Page 43 of Married By Treachery

Jake’s eyes shone with delight. “Very.”

Raquel inhaled deeply, trying very hard not to be knocked off course by the intensity in his gaze. What was the rest of his riddle? Something about claiming a mortal heart and a road to salvation…

“The heir must claim a mortal heart…” Raquel continued, then stopped. “That is your reason. You need to claim my affection to save your kingdom.”

His amber eyes danced. “Bravo, my bride, so tell me: Are you in love with me yet?”

His words were easy, but his posture was not, and every single person in that camp sat utterly still.

Raquel felt a prick of unease. “I don’t think you’re telling me everything.”

“No?” The word challenged. “Why else do you think I intervened? You’ve seen what my brother looks like. Who could possibly fall forthat? He’s already failed to claim the hearts of the six mortal brides before you.”

Raquel stared at him, unable to shake the feeling that she was missing something extremely important, which was compounded by the uneasy expressions all around them.

Jake shoved himself to a seated position and leaned in close. His eyes were like two embers. “Edom has failed us. Look around you. My kingdom will not survive another seven years of this curse. They know this; that is why they have come.” He gestured at the others. “Each time Edom fails, we fall deeper into depravity. More of us are lost.”

“The Depraved,” she whispered.

The pervasive silence was answer enough.

Almighty in heaven. And he had said tens ofthousands.

“You say you must claim my heart,” Raquel continued after a moment. “And what else?”

Jake’s smile was slow and brilliant, and then he took her hand and brought it to his lips. “Tell me you do not wish to give it.”

Raquel suddenly found it difficult to focus. Especially with his thumb strumming her knuckles as they were. “You did not answer my last question.”

“If you’ll recall, I’ve answered none of your questions.Youdid.” He kissed the back of her hand, but he did not pull away. His lips lingered there, spreading warmth through her chest and all the way to her feet, his eyes fixed on her. “It is late, my bride,” he said at last, releasing her hand. “And we’ve another long day of travel ahead of us. I should let you rest.”

“But I’m not…”

Jake lay upon the blanket, on his side, his back to her.

For a moment, Raquel simply sat there utterly confused as she stared at his profile, at the long lines and rounded muscle. She glanced over her shoulder and caught Rian’s gaze, but he turned away and lay down. The others slowly did the same, the camp settling in for the night, though Sienne sat watch by a small fire, studying her.

She did not look happy.

Raquel turned back to Jake, who lay completely still, his chest rising and falling with sleep.

How was it possible that he’d fallen asleep already?

She realized she was staring at him again, and she grumbled at herself as she lay down, her back to his, careful not to make any physical contact. And yet she felt him there, his space touching all of hers. She stared up at the mist, thinking on all Jake had said and all he had not.

Wondering if it was really so terrible to let the heir of the forest claim her heart after all.

Jake waiteduntil her breathing was even, until their camp had fallen quiet, and then he glanced back.

Sienne’s fire had dimmed, morphing their camp into a canvas of silhouettes. He could just see Banon seated by the fire, whittling something with his knife. A cry echoed through the forest, but it was too distant to be of any concern. So far, everything seemed to be going according to plan.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true. He’d never planned to have his coat ruined.

Jake looked at Raquel.

She had turned toward him in her sleep. Her features were relaxed, and her dark lashes fluttered with dreams.

Jake remembered his own.

---