Page 74 of Arrows and Gems
“And you?”
Her eyebrows pulled together. “And me, what?”
He met her gaze for a few moments before looking away. “Are your feelings otherwise engaged?”
She hesitated. How should she answer that question?
“The man who is the most obvious in his desire for my hand tried to kiss me,” she continued, pretending he hadn’t said anything. “It was after that that I ran.”
“Youkissed me.” The tiniest trace of amusement colored his calm voice.
She whirled away from him. “That was different! I only meant to kiss your nose to throw you off balance.” Wrappingher arms around her waist, she ground out, “He intended to force the kiss on me. If a guard had not heard our argument and escorted him off the premises, I have no doubt he would have tried again.”
Cap was silent. When she looked over her shoulder, she saw his left hand clenched in a tight fist.
“Now you know my story.” She turned back to the forest. “May I stay?”
She didn’t hear him take a step forward, but she could feel him only a few inches behind her, hear the controlled anger in his harsh breaths.
“My wandering home is a haven for many who had reason to flee.” His gentle breath brushed her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. “You are welcome to claim it as long as you wish.”
“Thank you, Cap,” she whispered, meeting his eyes over her shoulder.
“Always.”
He was close enough that if she tipped back a little, he could press his lips to hers. For a moment, as she gazed into his soft eyes, she thought he might.
“Come; we should be on our way,” he said quietly.
His hand skimmed lightly down her arm, and then he was gone.
CHAPTER 26
Helena
This can’t be right.” Rouge frowned at the sheer rock face in front of them, then paced along it to the west. She looked at the wooden disc in her palm and faced east again.
While the redhead debated their course, Helena scanned their surroundings. She didn’t expect any danger under the eaves of the forest, but one never knew who else might be out for a hike.
“What was my brother thinking?” Rouge grumbled. Tucking the piece of wood back under her shirt, she waved the group forward. “This way. It will be quickest.”
The tension in her voice made Helena nervous. Placing an arrow on the string, she edged her way past Tucker and Alanna, then sidled up next to Rouge. “If this is quicker, why didn’t we go this way from the start?”
“Because it leads to the road,” the other woman grimly replied. She set a hand on the pommel of her sword. “I’ve traveled it as kitchen staff when the royals visit the southern kingdoms.”
“So it’s not just any road; it’s a main thoroughfare.” Helena’s fingers tightened around her bow as she glanced behind. “Can we stay out of sight in the trees?”
Rouge shook her head. “No. It’s similar to where you and Cap met the first time, but this is worse. It’s a longer stretch with no escape and no place to hide.”
“And we can’t travel west instead?”
“Only if we add another day to our journey. At the least. From what I understand, there aren’t many paths through this section of the mountains, and it’s impassable as far as I can sense.”
Lovely.
When the road peeked through the tree trunks, Rouge motioned for the others to wait while she and Helena crept ahead. A few forest critters made noise, but otherwise the air was still. No sound of hooves or carriage wheels disturbed the peace of the forest.
“Looks clear,” Helena murmured, twisting her head to peer down the dirt track. “What’s the plan?”
