Page 143 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

Facing forward again, she nodded.

But as Loche urged the horse forward and a low laugh rang under his hood as the stallion’s heavy steps launched into a gallop even before they burst out of the open stable doors, she couldn’t help but think he also enjoyed this.

Shouts sounded around them, mingling with Reks’s hooves crunching the snow, and she kept her face down, fingers tangling in Reks’s long mane to hold steady as he increased his speed.

The gates—as Loche promised—were open, but her stomach surged when the guards called for horses.

As Lessia tried to turn around, Loche’s arms held her in place.

“I hid the saddles and reins.” He laughed, unconcerned, as they passed a few more guards stationed outside the castle walls.

Reks’s gait increased further, and Loche steered him toward the woods, the sound of the guards fading with each stride.

When the sound vanished completely and only the wind and crackling snow whistled around them, Reks slowed butstill kept a steady gallop, each step keeping to a narrow path, far away from the cliffs to their left.

Lessia released a breath, her eyes following the white puff, and allowed herself to lean into Loche’s warm chest. Even with the layers of clothing between them, the heat from his body cloaked her, and electricity pulsed through her when Loche’s breathing deepened.

They rode quietly beside the forest for a while, but as Loche steered the horse onto another path, even slimmer than the previous, she stiffened.

Loche had left the lantern in the stable, and until now, the light from the town had illuminated their path, but the direction in which Reks now set off was entirely cast in shadows.

Loche rested his chin on her shoulder as he pulled on the reins until the stallion came to a full stop.

“I have something for you.”

He gently pulled off her hood, and as she turned her head over her shoulder, a gasp left her.

Loche smiled as he weighed the sparkling stone in his hand.

Luminous, silvery light burst out of the hand-sized rock, casting a glow that radiated like millions of tiny diamonds, brightening the snow beneath them in a wide circle.

“What is this?” she whispered as he offered it to her.

When she didn’t immediately take it, Loche’s hand gripped hers, gently opening her palm and placing the rock in it.

As her fingers wrapped around it, she realized it was warm, as if the glow somehow not only shone like the sun but also provided the same warmth as a beautiful spring day.

His mouth lifted in a one-sided smile. “I found it in the regents’ vault. Apparently, not all treasures were distributed amongst the people. I gave away everything else, butsomehow I couldn’t make myself get rid of this. Now, I’m glad I didn’t.”

She stared at the stone in her hand, extending it toward him. “I can’t take this. It belongs to Ellow.”

Loche’s large hand wrapped around hers, closing her fingers over it. “It belongs to the Fae. I don’t know how it ended up here, but that is no stone of Ellow. From what I’ve understood, King Rioner has enough riches for a million lifetimes. You, on the other hand, need something bright to light up the darkness.”

Swallowing, she traced the smooth rock with her fingers.

She’d never seen anything like it.

But she hadn’t seen much of Vastala either. Being hidden away in her youth and then living in squalor on the streets didn’t allow her much insight into whatever treasures the Fae kept.

When Loche wouldn’t budge, she sighed, promising herself she’d give it back once they returned.

But for now…

She held on to the stone the entire ride through the woods, not once losing her breath within the thick darkness.

Chapter

Fifty-Nine

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