Page 48 of Crimson Kingdom

“Oh, good, you’re back,” Avani said a little too loudly, just as Theo and my mother rounded the corner. “I need more cinnamon.”

Evander didn’t move, didn’t move his gaze from where it was fixed firmly on me until I nudged his arm with the barest brush of my fingertips. I wasn’t willing to risk touching him more than that.

Finally, he stepped aside, but not before I saw the shadow cross Theo’s features.

“Well…” my mother bravely cut in. “Why does it seem like no matter how big a kitchen is, there’s never too much space to bump into one another?”

“It does seem that way,” Theo agreed in a quiet voice.

I looked away from him and Evander both, taking the coward’s way out.

Wasn’t that what I had been doing all along?

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

It had been a long, sleepless night after I skipped dinner and hid in my rooms, not having to feign the churning stomach that kept me from having an appetite.

I wanted to hide this morning, too, and for the rest of the week, but Mamá had come herself to fetch me for breakfast.

I was blearily sipping my coffee, pointedly ignoring the men on either side of me, when Gwyn’s voice permeated my hazy consciousness.

“So, what do you all think? We could steal away for the day.”

A quick glance at Mamá had her mouthing the word ‘lake’.

I perked up at that. The small loch just north of Castle Chridhe was one of my favorite places.

My mother smiled at whatever she saw in my expression before looking pointedly at the lords. Of course, we would have to bring them both.

I weighed the pros and cons of taking them while the next course arrived before giving her a subtle nod. Gwyn was practically radiating excitement when she looked at me.

“When?” she mouthed the question in my direction.

I took a moment to consider it, concentrating on what I could sense from the weather.

There was the barest trace of tingling along my spine, as if a ladybug were walking up my back. It was going to rain, but not until late tonight or even early tomorrow.

“Today,” I mouthed back, mirroring the grin on my cousin’s face.

Anything to make this week go faster.

So, we found ourselves headed to the sandy beaches of the loch. We had ridden out right after breakfast, taking only our horses and what we could pack in the saddlebags.

Avani caught my eye, a mischievous glint in hers that I hadn’t seen in...well, nearly a year now. I knew what she was going to say before she opened her mouth.

“Race you to the shoreline!” Her destrier sprang forward like an arrow loosed from a quiver.

Though Avani saddled and bridled her mare for show, she didn’t bother to touch the reins or give any outward commands as she sped ahead.

“That’s cheating!” I yelled.

“It’s called being scrappy,” she called back, laughing.

I may not be able to communicate with animals the way she did, but I nonetheless sensed my gelding’s irritation at being left behind.

“Let’s go,” I whispered into his mane, spurring him forward with my heels.

He took off like a bolt of lightning, flying down the road in a blur of movement. My hair streamed behind me, and the wind roared in my ears.