Page 32 of Married By Treachery

Those words.Love. Such a ludicrous notion. A weakness of mortals.

He saw his dream self cling to the child, tuck her under his chin, and hold her close. This precious treasure, so vibrant, just like her mother, and Jake felt suddenly…envious.

He dragged a hand over his face, as if he might wipe away these new and strange and very unwanted sensations, and then slid out of bed. Fates, what was wrong with him? He was supposed to be claimingheraffections, not the other way around. Perhaps he’d had too much wine. His mother was always accusing him of drinking too much.

Remembering his mother sobered him at once. Edom was most certainly on the move by now, but Jake could not return to the palace before his coat was repaired.

Jake dressed quickly, trying to shake his dream. Trying to ignore the persistent ache in his chest. He looked for his coat, but then suddenly recalled he’d left it in his bedchamber, where his belov—wherethe mortalslept.

Jake threw open his door and crossed the hall. He didn’t bother knocking this time. He waved his hand then pushed through the door.

Where he stopped in his tracks.

The room was empty, her corset and heavy skirts gone. Obviously she’d dressed, though he did wonder how she’d managed the corset since he’d cut the ties.

Jake looked over the bed, which Raquel had taken the time to make. She’d even draped the nightdress over it, refolded the extra blankets, and neatly stacked them at the end of the bed. In fact, it almost looked as though no one had slept here, except for the presence of his coat, which she’d also folded and set upon his chair.

Jake laughed despite himself. Only Raquel would take the time to tidy up her prison before escaping it.

However.

Jake crossed to the window, where the draperies had been opened and the latch had been unlocked, and he peered outside. Dawn brightened the mist, and Jake spotted a couple of figures walking below. Neither of them was Raquel. His gaze cut to the gate.

Which hung open a crack.

Jake cursed, then sprinted from the room, bolted down the stairs, and pushed into the cold morning air. Someone called his name, but Jake didn’t turn, didn’t stop.

Certainly, she wasn’t that foolish. He’d thought she’d learned her lesson.

Someone called his name again as he slipped through the gate and into the mist, where he knelt and touched the soil, searching for any signs of—

“What in the hell, Jake?” Rian startled him.

“She’s gone,” Jake said, standing so suddenly Rian had to step back to avoid being knocked over.

“What are you talking about?” Rian asked.

Jake grabbed Rian’s shoulders and held them firmly. “She escaped through my window.”

Rian’s expression opened with understanding, and then his attention cut to the swirling mist. “I haven’t seen anyone near the gate.”

“Well, it’s open,” Jake snarled. “Who the hell was on watch?”

Rian blinked and looked back at him. “Ah… that’d be Norro, but—”

Jake released Rian, ran back through the gate, and sprinted for the stables.

Where he skidded to halt.

Raquel was there, her hair loosely pulled back in a plait, and she was dressed in her skirts and that blasted corset she’d mended with an assortment of ribbon and string. Resourceful little thing. She carried a bucket full of water, which she poured into a trough, then set the bucket down and pushed the hair back from her flushed face.

Jake’s chest ached anew.

“Is that better?” she asked Vizzi, Jake’s stallion. The horse’s ears flickered as he snorted and nudged into her. “I know,” she cooed, patting his nose. “I know. Now, let me see if I can find something for you to eat around here…”

Jake ducked back, secretly peering at her around the last stable. Rian was running up to him, but Jake raised a hand, and Rian stopped, curious but obedient. Jake looked back to see Raquel searching the stables while her skirts dragged upon the dirt, though she didn’t seem to notice or care.

That ache in Jake’s chest intensified.

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