Chapter 63: Everly

Chapter

Sixty-Three

EVERLY

I grip the reins of my painted gelding as I steal another glance at Cenric. His jaw is set, eyes focused ahead on the path before us. The morning sun catches his dark hair, making it gleam like polished obsidian.

Last night flashes through my mind—how I gave myself to him. For one glorious moment, I'd forgotten about the red line between us.

I was just Everly, and he was just Cenric.

Now, as I ride next to him, reality slams into me. Our reality.

We can never marry.

I suck in a quick breath, knowing my family would never understand why I gave myself to him. Mother would have preferred I waited until I got married. Kassandra would have questioned his motives.

Last night, I didn't care about any of that. I just wanted to be with him. To know what it was like to have him inside me. To understand the feel of his body. To know his taste. His fire.

But now, as our horses ride side by side, I do wonder about his motives. Am I just another woman to him?

My eyes sting as I blink and tighten my fingers around the reins. I want to be more special than that. Instead of copper to him, I want to be gold—pure, unadulterated gold. Gold he cherishes. Gold he loves.

I look at him again, seeing the determination in his eyes as he leads his army. I'll never step between him and his goals. Never expect the stars when he cannot offer them to me. It would be wrong to ask.

I face forward, forcing my eyes to land on the path ahead. It's the only thing I can focus on right now. This path. This war.