After lifting my head and squaring my shoulders—deep breath in, out—I did the smartest, dumbest thing of my life and stepped outside, walking past the avian as if I hadn’t a care.
Night hadn’t yet fallen. The glass I’d thrown littered the ground and crunched underneath the threadbare soles of my slippers. All other debris had been cleared away, however.
Trio soared over and landed in front of me, as I’d expected. He blocked my path and drew his sword, his teeth bared. “I hoped you would mount an escape. We have orders to stop you.”
Figured. My heart galloped. Faster, harder. Too hard, too fast. Deep breath in. Out. Forcing an airy laugh, I waved a dismissive hand. “Escape? You silly rabbit.” Rabbit—a grave insult to the avian, who believe rabbits to be the weakest of all the land’s creatures. “As if I’d leave my darling Saxon. We’ve decided to work on our relationship.” All true. In a way. Kind of. “He’s requested a clean tent, yet here you stand, doing nothing. It’s shameful. Have you so little respect for your future king?”
His cheeks speckled with anger. He took a step toward me, then ground to a halt. He couldn’t touch me, one way or the other, I realized. Also, he hadn’t denied anything I’d said. For all he knew, I was Saxon’s soon-to-be beloved queen, my word law.
I almost grinned at the thought of wielding such power over him. “I’ve done enough of your work, haven’t I?” I glanced over my shoulder at each of the other avian to make it clear I addressed them all. “Get in there, and get busy.” I turned and marched back into the tent.
Had my confidence sold my claims? I held my breath, waiting, one second...two...three...
The avian filed into the tent, one after the other, and I released a silent squeal of happiness. Ashleigh: 1. Saxon: 0.
The guards got busy, hauling out the rest of the debris in record time. I watched from the pallet of furs and issued instructions like a spoiled royal princess who believed she had every right and deserved every luxury. Broken furniture got fixed. Plants got righted and repotted. Mud was washed away.
“You’ve done an adequate job,” I said when they finished. “Now get out and think about how you almost failed your leader and his treasured liaison today.” I shooed everyone away. The more distance between us, the better. The faster the better.
To my surprise, they obeyed once again. Of course, Trio lingered in the doorway, his narrowed gaze leveled on me.
“If you lied about Saxon’s wishes, you’ll—”
“Regret it, I know.” I rolled my eyes to mask my internal shudder. “Trust me, that threat never gets old.”
He stomped out, muttering under his breath. Didn’t like when the predator became prey, huh? As the flap swished closed behind him, I fell back onto the furs. I’d done it. I’d gotten the tent cleaned in record time, without taking a single stone to the face.
Three more tasks like this, Saxon? How hard can they be?
When would he return? I couldn’t wait to see his expression.
As one minute bled into another, I forgot all about the avian, savoring my victory...reveling in the softness of the furs...mmm. My eyelids grew heavy and slowly slid shut. I should stand... I should...sleeeep.
* * *
Angry voices drifted into the tent, yanking me from a dark void and into light. One of those voices belonged to Saxon. Memories of our newest fight flooded me, and I gasped, jolting upright. I braced for impact.
The avian prince strode past the tent flap, the master of all he surveyed. The sight of him... What remained of my fatigue vanished in a flash. Awareness of him overtook me. My blood heated, and my limbs trembled as if...
No. No, no, no. I couldn’t be attracted to him. Not him. Anyone but the boy who sought my misery.
Fury pulsed from him as he scanned the sparkling clean tent. Uh-oh. Had the soldiers already tattled?
“Just like she would have done,” he spat.
She? “Before you complain,” I rushed out, only to rethink my words. “Don’t you dare complain. You told me the tent had to be cleaned before sunset, not that I had to be the one to clean it. I adhered to your rules and met your expected end. One round of restitution has been achieved.”
The fury intensified. “You’re right. My mistake.”
Such a rumbly voice. One side of me shivered, the other shuddered. Both sides of me had heard his unspoken vow: A mistake