Page 9 of Heart of the Raven
I woke just before dawn.The warm fire was nothing more than smoking ashes, mixed with a thick mist that hung over the pool. My fingertips grazed cool rock as I stretched, my body sore from sleeping on the stony ground. Raven lay still, and I peeked over the fire to study his face. A cloak of black feathers covered his body, and his broad fingers clenched a knife to his waist as he slept. If no one would bother us, why did he sleep with a knife?
More than just the morning chill made goosebumps break out on my exposed skin. I studied his features. Even in sleep, his lips had an impetuous twist to them. His devilish eyes were closed and his long lashes seemed to brush his high cheekbones. His jawline was strong and his nose had an arrogant tilt to it. Closing my eyes, I took a breath to steel my nerves. He was rough, wild. Dangerous? I hadn’t seen that side of him. Still, a fluttering in the pit of my stomach confirmed my attraction to him. But I couldn’t be allured by him, even though I wanted him to want me. It would make the journey through the wildwood less tiresome.
Sucking the inside of my cheek, I scolded myself. I wasn’t a noblewoman anymore. I’d given up that life when I rejected Lord Brecken. I couldn’t tease and flirt and play coy with men, especially out in the wild with one who might take my flirting the wrong way. Nay, I could not encourage the Raven because I needed his guidance.
I washed my face in the pool, relieved to see my reflection peering back at me. My eyes were large and sad with a permanent droop to my lips. I pushed away thoughts of Mari and the unfortunate circumstance that ripped her life away. Too early, too young. I was lucky enough to be alive.
When I reached for my dress a gasp left my lips. It was clean and laid out on the rocks as though someone had washed it for me. I clasped my hand to my mouth while my eyes darted across the pool, searching, although I already knew no one was there except Raven. Then I saw it, a buzzing of wings, moving almost too fast for the eye to see, then a spark of blue light. A tiny creature landed on my dress, picked out a speck of dirt, and flew off again.
I squinted against the dawning light as I watched it disappear beyond the rock walls.
“Have the faerie been here?” Raven’s quiet voice almost made me scream.
I spun around to face him, surprised at how silently he’d risen and stood behind me, a pack slung over one shoulder. “Faerie?” My face flushed as I forced my gaze away from his well-defined chest. Why did he have to leave his cloak open?
His gaze flickered up. “Aye, they’ve returned to the wildwood to cause mischief, but some are known for their good deeds. Apparently, they like you.” He gestured to my dress.
I picked it up, relieved it was clean and smelled of sage and cedar wood. At least I’d have something to wear when we reached Capern, but for the trek through the wood, the borrowed clothes Raven had provided would do.
“Are you hungry?” he prompted when I did not respond to his earlier explanation. I shook my head, avoiding his eyes. “You’re a quiet one.” He then led the way out of the safety of rocks, back out to the forest.
I was sorry to see the hidden pool disappear and glanced back as the thick trees shut out the sky. We lost the gentle light of dawn to the shadows of tree and leaf.
“I have little to say,” I admitted as I followed him with the distinct knowledge that talking would help keep my mind off my dire situation.
Raven snorted. “I’ve never met a woman who didn’t have much to say.”
I frowned at the insult, but he was right. “I don’t like to gossip, it leads to nothing good.”
“Humm. Gossip, as I understand it, is usually talking about someone else, judging or making fun of them. I’m more curious about you.”
The fluttering in my belly came again, and I had to remind myself he was not interested in me personally, but merely passing the time, as was I. “There’s not much to tell,” I admitted.
“I’ll be the judge of that. A woman alone in a forest? With strange magic?”
A lump formed in my throat. Would he understand? But it was he who sensed my magic.
“It runs in my bloodline,” I admitted. “Sometimes it skips a generation. My mother doesn’t have magic, but my cousin does.”
“Your cousin?”
“Lord Cedric of Whispering Vine, perhaps you’ve heard of him?”
“Indeed.” Those dark eyes assessed me. “He’s your cousin and yet you ask me to guide you through the wildwood?”
I twisted my fingers together and rubbed my thumbs against my wrists. “He doesn’t know what happened to me. He was against this and now. . . He was right. I never should have left. I thought it was safe.”
“Safe?” He raised an eyebrow. “Then you know who attacked you?”
“Yes,” my shoulders slumped. “Three years ago I was supposed to marry a lord, but he is cruel and unjust. I fled to my cousin’s castle, because he has dark magic. No one will attack him. Not even the king. Since the lord announced his betrothal to another, I assumed it was safe to leave. But you saw what happened on the road. He killed my friends all because I insulted him. . .” I trailed off, an unnatural stirring in my chest. Was it hate? No. I wanted revenge.
“Sasha,” he breathed. He whirled to face me and touched my wrist, towering over me as he examined my face. My heart skipped a beat at his touch, and a memory rose as he spoke. “I remember you. Outside the estate you rode upon a gray horse and galloped bravely into the night. I followed you and when the horse threw its shoe, I helped you to town. You were fierce and feisty and didn’t trust me at all.”
I studied his face, barely daring to breathe and I recalled that first adventure. The cry of a raven, the reminder of feathers, and the scent of the wildwood. He was the mysterious man who helped me, and I still recalled the dangerous spark in his eyes. After Lord Brecken I was loath to deal with another man. That was years ago. But now. . .
When his knuckle brushed my chin, giving him a better view of my face, I had to resist the urge to press my hands against his chest.
“You’re always running away, and I’m always finding you.”
