Page 59 of A Crown Without Mercy

thought—”

“You think too much,” Kieran replied before stealing a little tongue. He then lifted her up and placed her in the saddle while Nicolai handed her the reins.

Nicolai kissed the back of her hand. “I expect to see your ass on my stallion when you come tonight.”

Sylvana held her hand up. “Hold up. I will not be responsible for your stallion.”

Nicolai slid his hand under Skadi’s wavy mane. “Klyn, make sure they get back to her manor safely.”

“Milord.” He nodded.

The guards opened the gilded gates and as they closed behind them, Sylvana felt like she was waking up from a mythical dream. Out of her peripheral vision, she noticed silhouettes moving into the shadows, stopping only when she and Klyn passed by, and their conversations became muted. She looked down at Skadi, not wanting to make eye contact with the judgmental crowd.

“They’re curious, is all,” Klyn offered kindly.

She looked at him and smiled meekly. “I feel like they are scoffing at me for no other reason than to spread rumors that will defile my reputation.”

Klyn laughed aloud. “No one would dare to defile your reputation, Sylvana. You are sitting upon Nicolai’s stallion. They would not willingly choose that fate.”

“Once my brother hears about this, he will lock me up for good.” She chuckled.

“I am quite certain Nicolai and Kieran have the means to free you.” Klyn winked.

Sylvana let out a sigh of relief once they crossed the fields and entered the comfort of the forest.

“Feel better?” Klyn asked.

“Yes.”

“Did you enjoy yourself last night?”

She felt as if the warmth of her cheeks were telling him more than she wanted. “Yes,” she replied quietly.

“Do not be abashed.”

“I wasn’t expecting anything that took place last night is all.”“Now that they have you pinned in their sights, you need to realize your choices, or lack thereof, are no longer yours to make.”

Sylvana’s head snapped in his direction. “What do you mean?”

“You will figure it out.”

They rode the rest of the way in silence as she contemplated what he was and was not saying. Once they made it to the edge of the forest, she pulled the reins, bringing Skadi to a halt, and tossed one leg over his hindquarters.

Klyn furrowed his brows and looked down at her. “What are you doing?”

“Making a choice,” she replied as she handed him the reins. “I chose to walk the rest of the way, and I chose to send Skadi back with you.”

Klyn leaned on his saddle horn and cocked his head. “Was Nicolai not clear?”

She tossed the reins over Skadi’s neck and stepped back. “Thank you for seeing me home. I appreciate it.”

“Sylvana, this is not a choice worth making,” he stated adamantly. However, she turned her back to him and walked away.

I guess she is looking to find out the hard way what her ‘choices’ will get her,he thought as he watched her walk across the field.

Riordan walked into Nicolai’s bed chamber, waved his hand, and the large curtains covering the widows flapped open.

“What the hell are you doing?” Nicolai asked.

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