Page 22 of Unbound By Shadows
Selene nearly choked again as she turned to see Samael staring down at her. Tall, grim, and looking very irritated.
His gaze traveled from the top of Selene’s head, down to her boots, and back up again. He must share Hollen’s disgust of her jeans and boots, she thought. The icy disapproval in his expression was clear.
Well, this is a great start.
She opened her mouth to apologize for her tardiness, but Arkaya cut her off. “The fault is entirely mine, Samael. Packing took longer than we expected.” She leaned back to look up at him. “Do you have everything you need?”
“Yes.” A small frown pulled at the corners of his mouth.
“Then this is farewell,” Arkaya said, pulling Selene into a hug. “Safe travels, dear human. The queen sends her best wishes. If you experience any… unexpected proceedings, you will always have a place here. Remember that.”
Selene found Arkaya’s phrasing odd, but she dismissed it. “Thank you. I’m so grateful you found me in the woods.”
Arkaya smiled back and then turned to Samael. “Safe travels to you too, demon. I hope this journey gives you peace.”
He nodded, then Arkaya turned to glide back into the castle. A small lump formed in Selene’s throat at the sight of Arkaya’sretreating back. Bereft of her friend Hollen and her guide Arkaya, Selene now felt truly alone in Aurelia.
“I trust you are prepared?” Samuel said.
“Yes, I’m ready.”
In a voice like gravel, he said, “Let’s begin.”
As they left the castle behind to journey into the Malkina forest, Sam fought to keep his gaze from raking down Selene’s frame again. Every muscle in his body had tightened with want at his first glimpse of her that morning. Last night, he had worried that she would slow their progress by wearing shoes that blistered her feet. He’d been ready to endure complaints about the mud that would surely collect on the hem of her fine gowns and vowed to be patient when she lamented the inevitable damage to the gems she would be draped in. Yet she wasn’t outfitted at all as he expected.
Snug canvas breeches hugged every line of her legs. She wore a close-fitting jacket, unzipped just enough to show the comely line of her throat. Her pack was much smaller than his, and the belt clipped at her waist accentuated the curve of her hips. Sam’s fingers had itched to tunnel through the mass of hair flowing loosely around her shoulders. He even found her boots admirable—cut high enough to support her ankles and soled with a thick tread.
The dark-clothed woman that had stood in the castle gates looked more like an accomplished warrior than a pampered courtier, and the contrast made his heart pound. He felt so flustered that the only way he could keep from falling at her feet was to lash out at her tardiness.
A pack of wild birds pecking at the ground scattered as they passed. They would follow the dirt path leading out of Malkina territory, which could take a few days. Then Sam would consult a map for appropriate routes to take them to the Goblyn castle.
The forests of Queen Thema’s lands were ancient and lush, withcanopies of trees offering shade. They walked in silence as the castle grew smaller behind them in the distance. Sam was uncertain of what topics of conversation were appropriate for a human, so he kept quiet.
Eventually, Selene spoke. “L-lovely weather, isn’t it? We’re lucky it’s sunny.”
“Yes,” he replied.
“Have you traveled this way north before?”
“Not this way specifically.”
“But you know where we’re going, right?”
“Of course,” he said, more harshly than he intended.
“Okay. Are there any dangers I should be worried about? Lions and tigers and bears, oh my?” she said with a small chuckle.
“I do not know of those creatures, but there are no threats for you to worry about.”
“Got it.”
They didn’t speak again for another two hours. The forest grew darker as they ventured deeper inside. Small animals and birds peered at them curiously, then hid. The way Selene watched them made him wonder if she found the creatures of Aurelia intriguing or frightening. He chose not to ask.
When they passed over a tangle of tree roots, Selene stumbled, and instinctively, Sam caught her by the elbow. He could feel the heat of her body through the cotton she wore, and he couldn’t help but let his fingers linger, noticing how large his hand looked against her small arm. When she fully righted herself, she looked up at him and said, “Oops, thank you.”
Sam nodded, noticing her cheeks were flushed. He quickly pulled his hand back and closed his fist, wanting to preserve the tingly feeling that touching her brought.
Later, after passing a boggy creek, Sam felt the brown satchel slung across his body grow warm. Then the fabric abruptly expanded with athonk, bulging with the weight of its sudden contents.
