Page 38 of Truth's Blade

“Yes. That is why I brought you along. This is just a very nice benefit.”

Before she could ask him what was a very nice benefit, he pulled her even closer and kissed her cheek.

“What was that for?” she whispered, just as he had asked her when she had kissed his.

“For your great magic detecting abilities.” He kissed her other cheek, in the Cervantes way, and then gently brushed his lips over her mouth.

She had been cloistered away, blocked from socializing, and given too much work. But she had seen the Cervantes and Kassian travelers as well as their military. They were respectful but confident with the people they were attracted to and had a healthy respect for boundaries.

Theo had the same feel about him. A deep sense of self, of his value.

She envied him.

She felt her cheeks heat until she wondered they didn’t light the air around them.

“What is it?” he asked her, not letting go, but easing back and loosening his hold, so she could pull away if she wanted to.

She did not.

She forced her gaze upward. “Nothing.”

“Good. Any time you want to stop, just say.” He kissed her again, and then she was pushed forward, as her horse butted her back with its forehead.

Theo caught her, swinging her to the side and holding her around her shoulders and waist.

She looked up at him, wide-eyed.

He held her as if she was light as air.

If he had dropped her at that moment, it would have been fitting, because she felt as if she fell.

Instead, he lifted her easily back on her feet. “I think your horse wants its dinner.”

She turned away. “So do I.”

He took the reins from her and ran a large, calloused hand down her back. “I haven’t looked after you very well. But I’ll make it up to you.”

She hoped he couldn’t see the flush on her cheeks as she strode ahead, because even cloistered, her mind had gone places when he said that.

She was looking forward to how he intended to fulfill his promise.

CHAPTER 16

The others were gone.

Theo crouched beside the little fire pit he’d built before walking down the hill to fetch Melodie, and touched the stones.

Still warm.

For a moment, he wondered if the others had, under the grip of befuddlement, continued on to Warven. Given the heat in the stones, they were here as recently as an hour ago.

Melodie stood beside him, looking over the scene, and then walked past him to the stream. She came back with two horses, his own and Caro’s.

“They were loose. I don’t think he could take all of them, or maybe he already has too many, so he left these two free to go their own way. He probably hopes someone will find them and think themselves lucky.”

“You think he took the team?” Theo had thought things would be difficult, but he had not suspected he would be bested before they even arrived in Warven.

“Yes.” Melodie patted a horse’s neck. “Maybe he checks here regularly, to see who has been caught in his confusion trap.”

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