Page 47 of Given

He came to me and rested a hand on the railing. “I apologize for the way we parted the last time we spoke.”

My heart skipped a beat. “There’s nothing to apologize for. It was my fault.”

“You were merely repeating what you heard.” He lifted a shoulder. “And the stories are mostly true. My reaction was based on things from the past, not anything you said. No one would dare speak to me that way, but Varick has endured his share of taunts. I can be overly protective of him at times.”

There was something touching about that. Almost sweet. It was hard to imagine Varick needing protection, but maybe Laurent knew a softer side of him. What were they like together when they were alone? Did they…love each other? They must. No wonder Varick had grown so angry when I claimed I wasn’t a threat.

Memories of my illicit dreams filtered through my mind. I lowered my head so Laurent wouldn’t see the guilt in my eyes.

“I’ve neglected you,” he said. “My duties kept me preoccupied these past few days. I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

The endearment stroked over my skin, leaving heat in its wake. No one had ever called me that before. “It’s all right. I know you’re busy.”

“Let me make it up to you. Ride with me today.”

“Like…leave the palace?”

“Yes, just the two of us.”

I hesitated. After everything that had happened, maybe that wasn’t the best idea. “Lord Varick—”

“Is training his men.” He caught my chin on his finger. “And anyway, Princess, I wasn’t asking. There are riding clothes on your bed. I’ll fetch you in ten minutes.”

* * *

Ten minutes later, I held Laurent’s hand as he guided me through a series of tunnels. The only source of light was a torch he held in his free hand. We were deep underground. Water trickled down the rough stone walls, and we had to duck to keep our heads from scraping the ceiling. We both wore dark cloaks that covered our clothes and kept out the damp.

“Where are we going?” I whispered. Even so, my voice echoed.

His expression was mischievous in the torchlight as he glanced back at me. “You’ll see.”

Apprehension tightened my stomach. I trusted him, but the tunnels were so cramped…and obviously very old. What if the ceiling caved in? We’d be buried.

“Are you taking me to your dungeon?”

His soft laugh bounced off the walls. “I don’t have one, sweetheart.” He glanced back at me with a raised brow. “In Nor Doru, we throw criminals in the Rift.”

“Right,” I said weakly. That didn’t make me feel better. The story of his father tossing his enemies into the chasm rose in my mind. Laurent had been king for a long time. There were no reports of him being bloodthirsty or unstable. Still, the Nor Doruvian method of execution never failed to make my stomach churn.

Just as my worries threatened to spiral into full-blown panic, daylight punctured the inky blackness. A moment later, he pulled me into an open field. Two horses stood a short distance away, both saddled and grazing on clumps of grass.

For a moment, I was completely disoriented. Then I realized we stood outside Lar Katerin. The city wall rose thick and high above us. Beyond it, the obsidian towers of the Midnight Palace pierced the sky.

“It’s an escape tunnel,” Laurent said, gesturing to the wooden door we’d just come through. “In case the palace is ever under siege.” He led the horses over and unhobbled them. “I assume you’re a competent rider.”

“Yes. Do I get to know where we’re going?”

He winked. “Let me be mysterious a little bit longer.”

I tried to frown but my smile broke through. After a week of thinking he never wanted to see me again, I had his undivided attention. I wasn’t going to think too hard about why that pleased me so much.

He helped me mount, then vaulted into his own saddle and adjusted his sword. “Ready?” he asked with challenge sparking in his eyes.

I gripped my reins. “I think so?”

With a grin, he reached over and slapped my horse’s rump. The beast lurched forward, and we were off, racing away from the city and over the sun-speckled field with our cloaks streaming behind us.

It was exhilarating, riding in the daytime without worrying about protecting my skin. I didn’t need gloves or a hood. The Deepnight blocked the harsh rays of the sun and made the whole world sparkle. For the first time in my life, I galloped with my hair loose and wind whistling past my ears. Laurent’s horse was bigger and undoubtedly faster, but he held the beast in check, and we sprinted together. He was darkly handsome in black leather, his silver eyes twinkling with the same mischief he’d displayed in the tunnels. Wherever he was taking me, it was clear he expected me to enjoy our final destination.

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