called out, frustrated, dropping my hand from Tarek’s chest. It felt odd to suddenly not be touching him, and I frowned at the feeling.
Kellin appeared and threw a look between the two of us. A sour expression stretched across his face over Tarek’s nearness to me. I hastily stepped away from him. He didn’t seemed bothered in the slightest at the intrusion. I wanted to burn the answer out of him, even though my heart was fluttering like mad at the idea of touching him again. Instead of Tarek giving me answers, he only left me with more questions.
“Do you have a weapon picked out?” Kellin asked, glancing at Tarek.
“Yes.” I held up the sword and showed it to him.
He took it from me, held it, and then gave it a few swings.
“It’s nice. It suits you,” Kellin said. “We’re leaving. We need to saddle up.”
“I can’t ride a horse,” I yelped fearfully. “At least not alone.”
“You won’t have to. You can ride with me.”
“I hate to cut in, but you’re front lines, Prince. Don’t you think it best if our princess is kept out of the fray should it occur?”
Kellin ground his teeth irritably.
“What’s your suggestion, Captain?”
“The princess can ride with me. I’ll keep her away from the front, so she remains safe. She’ll have the protection of our surrounding troops. I’m sure Prince Soran would agree with me.”
“Fine,” Kellin breathed, his nostrils flaring. “But you’ll still remain nearby. You know how important she is, Tarek. To everyone.”
“I know exactly how important she is,” he murmured, peeking over at me.
I nodded, not wanting to stand around and watch them any longer. “I’m ready to go with whoever. We should leave. I’m sure Soran is getting antsy.”
Kellin guided me outside, his hand on the small of my back. I had to practically run to keep up with him. I let out a gasp when he stopped and turned abruptly on me.
“Ana, if you need me, tell me. I don’t like the idea of you riding with Tarek, but he’s right. You being up front is dangerous. If you feel anything odd, if you have a vision, anything, I need to know immediately, OK?”
“Of course.” I nodded at him.
“Come here.” He pulled me into a tight embrace and fiercely planted his lips on mine. “I’ll be nearby. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Kellin, you act like I’m going to die by going with you guys. I’ll be fine,” I said, hoping I sounded confident. “I am the Oracle, after all.”
“You’re not a completely trained Oracle.” He sighed. “But you’re an Oracle nonetheless.”
“Who is Cyrena?” I asked suddenly, the name tumbling from my lips. A flash of her face hit me strongly in my mind—long, dark hair, hazel eyes, full lips. The force of the image caused me to reach out and steady myself.
“Ana—”
“Kellin, I want to know. Please. I saw how you reacted back there. Who is she?” I quickly righted myself, shaking her image out of my head.
“She’s a duchess of Marriot. We were betrothed.”
“What?” Shock thundered through me.
“It was long ago, Ana. It doesn’t matter now,” he said, his voice pained. “Remember what I said about none of it mattering? That it was in the past? I meant it. We need to leave. Soran is probably going to send a search party for us.”
I followed him back to the large group of soldiers, frowning. I wasn’t sure why I was upset at the news. Maybe because he hadn’t told me about his ex-fiancée. Maybe because I’d asked him specifically about his exes, and he’d skittered around the answer, giving me the vague ‘it doesn’t matter’ speech. He’d been engaged before me. I didn’t know if he loved her, but the fact still remained. He knew about Calix, and I was pretty sure that was a huge deal, considering who Calix was. This had to be what Tarek was referring to. This was what all his words had meant when we’d spoken. He’d said I didn’t really belong to Kellin. There was more to this story, I just knew it.
The men began mounting their horses, and I just stood there awkwardly, lost in thought, my lips turned down into a pout.
“Come, Princess,” Tarek commanded, holding his hand out to me.
I glanced at Kellin who wasn’t paying attention to me any longer because he was engaged in conversation with Rowan and Soran. I took Tarek’s hand, and he lifted me with ease onto the front of his horse.
“Trouble in paradise?”