Page 72 of Under the Mistletoe
Maybe if he broke through with Rand and Astryn, then book four would finally unlock. Sounded good, but so far, chapter twenty was barely over five hundred words. He scrolled back and reread what he had so far.
Stone of Anwar: Chapter 20
Astryn had barely had a chance to breathe since receiving the news of Orin’s death and the subsequent whirlwind wedding six hours ago. And now she’d be spending her honeymoon hiding out in caves by day as they made their way north to the land of Rand’s mother by night. But what choice did they have? Until they captured their unknown enemy, no place was safe. No person could be trusted.
Astryn had been near a panic when Rand had told her they would be traveling without guards, but he had been unmovable on the subject. He had launched into a jarringly detailed account of what had happened to Anathia’s last king while surrounded by his best men. Rand was convinced someone in the inner circle was providing information to the assassins, and therefore their best hope was anonymity, traveling as two peddlers to Kenthor. He had assured her that if his mother’s family was being framed, then they would be his best allies. She only hoped he was right.
Rand raised the torch and stepped through a gap in the rough crag of the cave wall. The darkness swallowed him and his light. Astryn scampered after him, but it wasn’t nearly as easy in a skirt. The peasant clothes were easier to move in than her normal ornate gowns, but much scratchier. The material caught, and she gave it a yank. The ripping of fabric filled the quiet. She sighed, but maybe it would just add to the common look they were going for.
Her mother had nearly fainted straightaway at her being married in these garments rather than in her prepared gown. But Astryn had stood her ground, and Rand had agreed. Haste was of the essence, and the union had been an elopement in the middle of the night, not the grand celebration planned upon. An elopement where the groom had barely looked at her. His detachment had stripped her and left her like a vessel on the water. No anchor, no oars.
The long, narrow passage opened into a larger cavern that squandered the torchlight, now casting faint long shadows. The ground was flatter here, with rocks that seemed more placed than fallen.
Rand scanned the area then stepped over and knelt next to the remains of a campfire and some unburned logs that lay in a circle.
Astryn knelt next to him, the ground biting into her knee. “Who brought this here?”
“Thieves use these caves a lot as they travel.” He grabbed a twig, lighting it on the torch. “It is already too light to gather wood. So I was hoping there would be something to use. We’ll prepare better before we stop tomorrow, but this should last. If not, we might find more wood in another cavern.”
Astryn swallowed the lump in her throat as she scanned the wide space. “What if they come back?”
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “They haven’t been here in some time. But if they come, we can offer them a warm fire.”
“Rand. I’m serious.”
“So am I.” His eyes were heavy and dark. “I can handle some petty thieves. What I can’t protect you from is an enemy I don’t recognize. And until we know who killed my brother, we do it my way.”
* * *
Logan leaned back from the computer and ran his hand roughly through his hair. Now what? If he wasn’t careful, this was going to turn into a boring scene very fast.
Logan pushed away from his desk and headed to the kitchen. He stopped in his brother’s doorway. There was a bag on the bed. He stepped into the room. “Going somewhere?”
Liam pulled some clothes from the closet and added them to the bag. “Skiing with friends for a few days. I’ll be back Wednesday. I’d invite you, but I’m guessing you’d rather stay.” He smirked.
“Yeah.” He shifted his feet. “I should have told you how I felt about Devin.”
“You should’ve.” Liam walked over and stopped right in front of him. “You know I’d never?—”
“I know.”
Logan patted his brother on the shoulder, but Liam pulled him into a quick hug, then pushed him toward the door. “And if Devin loves you, you are one lucky guy. So don’t mess it up.”
“I know that too. Have fun.” Logan pushed out of the doorway and made his way down to the kitchen.
“Ah, the milk run.” His dad spoke from behind his paper. “You must be stuck. It’s always your go-to when you get blocked.”
Logan opened the fridge, pulled out the milk, and filled a glass. “I didn’t realize I was that predictable.”
“I’ve known you for years.” His dad folded the newspaper and set it aside. “So, what are Rand and Astryn up to that has you all up in knots?”
Logan put the milk away and drew a big gulp as he settled into the seat across from his dad. Cal came running into the room at Logan’s voice and shoved his head into his lap. “With Orin dead, I’ve sort of written myself into a corner.”
“How do you figure?”
He buried his fingers into Cal’s thick brown fur and gave him a good scratch. “Before, the couple had all this tension because Orin stood between them. Now he’s gone, and they’re married. The tension is gone, and I still have five more chapters to deliver.”
“Don’t they still need to find out who killed Orin?”
