The Beauty of Darkness - Mary E. Pearson Page 0,19

and we both spun toward the sound.

Tavish emerged from the forest, leading two horses behind him. “Well, well, well,” he crowed. “You were right. Look what we found.”

The others followed behind him, and when Sven and his horse moved aside, I gasped.

By the gods. It couldn’t be.

I hobbled forward, but Rafe stretched his hand out to stop me.

Orrin and Jeb had their bows drawn, arrows aimed with razor-sharp concentration at Kaden’s and Griz’s hearts as they walked them into our camp. It was as if they didn’t trust a sword to bring down Griz and a safe distance was their best strategy. Sven had already relieved them of their weapons.

Rafe approached them, eyeing Kaden. Kaden returned his frigid stare. My breath froze in my chest. Nothing had changed between them. Their gazes were heavy with threat, though Kaden was in no position to threaten anyone.

“So we meet again, Prince Jaxon.”

“So we do,” Rafe replied, his voice as brittle as the air. “But it looks as if you’ve traveled a long way for nothing. Stupid sot.”

Kaden’s nostrils flared. He hadn’t missed the irony of his own long-ago words being thrown back into his face.

“What should we do with them?” Tavish asked.

Rafe stared at Kaden for what seemed an eternity, then shrugged as if it was of little matter. “Kill them,” he said.

I jumped forward grabbing his arm. “Rafe! You can’t kill them!”

“What am I supposed to do, Lia? Take them prisoner? Look at the size of that one!” he said, pointing at Griz. “I don’t even have enough rope to go around him.”

“There’s rope in their gear,” I countered, waving my hand at a coil hanging from the back of Griz’s horse.

“And then what? Tie them up so they can wait for the opportunity to slit all our throats and take you back to Venda again? What do you think they’re here for? Just to say hello?”

Kaden stepped forward, and both Orrin and Jeb yelled at him to hold his position, pulling their bows taut with threat. He stopped. “We don’t want to take her back,” he said. “We’re only here to escort and protect her. A squad of Rahtan and First Guard are charged with hunting her down. They could be here any time.”

Rafe laughed. “You, escort and protect her? Do you take me for a fool?”

A smile lit Kaden’s eyes. “That’s beside the point, isn’t it? What’s more important, your pride or Lia’s life?”

“And that’s why you were stalking us? To protect her?”

“We were watching for the Vendan riders, hoping to intercept them before they reached her.”

“And yet, the only Vendan riders I see are you.”

I didn’t blame Rafe for balking at Kaden’s claim. I questioned his motivations as well. Escort me? When he had claimed that I belonged in Venda with him? When he had assured me at every turn that there was no way for me to escape? There clearly had been. He had found another way across the river. My distrust simmered.

I limped forward, sidestepping Rafe’s efforts to stop me. I kept a safe distance but looked sternly at Griz. “Put your hands behind your back. Now.”

He eyed me uncertainly, but then slowly did as I instructed. “Good,” I said. “Now, after they tie you up, you must give me your word you won’t try to escape, and if Kaden should try, you must promise that you’ll strike him down.”

“How would I do that with my hands tied?” he asked.

“I don’t care how you do it. Fall on him. That should stop him. Do I have your word?”

He nodded.

Rafe grabbed my arm and began to drag me away. “Lia, we’re not going to—”

I twisted my arm free. “Rafe! We are not going to kill them!” I looked accusingly back at Kaden. “Yet,” I added. I ordered him to put his hands behind his back too. He didn’t move, only stared, his eyes drilling into me, trying to thrust guilt back on me for deceiving him. “I’m not going to ask you a second time, Kaden. Do it.”

He slowly put his hands behind his back too. “You’re making a mistake,” he said. “You’re going to need me.”

“Tie them up,” I said to Tavish and Sven. Neither one moved, deferring instead to Rafe for an answer.

Rafe’s jaw was rigid with anger.

“Rafe,” I whispered between gritted teeth.

He relented and signaled to Sven and Tavish, then pulled me over behind the horses, his fury mounting. “What’s the matter with you? Griz’s word is worth nothing, and Kaden’s even less. How