Sunset, She Fights Read online

  “Not spying. I have trouble sleeping. I also know you sneak into my study and pore over the household accounts, which I leave out for exactly that reason.”

  A blush stained her cheeks and she bit back a curse word. She had no idea he knew she snuck into his study. Did he also know she patrolled at night?

  “And that you’ve read every book in the library.”

  “Twice.”

  “You’re clever and strong and don’t deserve this life. Dela, please. I’m not the enemy.” He reached for her, but then dropped his hands to his sides. “Ogres are different from elves. Their energy alone is on a whole other level. Working with Master Njeeb is fine, but there are other ways to be physical, not just with sword work.”

  Rainne took a step back, revulsion coiling around her fury. “You’re disgusting. Was this the plan all along? Kill the mother, then seduce the daughter? I should have you thrown out of the castle for what you’re suggesting.”

  A stricken look of horror crossed his features. “No! I meant boxing, darling. I didn’t mean to suggest anything untoward. You have it all wrong.” He scrubbed his palms against his eyes and looked toward the ceiling. “I don’t wish your mother dead. If I could bring her back to us, I would, but I lack the healing skills and magic to make such a miracle possible.”

  At the word “miracle,” Rainne sucked in air. She steadied her breathing to bring calm. Finnick appeared sincere, but years of honing self-loathing and hatred couldn’t be undone by a few sorrowful looks.

  When she didn’t respond, he faltered. “I only meant to suggest alternatives to working with Master Njeeb—to expand your skills and knowledge. Boxing, as I said, or perhaps hand-to-hand combat skills. I’ve heard the faeries are quite good at them. There was mention at the pub of an academy where the fae train their students. You couldn’t go there, of course, but I thought perhaps something like that might benefit you. I could make inquiries while you’re away. Hire someone to come here?”

  “What would benefit me most would to be rid of this curse and live a normal life as an elf.” Shadows lengthened in the room and she glanced out the window. “You should go.”

  “Take this. And here’s one for Alona just in case.” Finnick set two pouches on the sideboard before he left with muttered apologies and promises to see her off in the morning.

  She didn’t acknowledge his departure. Alona went to her dressing room and Rainne followed. It was time to begin the change.

  She eyed the small bundle of leaves and took one from the stalk. Maybe Finnick was trying to poison her with the plant. If so, she’d find out soon enough. She popped the leaf into her mouth and crunched it with her back teeth. Immediately, a bitter taste covered her tongue and she almost spit it out. Remembering his warning, she continued to chew and a few moments later, a pleasant mint flavor overpowered the bitterness.

  Her vision blurred and the world tilted on its axis. Alona grabbed her elbow to steady her. Seconds passed; then the world righted itself and she saw everything with clarity. When her bones lengthened and blood thickened, it was painful still, but not the agony she’d become accustomed to.

  Instead of putting on her ogress clothing, she remained in her robe, determined not to leave her rooms for fear of what she might do. She clutched the silver vial. The prince wasn’t safe with the ogress around. Even in her rooms, far away from where he was, she could smell him. The scent wormed its way into her psyche until she was consumed by thoughts of them, together, naked.

  “Pora, stay with me tonight. If I try to leave my rooms, stab me.”

  The wily cat purred and licked his paws. He’d enjoy that—stabbing her with his rapier.

  Alona brought her dinner, and then left for the evening. Rainne wouldn’t have need of her until the morning, and if she was going to spend the night in her rooms, bored witless most likely, it was best if her maid wasn’t anywhere near. Rainne and Pora settled in for a—hopefully—quiet night. They ate and played cards. Eventually, Rainne made her way to the little library and selected a book. She squeezed herself into the corners of the chair, determined to recapture her love of reading. The book lay open on her lap and she tracked the words, not fully comprehending them.

  “Did you just yawn?” Pora had curled himself into the fold of her legs.

  “No, of course not.”

  Gods, but she was exhausted. Not just her body, but mind as well. She couldn’t remember the last time she yearned for sleep. Her glaze slid to where Alona had left the thurnbull leaves.

  “You did. You yawned. Aha! There you went again and it’s not yet half ten.” He sat up, his unusual eyes regarding her as if she were a rare specimen he’d uncovered.

  “I am tired, which is pleasantly unexpected.” She stretched and set the book on a side table. “Perhaps we should try to sleep.”

  Not since she’d been cursed had she been to bed before midnight. Usually, she trained with the sword master several hours, then walked the perimeter of the castle until she was too fatigued to carry on. But they’d done nothing this evening except play cards and talk. If Finnick had poisoned her with a slow-acting drug, at least she’d enjoy dying. The lack of pain was unexpected and welcome.

  She snuggled beneath her covers, still in her robe and nothing else, with Pora settled on a pillow by her head. His gentle purrs lulled her into a deep, dreamless sleep. When Alona woke her the next morning, she blinked against the drossfire’s soft glow, feeling at once refreshed and excited for the day. If she didn’t loathe Finnick so much, she might thank him for giving her at least one night of respite.

  Her maid laid out her traveling clothes and for a moment, Rainne’s thoughts clouded. Then she remembered the trip with Prince Theo and her heart pounded against her chest. The thurnbull sat on her dresser and she hopped out of bed, anxious to count how many leaves Finnick had given her. Twenty-four. If she took the maximum of two per night, that meant she could be gone twelve days. Did Finnick think they’d be gone so long? Six days of travel, there and back, then another six at the elven court.

  Her mouth went dry and she ran a ragged hand through her hair. What if their trip took longer? What if the thurnbull stopped working? More what-ifs crowded her thoughts, blocking reason and forming a mob of irrational anxiety. She couldn’t possibly go with the prince to Elvenwood.

  Unfortunately, she didn’t have a choice.

  8

  First light, he’d told her, but there was no sign of Lady Delarainne. Theo’s mood darkened with each passing second. What was he thinking? Yesterday, it seemed a grand idea to use Rainne as an excuse to return home, but now? Not so much. He checked the castle for movement and sighed at the darkened windows.

  Gravel crunched beneath his boots as he walked in a tight circle, spinning the ring on his finger. Simpson stood with their horses, a grim smile on his face. The fool man had warned him not to go through with the plan, but Theo had ignored him. Anything to return home, he’d argued.

  Footsteps approached and Theo turned with heightened expectation. Master Finnick strolled near and clasped Theo’s hands in his own. A bulky pouch passed between them and Theo cocked his head, eyes narrowed.

  “I would appreciate it if you could make certain Delarainne has the proper fashions for a lady of her station. I know courtiers can be cruel in their assessment of others and my stepdaughter doesn’t deserve to be ridiculed just because we live a simple life, far from court.”

  Theo knew better than most how cruel courtiers could be. He considered giving the coins back—he’d been more than prepared to see to Rainne’s clothing once they were at Elvenwood—instead he pocketed the pouch, knowing the master of Duir Castle would be insulted if the prince refused his money.

  “Consider it done. Lady Delarainne will look resplendent at court and I’m sure she’ll charm many a lord and lady with her wit and intelligence.” He glanced at the brooding castle. “Any idea when she’ll be ready?”

  “Soon.” Finnick cleared his throat and looked at the pocket watc
h. “Half past sunrise. She’ll be along any minute. Her illness, Your Highness—”

  Theo turned his attention to the man, curious what more he’d share. The previous day when he’d inquired, Finnick had shied away from giving concrete answers. If Theo were to travel with Rainne, it would do well to know of her malaise.

  “It’s beyond healers, I’m afraid. An affliction of the mind and heart, you might say.”

  “If you could be more precise, I should like to help.” Theo couldn’t sense whether Finnick was lying. In fact, the man was difficult to read. No aura, no elven scent—he was a mystery.

  “I wish I could give you more, but we aren’t sure what’s causing the illness. It just came on after her mother’s accident. We’ve tried everything.”

  The man’s demeanor prompted Theo to believe him. “Perhaps there is still a cure to be found.” He clasped Finnick’s hand in his. “Never give up hope.”

  Just then, the sound of horses came from the stables and the men turned in unison. From the corner of his eye, he caught Finnick’s flicker of sorrow before he donned a wide smile.

  “Darling, you look magnificent. Have everything you need?” Finnick reached for Rainne, who stood obediently while her stepfather kissed her cheek.

  An undercurrent of tension surrounded them. Theo knew he should look away, but the uncomfortable dynamic intrigued him.

  “I believe so. Alona is the most efficient packer I’ve ever met.” Rainne’s gaze swept to her maid and the full saddlebags.

  At least she was dressed sensibly, with sturdy cotton pants and a blouse that covered most of her cleavage. She held a dark-green cloak over her right arm.

  “You’re both riding? Won’t you prefer a carriage?” He’d thought the ladies would be fussy in their travel and slow them down. Seeing two saddled horses brightened his glum morning.

  “Have you ever ridden in a carriage, Your Highness?” Rainne pierced him with a challenging stare. “They’re horrendous.”

  “I’ll take your word for it.”

  Goodbyes were said, kisses were blown (not from him, that would be ridiculous), and smiles faded. Simpson and Rainne’s maid, Alona, if he recalled correctly, chatted amicably while he and Rainne rode in silence past the castle gates. Simpson rarely shut up and would most likely exhaust the poor woman before lunch. Theo spun through several conversation starters, but decided it would be best to leave Rainne to her thoughts.

  Her mare strutted like a parade horse through the village, her tail swishing across her dappled rump. Twice, Theo thought he saw a furry head, nearly the same soft grey as the mare, peek from beneath the flap of Rainne’s saddlebag. For near on five full minutes, he stared at the bag, daring the critter to reveal itself.

  Rainne cleared her throat and he glanced up to find her watching him, a brow raised and quiet smile on her lips. A furious blush stained his cheeks and he looked away, toward the houses that lined the street. He hated making small talk and now he was stuck with Rainne. Maybe if he kept his eyes averted, she wouldn’t expect him to converse with her.

  He studied the structures they passed, noting small details where enhancements could be made to make them sturdier or more appealing. For the most part, the village was as sound as the castle. Sturdy, constant, even if it was commonplace, the village had been there for thousands of years. He’d been surprised to find the castle had running water, and not so surprised that it didn’t have showers. Only bathtubs, but that was better than nothing.

  Some at Elvenwood thought him too fastidious. They looked at his older brother and wondered why Theo didn’t go off on adventures of his own. Hell, even Thaddeus was known to leave the palace for several weeks at a time. His parents thought their second-born traveled the kingdom, but Theo knew Thad visited a young elf maiden who lived on the other side of the great ravine, within sight of the palace.

  Sure, Thad sometimes traveled the kingdom, and sometimes he did good work for the king and queen, but most of the time, he spent his days drinking and fucking. The lass who had caught Thad’s attention this time would never be queen material, but Theo doubted she knew that. Knowing his brother, Thad had told her she would someday wear the crown.

  In a way, he was jealous of Thad’s ease with women, but he didn’t approve of the way his brother used his position to promiscuous advantage.

  They passed through the village gate and pastures opened all around them. Sheep grazed to his left, cattle to his right. The pastoral setting did nothing to calm his nerves. He slid a glance to Rainne. She was attractive enough to catch Thad’s attention, but would he try to bed her? Thaddeus was a slut—of course he would. Although, if Thad believed there was a romantic connection between Theo and Rainne, he might leave her alone. It was Theo’s job to make certain Rainne’s innocence was protected. He wouldn’t have to pretend affection for her, he genuinely did like her as a friend, but convincing Thad there was a deeper connection would take some doing on both their parts.

  Just thinking about it soured his already glum mood. He didn’t want to have to pretend to love someone. He hoped for a love like his parents had—one of respect and true affection. But with two older brothers who were much better at being princes than he was, it likely wouldn’t happen. All the eligible women who came to court flocked to Thaddeus and Therron, leaving Theo to his stars.

  With a sigh, he focused on the road ahead. If the curse played out as it had for centuries, Therron would meet a woman who captured his heart, then would die three months later. Theo couldn’t waste time with sympathy for his brother. The fae bitch who’d cursed his family was clever—only if unconditional love was returned would the curse be broken. If it had been Thaddeus who was cursed, he’d be long dead by now. But Therron wasn’t like his brother. He was cautious with his heart, which was how he managed to stay alive so long.

  “Is something the matter, Your Highness?”

  He snapped out of his reverie and shook his head. “My brothers. One’s gone missing and the other, well,” he scrunched his nose, “I’m afraid he’ll try to bed you five minutes after we arrive at the palace.”

  Rainne’s eyes widened. “Oh? Is he as handsome as you?”

  The playful tone unsettled Theo. At best, he thought she’d be offended or even mortified by his blunt statement.

  “You think me handsome?”

  Her shrug was endearing. “I could say you’re the most handsome man I’ve met, but if I’m honest, I haven’t met many men.”

  “Are you toying with me?” Away from the castle and the watchful eye of her stepfather, Lady Delarainne was delightfully beguiling.

  “What else am I to do? Riding is tiresome and monotonous, to say nothing of how my backside will feel this evening. I’ve already counted every sheep and head of cattle thrice. Forty-seven and eighty-eight, respectively, and that’s just in this pasture. If you’re curious, I could tell you how many were in the pasture we first passed.”

  “Please, spare me the agrarian details.” He flashed a genuine smile full of playful pleading. At least he hoped it looked like that to her. For all he knew, he might’ve appeared to have a seizure. From the way she laughed, he surmised he didn’t look a complete fool. He glanced at the two riders behind them. “Your maid is very nearly as pretty as you. I’m afraid Thaddeus might try to bed her as well.”

  “Do you hear that, Alona? Prince Thaddeus might find you comely enough to bed.”

  “I should be honored, my lady.” A sparkle lit the maid’s eyes and Theo glanced from her back to Rainne.

  “She wouldn’t? Would she?”

  “And why not? If your brother is handsome enough, it’s only fair Alona should have some pleasure as well.”

  He sat into his saddle, contemplating her words. Perhaps she wasn’t as innocent as he’d assumed. Well, he’d warned them. Whatever mischief they got up to with his brother was their doing, not his. Still, the idea that Rainne might be interested in Thad disturbed him deeply.

  “Tell me about the muses.” He didn
’t want to discuss his brothers or who might bed whom, especially if he wasn’t the one doing the bedding.

  Rainne’s eyes narrowed and he suspected she knew his reason for changing the subject.

  “Of course, my lord.” She inclined her head just so, but he saw the smirk lifting her lips.

  Something in that small movement triggered a memory of the mystery lass from the forest. The smirk, the sass behind her tone—whatever it was ramped his heartrate to a gallop.

  “The muses, as I said, were the daughters of the First Goddess.” Rainne began her tale and he struggled to focus on the words. She spoke with authority, her voice low, yet commanding.

  Gods, but his mind wouldn’t rest. The attack with the wolves played out in his thoughts, taking him back to the forest and that kiss. His fingers smoothed the bandage at his neck. The only pain was when he swallowed. Or talked. Or tried to turn his head too far in either direction. Who was he kidding? A constant throbbing disturbed his days. He patted his pocket where he kept the ointment the healer had given him. She’d infused some sort of pain reliever into the sticky mess, but he’d have to unravel the cloth to apply more.

  “My lord?” Rainne rode close enough to reach a hand to his forearm. “Are you in pain?”

  Theo straightened and pulled his thoughts to the moment. “Tis nothing.”

  He’d been incredibly rude to ignore the tale he had asked her to tell. He wouldn’t bother her with whining about a flesh wound.

  She eyed him suspiciously. “Did Egritte give you anything for the pain?”

  “Some salve.”

  Rainne glanced behind them, where the sun had already crested the treetops. “Let’s stop here. Just for a few minutes to rest the horses, then we’ll be off again.”

  Theo protested, but she ignored him and dismounted her mare. Simpson looked to him for instruction and he shrugged. They could all use a break. Theo slid from the saddle and stretched his back.

  Simpson and Rainne’s maid held the horses while her lady rooted around in one of the saddlebags. She withdrew a small teapot and a cotton pouch.