Page 52 of King's Warrior

“We understood from the beginning that our relationship had a time limit.” Rufe knew, but let his big, dumb heart deny the truth anyway and tuck Niam deep inside.

Several tranquil moments ensued before Niam spoke again, softly murmuring, “I don’t want this change. With you, I don’t have to be King Niam of Delletina, one in a long line of monarchs who mark the family tree with notable political unions, except for Father, who’d married for love. And while my queen consort and I didn’t hate each other, we were ill-suited, and she’d already given her heart to another. I don’t want another passionless relationship built on expediency.”

“What do you want?” Rufe’s heart hammered. While he couldn’t have Niam himself, he still wanted the man happy, though Niam finding happiness with another might strike a killing blow to Rufe’s heart.

“I want you.” Niam kissed Rufe, a kiss full of desperation, passion, and maybe a goodbye.

Rufe would take the words and the affection and stupidly clutch tightly to both. Until they spotted the castle in the distance, they could remain two men, no, two lovers. He clung to the contact even as Niam pulled away.

Niam averted his gaze. “It’s about daylight. Time to wake the others and prepare to move out.”

“I’ll go. You stay here and enjoy the morning for a few more moments.” Besides, a few moments alone might let Rufe settle his thoughts before facing others.

“Thank you.”

Rufe shuffled back to the camp they’d made in the trees. Vihaan and Cass lay close together on the ground, enfolded in blankets but not spooned together like Niam and Rufe. The fire Rufe stoked earlier kept them warm, but had now burned down to coals.

He hated waking them, but they needed to reach the castle. “Get up. Time to move out.”

Vihaan grabbed his sword, jumping instantly to his feet. He spotted Rufe, shook himself, and gave a lazy smile. “I’ve been a soldier too long, haven’t I?”

More often than not, Rufe woke the same way.

Cass rose more leisurely, wrapping his cloak around himself and yawning.

Niam, Rufe, Vihaan, and Cass gathered around the dying coals to finish last night’s rabbit, then packed their belongings and loaded the mules. Rufe had become used to donning a fur hat, gloves, and a fur-lined cloak.

They headed north toward tall peaks, Casseign once more in the lead.

Rufe glanced back, thinking of the cabin in the woods and their camps along the way and how he’d love to stay safe at the cabin with Niam forever. Life awaited—a life that didn’t include Niam. That couldn’t include him.

Rufe’s heavy heart thudded in time with his mule’s hoofbeats.

They emerged from the thick forest into a clearing, snow and slush on the ground, the nip of the air colder without the trees to block the wind.

An imposing castle rose in the distance, the base appearing as part of the mountain. A place of glittering granite spires and tall towers. A powerful sense of doom struck Rufe despite his coming with negotiating power straight from the emperor. He’d never felt so insignificant.

“Stop here,” Niam said.

All four men reined in their mules, Vihaan lifting a questioning brow, Casseign following orders from his king without question.

“Is there a problem?” Rufe asked.

“There might be. We can’t be too cautious. We’ll leave the mules here.” Niam tied his mule to a tree, yanking his hand away when she peeled back her lips and bared her teeth. “We can’t arrest Whreyn without proof. He has too many toadies, and there’s no direct link between him and Illa. My cousin hasn’t been found to tell what he knows.”

Rufe removed a glove, running his fingers through Princess’s thick winter coat. She nuzzled him, breath warming his face before turning to fog anddissipating.

“Wait here,” Casseign said. “I need to ensure the others have arrived, and what might be waiting.” He slipped into the trees on foot.

Niam, Rufe, and Vihaan sat on nearby rocks, cloaks drawn about them.

Casseign reappeared a short time later. “There were no ambushes, but our fake captain took his own life.” He gritted his teeth. “I’d hoped to get more information. You have a plan for getting into the castle, Your Majesty?”

Niam nodded toward another stand of evergreen trees, branches weighed down with snow and ice. “Follow me. Someone will come for the mules. They can’t go where we’re going.”

Rufe and Vihaan looked at each other curiously. Casseign stepped behind Niam, who strode up a steep embankment and disappeared behind a neat row of cedars, too evenly spaced to be a natural occurrence.

Rufe and Vihaan followed, though not as sure-footed as the two locals, who’d likely climbed mountains from an early age.

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