by Jasmine Walt
“And here I thought you’d stopped scrounging for weapons when you left the train. Silly of me.” He smiled provocatively as his horse pranced in front of her. “And you don’t smell bad, just overpowering. But I’m getting used to that. We’d make a good team, Princess. We both like to own the room.”
The urge to smile back was overwhelming. She suppressed it. Axel had no right flirting with her like this when she was marrying his cousin. Or when he knew the peril her family was in. The memory of Mott’s threat curdled her stomach, making her nauseous.
“We’re the last ones left,” Axel said, waving his whip at the opening. “After you.”
Lynx’s troubled stomach knotted, and her breath caught. But unwilling to show fear in front of Axel, she urged her mount into the forest.
Vine-covered branches clawed at her arms and legs as her horse pushed its way through the undergrowth. She closed her eyes, praying to the Winds to keep her safe in this benighted place.
Finally, she emerged in a small, dark clearing, surrounded by towering trees. Dank air smelling of mold pressed heavily on her chest. Swallowing her panic, she looked for the other riders, but there was no sign of them. They couldn’t have gone far, but the forest was silent. She listened for birds or insects, but—as if knowing the dangers the high-born presented—they gave no hint of their presence, either.
She rubbed her arms for comfort as Axel pulled up next to her. She dropped her hands and said with forced bravado, “Tao and the rest of them . . . which way did they go?”
Axel cast a cursory glance at the leaf litter. “That way.” He kneed his horse into motion.
She followed, cursing under her breath. Axel must consider her a complete idiot. Why hadn’t she thought of looking for spoor? Back home, she could have tracked an ostrich across solid rock. Here, she felt blind, helpless.
Conversation seemed the answer to all her concerns.
“Why do I get the impression you don’t care for my betrothed?” she asked.
Axel grinned at her. “You noticed that, did you? Truly, your powers of deduction are impressive.”
His knee brushed her leg as he sidled up next to her. She knew she should put some space between them, but as her mare seemed content—happy, even—with the proximity of his stallion, Lynx did nothing. Axel grinned victoriously. Heron’s face flashed before her, and she realized with startling clarity that, as much as she had cherished him, her feelings for Axel were deeper, less like a teenage crush.
Shocked at that realization, she shot Axel a glare and edged her mare forward. The horse walked through a spider’s web spun between two trees. Praying the occupant wasn’t home, she brushed the sticky silk off her face and hair. “Why don’t you like Lukan?”
Axel threw his hands up, sighing. “Do you like him?”
“You’re evading my question. Again. And you know I don’t like any Chenayans. You’re all disgusting.”
“Thanks. For nothing.” Axel swept back a curtain of ivy barring Lynx’s way. “After I was so kind to you on the train?”
“My pleasure. And you were a complete toad. An arrogant one, too.”
He grinned at her. “So, if me not knifing you makes me a toad, then what should I call you?”
Lynx couldn’t resist smiling. Sparring with Axel had settled her stomach like nothing else in the world could. “A skilled operator?”
Still, Lynx wasn’t here to marry him. It was time to shift the focus from him back to his cousin. “How am I supposed to know if I like Lukan when he’s never around? I don’t even know him.”
“What’s there to know?” Axel’s voice was surprisingly harsh. “He’s an idiot of the first degree, and you’re utterly wasted on him. You’d be better off with someone like me.”
Lynx’s breath caught, making her splutter. “You? Us? Never!”
Axel’s disparaging laughter suggested her protest hadn’t been successful. Worse, she could feel her reluctant desire for him blazing across her face. There was no chance he would miss that, either. He shifted in his saddle, and she snatched a quick breath. His face was so close to hers; all she had to do was lean in, and they would kiss.
Want, so powerful it almost left her limp, surged through her. Shocked at herself for her loss of control, she was immeasurably grateful when she heard the dull thud of a horse’s hooves on the leaf litter. She pulled back, catching a flash of black and silver through the trees.
Black and silver.
It was rumored the crown prince only ever wore those colors. If he spent more time with her, she might be able to confirm its veracity.
The horse broke through the undergrowth, and dodging low-hanging branches, Lukan pulled up to face her. Despite the sweat trickling down his cheeks from his ride, Lynx was struck again by his beauty. Even Axel’s strong face, handsome enough by most standards, couldn’t compare.
Still, it wasn’t enough to make her want him. She closed her eyes, bitterly angry with herself for being so difficult. With an oath to fulfill, why was she allowing smart-arsed Axel, master of the razor-tongue, to deflect her from that goal?
Usually, she was so firm in her purpose. Black and white, her father called her. Her feelings for Axel Avanov were most certainly neither of those colors. And, worse, her infatuation with him was distracting her from her other task here: to find out about the gemstones. Axel was a distraction she didn’t need. But how was she to get rid of him when he was always around?
When she opened her eyes, Lukan had maneuvered his horse between hers and Axel’s. Lynx’s mare whinnied in protest, and she patted her neck to steady her. The confusion gave Lynx the chance to rustle up a smile for Lukan. He could never know she craved his cousin.
“Oh. It’s you,” Axel said, not bothering to hide his displeasure.
“Anyone else would bow,” Lukan rasped breathlessly, “but I guess that’s too much to expect from the great Axel Avanov.”
“You’ve got that right.”
Lukan shot Lynx a wistful look and then averted his eyes, as if the sight of her disturbed him.
That was troubling.
She had used her most engaging smile on him. Her stomach knotted in response.
“I missed you at breakfast,” she said, desperate to connect with him on some level.
As if staking a claim, Axel moved in closer to her before Lukan could frame a reply. “I’ve been looking after Lynx for you.”
“And you expect my gratitude?” Lukan’s horse stamped, mirroring the impatience in his voice.
“No. Lynx has everything I need.” Axel grinned at her. “And she’s both grateful for, and delighted with, my company.”
Lukan drilled Lynx’s face, his dark eyes demanding answers.
Hiding her irritation at Axel’s comment, she blasted Lukan with another radiant smile. And lied. “Axel and I were saying you and I make a great couple.” Then she added, more truthfully, “We both like going our own way. But I think, perhaps, we should spend more time together. As you said, we are getting married in a couple of days.”
Lukan frowned at her. “Right now, I’m not sure a marriage between us is something to celebrate.”
“That’s . . . unfortunate that you’ve had a change of heart overnight.” Lynx bit her lip, thinking furiously on what to say to rectify this situation.
Lukan turned to Axel. His cousin’s head was cocked to the side, grinning possessively at her.
Red infused Lukan’s face. “Axel, am I to take it you send congratulations on our upcoming marriage?”
“You know I don’t waste time with platitudes.”
Lukan glared at Axel. “In your usual, annoying way, you haven’t answered my question. So I will ask it—”
“Spare me, Lukan.” Axel held Lukan’s gaze with lighthearted but determined ease. “I give you my word, nothing would make me happier than for you and Lynx to both get what you deserve.”
Lynx fiddled with her hair, feeling like an ostrich hen between two warring cocks. It was obvious the two
men had played this staring game before. She wondered who would cave first.
After a moment, Lukan dropped his eyes. Lynx raised her eyebrows in surprise. Lukan was intimidated by Axel? Why? He was the crown prince, and Axel a mere general who would have to swear fealty when Lukan took the throne—or whatever passed for fealty in the Chenayan court.
Fascinated by this strange dynamic, she studied Lukan’s face. It was darkened by anger. Why he didn’t express that rage to Axel was yet another question to ponder.
Voice devoid of any victory, Axel said, “Come, Lukan, let’s find some stags.”
From his tone, Lynx guessed she wasn’t invited. It seemed she was right because, after an aching look at her, filled with yearning lust, Lukan rammed his spurs into his horse’s side, shooting forward into the gloom.
Yet another gray area, Lynx rocked back on her horse. This place is seething with them.
Axel turned to Lynx, his eyes soft and surprisingly caring. “I’ve read enough intelligence reports on you to know you can handle yourself in most situations. So, as much as you dislike it, this forest is no different from anything else you may have encountered. Remember, it’s just dark. Ignore that, and you’ll soon track your way to Tao.”
He gave her a mock bow and disappeared after Lukan.
22
Furious with Axel for humiliating him in front of Lynx—not to mention flirting with her—Lukan engaged in no conversation, barring an occasional grunt, as Axel led him deeper and deeper into the forest.
His cousin didn’t seem interested in conversation, either; his eyes scanned the ground for fresh game spoor.
Face hard, Lukan hacked away at the overhanging branches and brambles barring his way, relishing an opportunity to vent his anger.
As yet, he had no idea what to do about Lynx.
After the distressing vision of her son—their son—and her army, followed by the game of tiles with Axel and Tao, sleep had been impossible. Before dawn, he’d left the palace to go riding, happily skipping his prenuptial breakfast. He’d hoped the fresh forest air and the absence of Felix’s ever-present cameras and recording devices would help him decide what to do about his upcoming marriage.
It hadn’t.
The problem was, every time he thought of Lynx, his manhood hardened. That made rational decision-making almost impossible. Why reject a woman when he craved her? And, despite the vision, he wasn’t yet convinced he was the victim of the prophecy. What a great shame to miss bedding the sexiest woman in Chenaya because of a curse that didn’t apply to him.
Hours dribbled by, with no sign of a stag.
Lukan’s horse quivered as it struggled through the forest up the mountain slope. Gullies, fallen trees, moss-covered rocks, and snagging creepers snaked across the spongy black ground, all contriving to make it an exhausting ride.
He rubbed sweat from his eyes. It may have been cool in the forest, but he was steaming from exertion. With one hand, he unbuttoned his velvet waistcoat, wishing he could call a quit to the hunt. But that would be admitting defeat, tantamount to saying Axel was tougher than he was. Axel would exploit that forever. So, as long as Axel kept riding, he would, too.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Lukan pulled to a stop.
Axel had dismounted yet again and studied the forest floor, looking for spoor. He looked up, excitement lighting his eyes.
“Fresh tracks. Come.” Showing no sign of fatigue, Axel remounted.
A stag flashed through the undergrowth to Lukan’s right.
Whooping with delight, Lukan wheeled his horse around and set off after him.
“He’s mine!” Lukan shouted to Axel as he jumped his horse over yet another fallen tree.
Axel’s hard laughter rang out. “Not if there’s any tracking involved.”
Lukan grimaced. Spending his youth in the archive and his observatory while Axel served in the military meant his cousin was, by far, the better tracker.
The stag disappeared back into the brush. Lukan pulled his horse up, looking for an easy way around the brambles, thistle, and low-hanging branches.
“If you want something, go and get it, Lukan,” Axel said, shooting his horse through the undergrowth as if it were lush meadow grass.
Antlers swept back, the stag bolted deeper into the trees.
“The motto of your life, isn’t it, Axel? Take what you want, when you want it, just because it’s there.”
“Is this me you’re talking about, or you?” Axel shouted back, swatting branches away from his face. “Now shut up and ride, or the bugger will get away.”
Considering the speed with which Axel was chasing Lukan’s trophy, he didn’t have time to object to his cousin’s command. He slapped his horse sharply on the rump with his riding crop and ducked low as it powered into the thicket. Cursing at the new collection of scratches he was garnering, he focused on the prize.
It was high time he bagged a kill; his last few hunts had been dismal, with either Axel or Tao riding home with the antlers. His father had been particularly mocking about those failures. Despite being an adult on the brink of matrimony, that criticism still burned.
Lukan pulled out his bow and arrow, but the brambles were too thick to consider shooting.
Eyes wild, the stag broke out of the underwood. Kicking up creepers and mud, it wove through the trees, up the hill.
Axel let fly an arrow, but it went wide as his horse stumbled. He swore. “The horses are too tired for this, and we still have hours before we get home.”
“Yours, maybe. Not mine.” Lukan would not fail again. He kneed his mount around Axel and kicked it into action. It whinnied as he forced it after the stag.
“Lukan, stop!” Axel called.
Lukan ignored him, riding on. He had not gone more than twenty paces when he saw the stag silhouetted against a backdrop of trees, its magnificent antlers tauntingly close at hand.
The perfect shot.
He pulled an arrow from his quiver, nocked it, and sent it after the stag.
It missed.
With renewed energy, the stag sprang away into the brush.
“Dragon’s curses.” Lukan let fly another couple of arrows and was rewarded with a triumphant twang as steel bit into flesh.
The stag screamed. But instead of falling, it took off, scrambling through the trees. Lukan slumped in his saddle as Axel looked at him in disgust.
“Nice shot, cousin. As much as it burns me, we have to leave a wounded animal in the forest.”
“What do you mean?” Adrenaline and humiliation sent a spike of energy through Lukan. He kicked his horse into action, shouting over his shoulder, “The stag’s mine, and I have a perfect blood spoor to follow now.”
“Have you been watching the time?” Axel didn’t move from his spot. “I’ll send some servants to take care of it.”
Shocked by Axel’s unsportsmanlike comment—no one ever left a wounded animal in the forest—Lukan peered at the sky through the almost impenetrable canopy of trees.
Dusk was creeping in.
Trust the soldier to notice details like that.
It fueled his irritation.
“You’re quite capable of getting us back in the dark, Axel.” As Lukan set off, following the blood, he heard Axel swear.
“There’s a ball tonight. Or have you forgotten?”
Lukan groaned. Either way, he was going to earn his father’s ire. He made a quick decision. “We’ve tracked this confounded animal all day. I’m not stopping now for some stupid ball.”
“Fine.” Axel swung his horse around. “I’ll take care of Lynx for you.”
Wrong decision!
Lukan’s blood turned to ice. His cousin had not gone more than a few paces when Lukan pulled up at his side. “The hell you will. She’s mine, so you keep your paws off her.”
“Or what, Lukan?” Axel shot back, not even bothering to make eye contact.
“You forget that I’ll be your emperor, Axel.” Lukan waved his riding crop
for emphasis. “It will be in my power to cut you off from everything you value. Kill you, even.”
Axel shrugged. “Please. Don’t make me laugh. You know as well as I do that you need my talents too much to risk losing me.”
Lukan wanted to deny that he needed Axel, but he couldn’t. All his life, he’d known he didn’t have the stuff that made an Avanov emperor great, the same stuff Axel oozed from every pore. It was one of the reasons his father hated him.
Axel, on the other hand, was the perfect Avanov. Axel’s brand of strutting, conquering arrogance had always been encouraged in Avanov men.
Try as he might, Lukan could never match his cousin’s absolute confidence that everything he did was right, and that he would always win every battle. It went way beyond injustice. And Lukan was supremely tired of it. He twitched his crop, thinking hard about cracking Axel with it.
That would give the bastard something to think about.
Axel’s eyebrows quirked, first at Lukan’s grim expression and then at the crop. His cousin surprised him by saying, “Nothing would make me happier than you taking a shot, Lukan. After all, I’m the one who spent my childhood trying to teach you to stand up to bullies.”
Lukan flushed, and his jaw locked mulishly. “My father wasn’t just a bully.”
“True.” Axel rubbed his ribs, a telling gesture. His cousin had received more than his fair share of kicks from Mad Mott. “Still—”
Axel eyed him expectantly, but Lukan knew he would have to be far angrier than this to ever risk hitting his cousin.
Axel sighed, looking disappointed. After a moment, he said, “Lukan, we both know why we put up with each other. I’ll be your Lord of the Conquest, and you’ll wear the shiny emperor hat. You’ll use my brain, and together we’ll rule the world. That way, we both get want we want. Isn’t that right?”
Lukan scoffed at the inference that Axel was more intelligent than he, but he wasn’t going to argue about that now. “That doesn’t mean Lynx is yours.”
“I think we should leave that for Lynx to decide.” Axel kneed his horse into a fast trot. “She’s as intelligent as she is beautiful. She’ll figure out who to give her heart to.”