Page 76 of The Reluctant Queen
He shrank back at the blow.
“I do love that family. Wonderful people, excellent overseers of this land. The lady passed through a few days ago, traveling with the young lord, for a stay at their summer cottage.”
“Just the two of them? Where is the cottage? Do you know?”
Chortling, the woman replied, “Three of them, if you include the lady’s maid. The cottage is slightly south and to the west of here, and I will draw you a map. See me at first light. We’ll send you off with your directions and something to eat on the way.”
He nodded, thanked the woman, and closed the door. Then Ehmet helped himself to a swig straight out of the bottle and grinned maniacally from the insanity of it all. The heat of the liquid merged with his fiery desire for Hevva and his simmering rage at Nekash, exploding into something awesome and passion filled.
Ehmet Hethtar took another long drink. Fear raced through him, nipping at the heels of hope. But hope spun on the spot and socked fear right in the face, knocking it out cold.
Tomorrow he would finally get to speak with Hevva. And when he got back to Kirce, whenever that may be, he would be beating the shit out of his rapacious younger brother for meddling in his already tumultuous affairs.
twenty-eight
Ehmet has a plan.
The sun was almostset when Ehmet spotted the silhouette of Summer Cottage in the distance. He crested the hill that offered him a glimpse of the structure, then it disappeared again for a time, hidden behind the trees. He had no idea why the place had “Cottage” in its name, it looked more like a quarter-sized Kirce than any fucking shack he’d ever laid eyes on.
A strong, warm wind blew in at his back, cooling the anxious damp that plastered his shirt to his skin. A good wind? He could work with that, plenty of chaos to draw on.
Though the stars were not yet shining, a glance at the sky told Ehmet they would be out soon in lieu of clouds and rain. Urging his mount onward, he bent low over the mare’s dappled neck and murmured words of encouragement to the beast.
He promised her water, oats, and a good rub down if she could push into a canter for a few more minutes. Both thumbs were in action, rubbing incessantly against his knuckles as he gripped the reins.
Then Ehmet arrived, thundering up the long dusty drive with his eyes focused on the front doors.She’s in there, somewhere.
When a flicker of movement caught his attention, a shaky breath leapt into his lungs. There, walking out from beneath the portico, was Lady Hevva with her string bean of a brother, Lord Kas.
Oh, no. No!
He continued bearing down on them as recognition dawned on her features. Her expression was unidentifiable in the distance, but he could well see the way she froze. The lady’s shoulders pulled back, her chin tipped up, and then she was beelining toward him, most certainly on her way to deliver a lecture.
Yes! But no!This was all wrong! Not how things should be happening! “No! Go back inside! Please, go back inside!” Ehmet waved his arms in the air as he tightened his thighs to better grip his horse.
Hevva froze and cocked her head to the side. He would’ve laughed if he wasn’t so anxious.
“I swear to the gods, woman!” he roared through a frantic laugh. “Please?!”
She jolted. "This better be worth it!" Turning on a pin, Hevva flew into the house, trying to pull Kas along too. Her little brother dug his heels in, so she abandoned him on the drive.
Ehmet dismounted in a blur and handed off the reins to a stable boy who’d hurried out from the shadows. The young lad couldn’t have been much older than Kas, but was at least a head shorter than the lord.
“Your Majesty, I suppose this means you’ve come to your senses?” the fourteen-year-old said, sounding for all the world like a matron as he greeted the king.
“Lord Kas.” Ehmet bowed. That better earn him some good will. When he returned to his full height, he stuck his hand out to Kas, who was already beginning to soften.
The young lord shook Ehmet’s hand. Then the boy swiped at his brow, where a stray wave had been blown into his eyes. The evening breeze was kicking up again.Perfect.
“You are correct. I am here because I’ve come to my senses.”
Kas flattened his lips.
“It took far too long, but I am here. I need to speak with your sister.” His gaze flicked to thecottageand the doors she’d disappeared through. He scanned the windows to either side, hoping for a sign of her waiting in the warmly lit hall. She was nowhere to be found.
Gods.His eyes rounded at the realization he may have offended her when he demanded she go inside.
“Why’d you send her in then?”
