Lord of the Hunt (12 page)

“It won’t be forever.”

Would she tire of him when the thrill was missing? If she could be with him in public, there would be no burning expectation to see him again. She was here for a reason, not a good time—and not a long time. They both knew that.

“How come you didn’t show me this place?”

“Hard to make connections if you’re hiding.” His hand traced over her ribs and brushed the side of her breast.

Her back arched a little, daring him to go further. He watched her as his thumb swept over her nipple, the peak pressing against her dress. He lowered his head to take another kiss, slower and deeper this time.

A dog yipped and he stepped back as if touching her burned. “I have to go.” He glanced at the door. “Tonight, after dinner.” Then he turned on his heel and walked away.

Taryn stayed where she was, catching her breath and trying to calm her body. Human men had never made her feel like that. She swallowed and eased her back away from the stone, smoothing her skirts and hoping that she looked respectable. Her finger touched her lips. She could ignore him—she could ignore him really well if he would do that more often.

Chapter 8

Verden caught Taryn’s gaze from the other end of the table as he raised his goblet. He’d promised her a trip across the veil tonight. He needed the trip. Between Court and hunting, he needed the peace of the wilds—any wilds would do, although he had his favorite places. He hadn’t decided where to take Taryn tonight. Somewhere different. Warmer. He had ideas of easing the dress from her body and tasting her skin.

For a moment he let himself enjoy the idea before shutting it down. Not because he didn’t want her—it had been a while since he’d acted on lust without considering all the possible implications—but because he didn’t want it showing on his face.

The King laughed as Taryn showed him another game. Jealousy stabbed beneath his ribs and twisted. He wanted to be the one sitting next to her and laughing, yet it had been so long since he’d seen Gwyn look as though he was enjoying himself that he couldn’t begrudge the man some happiness. He just wished someone else were causing it, and he didn’t want to be the one ruining it. Jealousy had no place in his heart—and his heart had no place at Court.

He glanced at the Queen, dancing with her son and a few of his friends as if there was nothing wrong. Felan was doing his best to keep her occupied, to keep her from spoiling the temporary peace. Did anyone in this room realize how hard some of them were working to keep everything going?

Probably not.

Every day there were more unfamiliar faces. Those who weren’t in exile or banished were making their way back to Court. Most were making their presence known, reswearing loyalty and leaving for the villages at the fringes until the storm blew over.

Part of him wanted to do the same.

He finished his glass of wine and signaled for a refill.

Taryn’s laugh drew his attention again. For a moment he let himself watch her and only her. He didn’t want to see the way Gwyn smiled at her or the way his hand touched hers for longer than was needed. She was playing her own game. If he fouled it up for her, she wouldn’t speak to him again—and he certainly wouldn’t get the privilege of sneaking across the veil with her.

He should’ve gone looking for trouble in the mortal world instead of watching her empty smiles and meaningless touches. His stomach turned. She was learning the manners of the Court too fast.

She leaned closer to the King, but her words carried. “Sire, I beg a favor.”

Gwyn regarded her closely. Verden wasn’t the only one listening to the exchange. He was almost holding his breath for her.
Please
don’t ask for the pardon.

The King was having fun, spoiling it now would not win her any favors…actually, it would see her permanently removed from this table and all hope would be shattered. As much as he hated watching her with the King, he didn’t want her to fail. He didn’t want to see her grieving her parents’ death either. Did they realize the love and loyalty she had for them? More than he’d had for his parents. He pushed aside the thought before it had a chance to gnaw at him. There’d be time to see his parents later.

“You may ask, but I may not grant.” Gwyn placed down his goblet.

Taryn’s smile faltered as if she sensed the change in the King’s mood. “I would like permission to visit my grandmother Cerela. I believe she lives not far from Court?”

Gwyn raised one eyebrow. “Why do you seek to leave Court already?”

“I’m sure she is eager for news of my mother.”

“Are you always so thoughtful of others?”

“Perhaps it is a human trait I have picked up.” Taryn glanced away as if embarrassed to be admitting such a thing.

She was playing the King and he seemed to be believing it—or maybe he just wanted to believe it. The idea that a pretty young thing raised across the veil would fall into his bed must be powerful for an ancient King now facing winter.

Isn’t that why he was attracted to her? She was different. Fairy and yet…untainted was the only word that sprung to mind. The way Verden had been once, before the lust for power and status had made him who he was. He spun his goblet on the table. No, he’d never been as innocent as Taryn. He’d sought the power of Court where she didn’t want it; she only wanted her father’s pardon. While many would sneer, he respected that. Maybe she was stronger than he was. She certainly had a better heart.

Maybe she was playing him and he wasn’t even realizing.

If she was, he didn’t care.

He was enjoying it.

For once, he was going to do what he wanted, and the only way to do that was to keep playing in the dark, away from Court. Even as he planned his game, he knew he was betraying the King. Every kiss he shared with Taryn meant something. He wasn’t sure what, but it was more than a simple deal.

“Your grandmother isn’t far from here. There is a small hamlet where the tailors, cobblers, and tinkers live. Take the path that passes the maze. I give you permission to go and find her. I’m sure some of the Ladies will go with you to look at fabric and ribbons.” Gwyn leaned forward. “Perhaps the Hunter could accompany you to make sure you return safely.”

Taryn glanced at Verden and for a heartbeat he couldn’t find words. He nodded. Gwyn was only sending him to make sure Taryn didn’t take off. She was almost a prisoner of the Court. Felan could have invited her back and let her have free run of Annwyn, but no, he’d made sure she was here and close to the King. “I can’t think of a way I’d rather spend a day than escorting Ladies around.”

Usually that would have been a lie.

“Thank you, sire.” Taryn bowed her head.

Verden stood and bowed to the King. He didn’t have to offer excuses. The King acknowledged him with a slight raising of his hand and that was it. He was dismissed. Getting out of the hall and out of the castle had never felt so good.

Taryn might be kept there by royal command, but he’d willingly sold himself to the Court. He felt the weight of that deal with every breath. Yet if he had freedom, he didn’t know what he’d do with it. He’d been caged for too long.

Hunter of Annwyn was just the first slave of the Court.

***

As before, a white hound was waiting for her just outside the castle. The dog gave her a sniff and then loped away, heading in a different direction than last time. For a moment she hesitated, and she glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was watching. But she was alone, and if she wanted to leave Annwyn and see Verden, she didn’t really have a choice.

There was further to walk this time. As the castle became more distant, the knot in her stomach tightened. What if someone caught her out here? She knew sneaking away was wrong and yet…waiting to escape gave her hope and a reason to fake her way through dinners and games and all the other things she didn’t care about.

She’d almost asked for the pardon tonight. The words had burned her tongue, but she’d seen the look in the King’s eye change the moment she’d asked for a favor and had known that Felan was right about the timing, and it had to be something small first to test the water. The only reason she was no longer panicking every time the King smiled at her was because she knew it was a game for the Court—assuming Felan was right about that too.

He had to be. The alternative didn’t sit well at all.

The dog leaped over some brambles and she followed, lifting her dress so it didn’t catch. A flash of white in the shadows caught her eye. Too big for a dog. A horse.

“Finished playing cards?” Verden was hidden in shadows so she couldn’t read his expression, but she could hear the sharpness of his words. Was that jealousy?

“For tonight.” They both knew she had to keep going for her parents. “Finished scowling?”

Silence. Then he moved, stepping into the dappled moonlight. “I hate this. Yet I can’t stop. I want to play cards with you. I want to dance with you instead of pretending I don’t care.” His fingers traced down her arm. “Then I think maybe it’s only because I can’t have you that I want you.”

She knew exactly what he meant. Of all the men at Court, Verden was the one who could derail her plans, and yet he was the one who drew her eye. She wanted him. She closed the distance between them, her body almost touching his. “We could test that theory.”

He turned his head so his lips brushed hers. Not quite a kiss, but it was enough to make her heart flutter. “What are you suggesting?”

Her tongue darted over her lip. What exactly was she suggesting? Anything in public was out…but they could do anything they wanted in private. “Did you want to lose that bet?”

“I would only lose if we were found out. Some things are best kept secret.”

“True.” She drew in a breath. “If it weren’t for my father—”

“You wouldn’t be here.” He lifted his hand, his fingers brushing her neck as if he planned on kissing her. “I am glad you came.”

His mouth closed over hers, stealing her breath with a desperate kiss.

She didn’t want to be here a moment longer. “Let’s leave and pretend the Court doesn’t exist.”

“I am more than happy to grant that desire.” He drew back and led her toward the horse, then put his hands on her waist and went to lift her.

“On the horse?” Her voice was little more than a squeak.

“I have somewhere special in mind, but the doorway is further away.”

“I can’t ride.” She’d never gone near a horse in the mortal world, but she could drive a car—something she was willing to bet Verden couldn’t do.

“I’ll be with you. It will be fine.” He lifted her onto the horse before she could argue again. A moment later he was behind her, his arm around her waist. “Relax.”

It was hard not to lean back against him as he urged the horse forward. The horse covered the distance, her stomach flip-flopping with every step. She saw two carved stones, then the horse passed between them and it was daylight.

She was back in the mortal world.

It took a moment to realize she was on the flat top of a stone pyramid. Stairs broke the smooth slope. A ruined temple in the jungle. It was only small, not tall enough to break through the cover of the trees. Birds screeched at the sudden disturbance.

Verden jumped down and then helped her. “Can you guess where we are?”

She looked at the trees and vines, the lushness. While Annwyn was green, it lacked the vitality that this place had. Annwyn had magic; it thrummed with power, but this place had life. Heat and humidity wrapped around her, the constant noise of nature instead of the weird almost silence of the forest of Annwyn. She grinned and turned around. More jungle and ruins spread before her. “South America?”

Verden pulled off his waistcoat and draped it over one of the stones that formed the doorway to Annwyn. “There used to be many doorways here. Death was as important as life. We were worshipped as gods.” He shrugged. “All before my time, but apparently sacrifices used to be far more common.”

“It’s nice to know we’re more civilized now.” She walked around the horse, her hand on the animal’s flank, the fur like velvet—not what she’d expected at all. Not where she’d expected him to take her either. But then, how many doorways to the wilds still existed and how many had been destroyed by humans?

Verden’s gaze followed her. “Are we? Or do we just hide it better?”

“Maybe both?” Here she didn’t have to hide. “Did you want to show me some of the ruins?”

“Some.” There was a gleam in his eyes like he had other plans too. He took her hand and led her down the stone steps.

“Do you come here often?”

“No. The doorway is too far away and I don’t want the spotted cats expecting fairy horse for dinner.”

Taryn stopped on the last step. “You mean jaguars?”

Verden looked at her and frowned. “The wild fae here call them balam.”

She glanced back at the horse standing on top of the temple. Maybe being here wasn’t such a good idea. “Is the horse safe?”
Are
we
safe?

“For a while, but I wouldn’t want to impose. Wild fae expect the natural order of things to continue. Stopping a balam from eating the horse breaks those rules. However, I think we will be okay today.” He gave her hand a small tug. “I swear we will be safe.”

She took the final step down into the soft red dirt. “Why are there no tourists here?”

“Tourists?”

“How come no one comes here?”

“It’s hidden. Partly because of the magic, partly because of the wild fae. But magic needs to be fed and it’s been a long time since anyone worshipped here.” His fingers traced her cheek.

“So how many other women have you brought here?”

“None.” His hand fell away. “When I use the old doorways, I go alone. I don’t see the reason to remind the others they exist.”

But it wasn’t the doorways she wanted to know about. It was his other lovers. He was hundreds of years older than her. He’d be her first fairy lover…she wanted to be something to him other than the one he shouldn’t have.

“You confine your trysts to Court?”

He looked away. “What do you want me to say? There is no right answer to that question. Yes, I’ve had lovers. I even liked some of them. Some were just part of the game, maybe I was part of their game—I probably was. A bet, a dare, securing a deal.” He shrugged.