. I’m not going.”
Seger, riding nearby, turned his face away, though not quickly enough to hide his grin.
Dravic caught it. “Something amuses you, Seger?”
“Nay, my king.”
“Then wipe the smile from your face.”
It vanished.
Fiora folded her arms across her chest. “You can command him all you want. You cannot command me.”
“I have noticed,” Dravic said, his irritation obvious. “You have also made it clear you wish to be useful. Here is your opportunity.”
“I am useful.”
“Then take my message to the High Council.”
“Nay.”
Dravic brought his horse to a stop, forcing everyone to do the same.
Adira glanced from the king to the tiny fairy hovering before him. She did not appear the least concerned that her refusal had brought the entire king’s troop to a halt, which had to mean she was refusing to obey an order he had given her.
Dravic’s eyes narrowed. “You will go to the High Council and tell them King Dravic is in Driochmor and making his way to them.”
The sound of his name reached Adira again… Dravic.
This time there was no doubt. Her heart gave a little jump of pleasure, though she kept her expression carefully composed.
“I also want to know what has been learned about the Morvane Clan and the symbols that were discovered,” Dravic continued. “You will bring their answer directly to me.”
Fiora shook her head through every word.
Dravic’s patience visibly thinned. “What possible reason could you have for refusing?”
“I’m not leaving you and Adira.”
His expression changed.
Only slightly, but Adira saw it.
“Why?”
“Because you both need me.”
“We certainly do not,” Dravic argued.
“Aye, you do. You’re just too stubbornly foolish to realize it.”
Dravic looked ready to reach out and snatch the tiny fairy from the air.
Fiora apparently thought so as well. She flew just beyond his reach. “It will not be me who delivers it, but I will see it done.”
Dravic’s hand settled back on the reins. “How?”
“I’ll get another fairy to take it.”
He rubbed his face in frustration. “You could have said that before refusing me.”
“And miss seeing that vein in your forehead start to throb?” Fiora grinned. “Where’s the fun in that?”