Chapter 23

"NO, YOU CANNOT GO TODemerel and snoop around. You"re the princess. Everyone knows you, Eirwyn," Scarlet said, shaking her head as she paused eating, her spoon halfway to her mouth.

Last night she"d dug in a trunk of clothes and talked with Scarlet about Knox" childhood and growing up in the forest. Scarlet had told her to be careful as Knox had never been with a woman before, but Eirwyn didn"t believe her. Scarlet probably just didn"t know all of Knox" business, which was as it should be.

She certainly wished her own brother kept out of her business, that"s for sure. They"d talked about her brother too. But as dawn had approached, the storm still raging outside and her thoughts and memories just as tumultuous, she"d finally fallen asleep.

Sadly, alone. She"d taken a bird bath in the wash basin by the window and had changed into Scarlet"s breeches and shirt. Thank the gods she"d worn her walking boots to the reception.

Eirwyn now leaned forward onto the table, imitating some people she"d met at the tavern over the years. "I have to, don"t you see? I have to make sure Bella doesn"t get caught up in his web of treachery. She"s still my friend."

Scarlet glared at her sternly. "You forget that she"s a queen now."

Eirwyn shook her head, frowning. "No, I haven"t. They"ll be leaving on their honeymoon tour today. If I can just get a message to her. Surely she"ll stop by the tavern to check on the place one more time before she leaves. It"s been her home for twenty-five years."

Olive set a bowl in front of Eirwyn, and she thanked her. Then Olive said, "I agree with Scarlet. There"s no way you can go into Demerel. It"s too risky."

The door opened, and Knox stepped inside, taking her breath away. His eyes swept over them, and as he stopped to stare at her, he deliberately pushed his hood back.

His eyes were defiant and wary, like he was afraid that she had changed her mind overnight. So she smiled and winked for good measure.

His eyes widened and his posture seemed to relax. Then he held up a small wooden box. "Got the heart of a stag. The meat"s in the cellar waiting to be dried or cooked. The pelt is stretched and drying in the sun but you"ll need to move it by the fire if it starts raining again."

Olive beamed. "Thank you, dear. I appreciate it. Will you please tell Eirwyn she"s not going to Demerel to warn the queen what her brother is up to?"

Knox glowered and Eirwyn shrunk in on herself a little. He stood tall, fierce, and proud as he said, "You"re not going to Demerel."

His tone brooked no argument, and her jaw dropped. She wasn"t used to people talking to her like that.

Olive raised her brows at Eirwyn. "See? It"s too risky like we said."

He set the box on the table, then washed his hands at the sink. "Actually, you"ll be going with me today."

He turned and fixed a plate of breakfast Eirwyn had helped Olive prepare. He sat and she leaned closer to him, propping her head on her hand.

"Where are you going?"

He glanced up at her, then back down to his food as he stabbed a potato. "We are going to the dwarves first. I"ll leave you there while I go to the most dangerous part of the forest, then I"ll come back for you."

She frowned, not liking that plan. "How long will it take to get to the dwarves? Why are we going there when I can just stay with Olive?"

He waved his fork, chewing. Eirwyn sat back in impatience, but Olive said, "I"m just me, princess. If something happens, I can"t protect you as well as the dwarves can. They"re fierce fighters and have defenses beyond our understanding."

Eirwyn frowned.

Scarlet said, "You"ll get there in a few days." She grabbed the small box from the table and opened it, nodding grimly. "This will work, I hope. I"ll meet with him today, and hopefully meet you at the dwarves" place later this week."

Eirwyn frowned. "I still don"t know why I have to go hang out with the dwarves."

Knox finished eating and took his plate to the sink. "We can talk about it on the ride. Are you ready?"

She shrugged. "It"s not like I have any bags to bring with me."

He turned and strode to the door, but Olive stopped him and gave him a hug. Eirwyn watched him stiffen, then relax. She took her own plate to the sink then turned to the door. Olive held her now cleaned Scarlet cloak up and smiled.

Eirwyn put it on and said, "Thank you so much for having me again."

Olive hugged her. "Take care of my boy, princess. Don"t give up on him," she whispered.

Eirwyn frowned, but Scarlet grabbed her own cloak and strode out the door.

It was a gloomy day, so they both pulled their hoods up. She had ripped three fingers of her gloves, which were now stained with dirt. But at least they were cleaner, thanks to Olive.

She walked to Knox and his horse, his hood back up. He didn"t say anything, but she felt a heaviness between them. Like they were both about to cross a threshold of no return. She could be worried about her friend, stressed about her brother... but no. She was excited to take this adventure with Knox.

What was wrong with her? She"d never felt like this before.

She took his hand and climbed up in front of him. She waved to Olive and saw Scarlet ride away in the other direction.

When the woods closed behind them and there were only the sounds of animals, she wiggled on the saddle. His hand gripped her hip again, and she smiled.

It was like all those weeks ago when they"d first met. Had it only been a month? But there were so many more layers to their relationship now.

"Careful, princess. Don"t wiggle too much, or this will be a painful ride."

She grinned and leaned back into the safety of his arms. "Maybe it already is," she said. "I believe you promised me a good time last night, yet here I am, still wanting."

He growled, wrapping his arm around her stomach and settling her deeper on his lap. She practically wasn"t even on the saddle anymore.

She gasped at his length, and her mind splintered with need. She hadn"t been with anyone else in weeks either, not since they"d met.

But he said, "We have a long way to go, princess, but we need to talk first."

She gripped his arm. He held her tight, and she felt safe and protected as the horse walked through this magical forest.

She gasped as her stomach flipped in anticipation. "About what?"

His breath tickled under her ear. "About us. If we"re going to do this, there will be no kissing. If I say stop, we need to stop, alright?"

She nodded, biting her lip. "But why?"

"Safety. If I am what I think I am, I need to keep you safe."

"How can having sex be unsafe?" A gentle drizzle began to fall around them.

His hand relaxed and he leaned back. "I have poison breath, for starters. Don"t want to poison you, princess, as we"re currently trying to keep you alive."

She snorted, then her eyes went wide as she processed. She twisted to stare at him. "Poison breath? How is that possible? I"ve never heard of that type of magic before."

The line between his forehead appeared worried. "I know, which is why I need to go to the center of the forest and find out what I am."

She frowned and turned back to the front as she thought, wiping away the mist that gathered on her face. She held up her hands, ticking off on her fingers as she talked.

"Poison breath. Scales. Horns... but you"re not a lizard? What about a horny toad? Or a poison frog?"

He snorted. "What"s with you and amphibians?"

"Me? You"re the tough nut to crack, with your magic that"s literally the coolest I"ve ever seen."

She waved her hands wide. "I mean, look. You can control the forest itself. Don"t think I haven"t noticed how you"ve been keeping the brush and vines away with just a wave of your hand."

He shrugged. "I"ve lived the past thirty years in these woods. You have to stay on your toes around here. Develop some defenses."

She shook her head. "You must be pretty powerful. Most magical people have to use a focus object until they master at least one specific magic type. Some magical people even go their whole lives needing their wands. I know of several high ranking nobles who still need help focusing, although they"ve moved to more easily hidden items like hair pins and brooches. Others at court talk about them behind their backs all the time, of course."

He asked dryly, "Your point?"

She stroked his forearm where it still loosely held her, his hand settled easily on the pommel. "Have you always been able to control the forest? What else can you do? How does your poison breath work? Have you ever killed anyone?"

He shook his head and sighed dramatically. Hours passed as they talked, and Eirwyn knew she was annoying him with the incessant chatter. Yet she couldn"t help herself. She wanted to know everything about him.

Eirwyn started to ask another question when she saw something land on his hand. She looked down and screamed, leaning back to smack at it with her other hand.

"Spider!" she yelled, swatting at his arm. Knox jerked on the reins, making the horse dance a few steps to shift off the faint path. Another spider landed on her and another.

The ground around them seemed to roll as black spiders ran toward them. More fell from the trees above, and Eirwyn screamed.

"Shit," Knox growled, then reached in his saddle bags and pulled out a stick with a gem on the end. Then he pulled out his axe and hit the gem, cracking it.

A bright, red glow swept over them and the horse, and the spider swarm fled from the light.

Eirwyn"s heart raced as she looked around, checking her body for the dreadful things, but none remained.

He brushed a hand along her back and shoulders. "Are you alright? Did you get bit?"

She shook her hands with a shaky breath, so grateful for her dirty gloves now. "No, I think I have enough layers that they couldn"t penetrate them. Did you?"

He shook his hand, flicking a spider away with a wince. "Yeah, damn thing got my hand. The one place that"s not covered."

She wiped her hands on her pants, trying to wipe off the creepy crawling feeling that left her on edge. Worry made her frown.

"What kind were they? Are they dangerous? Are you going to be alright?"

He grunted and began to list to one side. "Annoying kind," he slurred.

She jerked his arm around her stomach, trying to get him to stay upright. "Stay with me, Knox."

He slumped against her back, wrapping his arm tightly around her. "Darkling spiders. Doesn"t help to control the forest when I can"t keep the spiders away. Take the stick before I drop it."

She reached for the reins and the glowing red stick, easily taking them from his limp fingers. "Knox? Tell me you"re going to be alright."

Her heart raced more from the fear of losing him than the fear from the spiders. She couldn"t lose him, not when she was just getting to know him.

She grabbed the stick, holding it out with a death grip to keep the tiny little creatures away.

"I"ll be alright. Humans die from them, but I just–might pass out. If I do," he paused, his words slurring as he began to wheeze. "Just head for the creek. Ryder will take you to the water, don"t worry."

She held him with her hand on his, gripping his arm tight as he slumped over on her. The pommel dug into her pelvis, making her wince.

She grunted as the rain began to grow steadier. "You great ox. Is that why they call you Knox? You weigh enough to be an ox. Maybe that"s the type of shifter you are."

He grunted, not moving on her back. She winced at the weight and looked around, holding the red glow stick up.

She was alone in the Feral Forest with spiders and crawly things and who knew what else that would try to kill her. That wasn"t even mentioning the gloomy sky that seemed to open up like turning a faucet or the vines that were now silently stalking toward them.

And her only help was now passed out behind her. His control on the forest slipped away and the vines began to reach toward her.

She gritted her teeth and nudged the horse with her heels, reaching out to the birds nearby to find a path to the creek.

She pushed light magic around them, but the spiders seemed to only be afraid of the red glow stick. Still, she kept the light flowing to combat her fears of the dark forest.

She swallowed hard as the horse began to follow the path, praying to the gods that she was going in the right direction.