it up in Saulette before we left for the forest.”
Braith’s expression smooths. “Good. That’s good. Is it copper?”
I shake my head. “Shockingly, there wasn’t a single copper blade in the shop.”
Braith chuckles, and then he heads to the paddock to tend his horse. “Best head inside and get yourself ready to leave. Rhys seems anxious to get on the road.”
Just the mention of the knight’s name makes me want to snarl.
I walk into the house, ignoring the chaos in the dining room, and grasp my skirt as I walk up the stairs. Unfortunately, I meet Rhys on his way down.
We pause, staring at each other. It looks like he wants to say something, but he stays silent. I pull my gaze down and continue up. Before I can pass him, he stops me with the gentle press of his hand to the small of my back.
“Amalia,” he says, sighing.
“What?”
“You’re upset.”
I square my shoulders, stepping away from his touch. “Why would I be?”
He holds up a hand, acting as if he has no idea. But I can tell from his eyes, he knows. He just doesn’t want to talk about it.
Lowering my voice to a heated whisper, I say, “It’s not because you want to keep our marriage a secret from the world. And certainly not because we were married and you didn’t even kiss me!”
He narrows his eyes, studying me.
“Never mind,” I tell him. “I have to get ready to go.”
But instead of continuing down, he follows me up.
“What are you—” I say, turning as I enter my room.
He cuts off my words by placing his hands on my hips, propelling me inside. He then nudges the door shut with his boot and swirls me around, pressing me against it.
“Rhys!” I exclaim at a breathless whisper, startled by the close proximity. “Let go of me.”
Which actually means, Kiss me senseless.
Unfortunately, Rhys misses the finer meaning of the words, and he releases me. He doesn’t, however, shift away.
“I don’t want to fight, Amalia,” he says, his tone low. “Please.”
“Why can’t we tell your men, Rhys?”
A shadow flashes over his face, and he straightens, taking a step back. “They’re loyal to the royal family. If they knew what I did…”
“What you did?” I let out a frustrated laugh. “We both had a part in it. What right do they have to be upset if their princess made the decision freely? Am I not of age? Am I not on the Requeamare to find a husband?”
“I need you to—”
“Trust you. I know.”
Rhys’s hand finds my arm, and he runs it up and down, over and over. The move is likely more affectionate than he realizes.
No one has ever touched me like Rhys.
“Please, Amalia,” he says softly. “For now, let’s just get into Draegan, find your brother, and then sort through the rest when we’re back. Braeton must be our focus, or we will fail.”
And that’s all he must say to make the fight leave me completely. “You’re right.”
His face softens with relief, but he stays silent.
“I’ll get ready to go.” I step around him, away from the door.
Rhys bows his head and then slips from the room. When I’m alone, I let out a long, slow breath, wondering how my dull life got so complicated. I went from being a princess, to a queen-to-be, back to a princess, and then to a married woman in less than a blink of an eye.
But for now, Rhys is right. Braeton must be my priority. When I think of how much he must be suffering, it makes me ill.
I gather my few things from the wardrobe, shove them into my two small packs, and leave the room.
I glance back before I walk down the hall, realizing that when I see the room next, I’ll have endured the nightmares of Draegan and lived through them.
19
Kent studies me, holding a sealed note in one hand and Ember’s leash in the other. “I think I should fetch Gage…”
“No,” I tell the doctor. “Just deliver my message.”
He glances down at the dog. “And give him Ember as well…?”
“Yes.”
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” Before I can answer, he says, “Where are you going that you don’t wish to take your guardian or your dog?”
I glance around, making sure we’re alone, and then I step in and lower my voice. “The woman who gave us the cure you’ve been using also told us the Draeganish royal family has kidnapped Braeton. He’s not dead. We’re going to rescue him.”
Kent stares at me. “You’re going