Page 114 of Shadows and Roses

Her captain caught up quickly, his frown only increasing her amusement. She asked lightly, "How are you and Madeline?"

His frown disappeared. "Good. Hm. Do you, ah, have any ideas what she’d like for her birthday?"

She was never going to get used to this side of him. "Her favorite sunhat is looking a bit worn."

His response was a stiff nod.

"I assume you’re using contraceptives, of course," she said in a cool tone. "Maddy’s always told me that she doesn’t want children."

He froze, his eyes widening.

Oh, that look was almost enough to make her laugh. Her tone softened, "I’m sorry, Jerome, I’m just teasing you. Do ignore my nonsense. You both look happy together."

His face gradually smoothed, leaving only a faint hint of alarm. He looked like he was struggling to say something, but the hunting party caught up with them, and he finally settled on his usualresponse. "My Queen."

Poor lovesick man.

As they entered the treeline, her guards drew tighter around her on the trail. Damon squeezed his way to her side. Jerome tossed him a disapproving glance before returning his vigil to the woods. It was fortunate that she didn't need to ask Jerome forhisblessing, or she'd still be a virgin.

Damon settled next to her as she chuckled softly at that thought.

"Is Jerome being amusing? I didn't know he was capable."

The captain ignored him.

Anais swept out her hand in a lazy swat that the rebel easily dodged. "Just enjoying the forest. You were right; the air here is much better than in the palace."

They slowed to a walk along the trail. "Pleased to be of service. Do your nobles not enjoy hunting?"

"They do. In their own way."

"Ah. Then I hope you'll appreciate a real hunt. We poor peasants don’t have the luxury of hunting for entertainment."

She understood better than he knew. Her mother had tossed her into the woods once. Not these—somewhere further, wilder. Anais was told to survive and find her way back to court with only a knife. Her mother had said the forest beasts were kinder than the court.

"I shall appreciate if it’s nothing at all like what they do," she said.

"Easy expectations to meet." His voice rose. "Let’s show a Queen what a real hunt looks like!"

The rebels burst out in a brief round of laughter and cheering, then quickly silenced. They began to dismount. "First, if we haven’t frightened off all the creatures, we’ll have to find them. Quietly," Damon said.

She trailed behind Damon as the others spread out into the trees. Stepping where he stepped became a strange mix of careful, tense movements amidst the calm chattering of birdsand squirrels. After an hour of wandering through the undergrowth, Damon turned toward the hoot of an owl. Two more soft calls and he began moving in that direction. A different sound made him pause, then crouch, gesturing for her to do the same. He put an arrow into his crossbow. Jerome palmed a knife.

They didn’t wait for long. A boar trotted into sight, looking around before lowering its head to sniff at the ground. An arrow thudded into the dirt at the boar’s feet. It squealed and began stomping. Damon cursed and shot, hitting it in the flank. A few more arrows pierced the creature, but it only grew angrier. And it had noticed them.

Jerome moved in front of her as Damon drew his sword.

Finally, a spear pierced the boar’s neck and it toppled over.

"Hah! Well done!" Damon shouted. Hoots and cheers erupted from the forest. He grinned at her. "That was an easy one! This gouge in my leg—" he began.

"Was from a fish hook!" someone interrupted, laughing.

He scowled into the trees. "No one asked you, Jerrl!" Then he shrugged and chuckled.

They went to work on the boar, quickly skinning it and building a fire nearby. Two of the rebels carried off the boar. The beast would take too long to roast out here, but they’d brought provisions for an outing.

"Relax, my lady," Damon said above the crackling of the fire. "Find something Queenly to do. We'll let you know when the food’s warmed."

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